Help! I Accidentally Put Linseed Oil Rags in My Washing Machine – What Now?
Asked by KookyCarrot89
Hey everyone! So, I made a bit of a mistake while treating some old tables with linseed oil for the first time. I read about the fire hazards of rags soaked in the oil and thought I'd be safe by soaking them in water. However, I accidentally tossed my rags in the washing machine too! I realized my goof about 30 minutes later and took the rags back out, but now I'm left with an oily washing machine. I've heard that baking soda can help, so I threw in some baking soda and detergent and set it to a long 60°C wash. Fingers crossed this helps! By the way, I'm still struggling to get the oil off my hands even after washing them a bunch of times. It's a little unsettling to feel greasy fingers. Any advice? Thanks from Sweden! ?
Answers
A lot of laundry detergents can break down grease and oil. I'd recommend getting a strong detergent like Tide, filling the washer with old clothes or towels, and running a cycle. The key is to do this before the oil has a chance to dry because it can mess with the machine's pump. Good luck!
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Honestly, if the oil is really stuck, you might end up needing a new washing machine, but let's hope it doesn't come to that! Try running some clean rags through with your hottest wash setting and plenty of detergent, it should help absorb some of that oil too.
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You might want to run a few empty cycles with the hottest water your machine can handle, adding a good amount of detergent. This should help lift the oil! Just make sure not to let the mixture dry out in there. Good luck!
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