The Seemingly Harmless Garage Item That May Be A Fire Hazard

In many homes, the garage is a catch-all, the place to put items you don't want to get rid of just yet but don't want in the home. If you work on lawn equipment or a car or do any type of oil-based painting projects in the garage, you may use it to store chemicals and materials you're using for the work. However, you shouldn't store any oily rags there as they could be just as big of a risk as some chemicals left in the garage.

That may seem like a very simple place to keep those old towels until you find a better way to get rid of them. Yet, this seemingly simple, everyday item can become a very big risk to your home in just the right conditions. They can cause a fire in one of the worst areas of the home for flames to begin, thanks to other chemicals and equipment commonly stored there. Spontaneous combustion can happen if the garage's temperatures rise quickly on a hot day, and because it's closed in with little ventilation, that fire can quickly rage, putting your entire home (not to mention your family) at risk.

It's not unheard of for an oily rag to be the underlying cause of a house fire. Most people have no idea that this seemingly simple thing could suddenly burst into flames. If you have a bunch of oily rags from a paint project, staining, or even an auto repair, don't simply leave them on the floor in a pile or store them in a trash can. Even without any other ignition source, a chemical reaction can occur when the oxygen within the air mixes with the material. When this happens, the chemicals will create a self-heating process brought on by the oil oxidizing, creating heat.

When a pile of rags is on the floor like this, the layers on top of each other create an insulative quality that traps more of that chemical reaction in place, causing it to heat quickly. Since most rags are made with highly flammable materials, including cotton, it doesn't take much heat to create the risk of a fire breaking out.

This is made even more likely in the garage setting, where the conditions are often ripe for temperatures to rise thanks to being warm and dry. If you accidentally leave the hot lawn mower nearby, that's going to add to the heat as well. Keep in mind it only takes one oily towel to create this risk. You don't have to have a pile of them to create a fire hazard.

Whether you've used an oil-based paint for a project, changed out the oil in that lawnmower, or used oil products for any other process, it's critical to clean up any flammable materials quickly and thoroughly. For oily rags, one way to do this is to hang them on a shaded line away from the home. You can also spread them flat on the ground out of the sun, and place a rock on them to keep them in place. Make sure you allow them to dry out thoroughly for a few days until the odor of oil fades. Then, store the rags temporarily in a metal container with an airtight seal, like an old paint can. This should provide for controlled air flow, minimizing the risk of combustion occurring. Fill the can with water before tightly sealing it with the lid. 

When you toss out these rags, be sure to dispose of them correctly to avoid contaminating any groundwater. You can drop the containers off at a local hazardous waste disposal center. Or, if you're looking for a more convenient option, contact your garbage collection service to find out what oily waste services they offer.