I recently stained some wood and used towels to clean up. After soaking them in a bucket of water, I laid them out on my concrete to dry. Now, I'm wondering what to do with that water. It likely contains chemicals, and I'm not sure if I can just pour it down the street or if it might still be flammable. Anyone have suggestions on safe disposal methods?
3 Answers
You definitely should avoid pouring that water down the storm drain since it can lead to local waterways and cause issues. I usually mix my old paint with cat litter until it forms a solid mass, then toss it in the trash. It’s a safe way to dispose of it!
Totally agree! You could also mix it with sawdust or wood chips if you've got some lying around.
I let my stained rags dry out completely before tossing them. It might mean going through more rags, but it’s way better than dealing with liquid waste. Just remember to bag them before throwing them out to avoid any fire hazards if they’re still flammable!
Yeah, that’s how I do it too! And if you run out of rags, just ask friends or family for any old clothes that can be torn up.
Another option is to contact your local waste disposal service. They usually have drop-off points for hazardous materials. You can also let the water evaporate in a shallow pan outside if it’s a small amount—just keep an eye on it!
If you don’t have cat litter, I use recycled newspaper cat litter that absorbs liquids super well. It works great for disposing of old paint!