Overalls, getting them clean.

[Ancillotti]

After many years of taking for granted the contract laundry service in the varying places I've worked I now find myself working for a firm who expects me to wash my own overalls. As a maintenance fitter this means the removal of grease, oils, glue, ink, flock and varying other dirt. As you can imagine all this is not welcome in the family washing machine so I'm keen to hear how others manage this. I've heard talk of launderettes (I receive the appropriate tax allowance) but thought that this would be unnecessarily expensive.
How do you manage this?

 

[Kent]

Family washer as a separate load. My shooting kit is often far worse mind. Clean and rinse cycle after

 

[roofman]

Cheap used top loader off the bay and put it in the Garage or shed...perfect and when it breaks just buy another

 

[p0689109]

If the garage is damp the motor wont last long and humping the water might be a pain!!

 

[roofman]

If the garage is damp the motor wont last long and humping the water might be a pain!!

Well it worked for me for 20 years,damp never affected my motors and its only a single waste pipe into the nearest grid and cold feed in.

 

[rtbcomp]

You might even get one off Freecyle, it doesn't matter if it has minor faults.

 

[p0689109]

I put one in my garage to use when I was in London in a concrete slab garage. It was our old one and was working when her who must be obeyed decided we needed an upgrade but when I went to use I t(Of course the new one could not be sullied with my dirty overalls) the bloody motor was bu****ed. So said the chap who came out to check it. Damp in the garage mate. Worst place to put them he said!

 

[Kent]

I put one in my garage to use when I was in London in a concrete slab garage. It was our old one and was working when her who must be obeyed decided we needed an upgrade but when I went to use I t(Of course the new one could not be sullied with my dirty overalls) the bloody motor was bu****ed. So said the chap who came out to check it. Damp in the garage mate. Worst place to put them he said!

My miele did the coldest winter in a tent, it's in its mid teen now and been worked hard

 

[roofman]

I put one in my garage to use when I was in London in a concrete slab garage. It was our old one and was working when her who must be obeyed decided we needed an upgrade but when I went to use I t(Of course the new one could not be sullied with my dirty overalls) the bloody motor was bu****ed. So said the chap who came out to check it. Damp in the garage mate. Worst place to put them he said!

so that means everything with motors drills,saws,lathes,cant be kept in a damp place and 90% of metal bashers here have damp places and motors ...I reckon you change your half empty glass for a half full one

 

[Bullet2012]

Can one be fitted at your work place and then all can use it

 

[Ancillotti]

Thanks for the replies. At the moment my garage hasn't got the room for an extra screwdriver never mind washing machine!
However I'm planning on moving soon and the inevitable bigger garage(s) will contain my scooters, lathe, welders etc. which I don't think will benefit from extra dampness being introduced.
For the past 5 months I've been hand washing the overalls, but find they aren't coming that clean. I was hoping that someone may have a magic formula for pre-wash soaking or something of that nature.

 

[eSCHEn]

Spoonful of Vanish Oxi-Action bleach does wonders.

 

[Ancillotti]

Can one be fitted at your work place and then all can use it

It's not that sort of a place! Large automotive manufacturer with not a lot of available space.

 

[p0689109]

No, but its difficult to protect a big washers motor than most other power tools! Even a lathe the motor is easily accessible to cover. I just disclosed a occurrence of the problem that happened to me that's all. Probably the motors insulation was on its last legs but at the time Zanussi was regarded as one of the better machines on the market. We had had it ten years with no problems. Not long after they were taken over or bought out and there quality went down the drain.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Ask the workers at Webster's Garage in Coronation Street as their overalls are always sparkly clean despite working on cars all day
Mate used to make refractory bricks for storage radiators and as the clay mix included metallic particles his wife banned him from using the washing machine. A good old dolly and tub worked great. Rather than an automatic washer what about an old twin tub as less parts to get gunged up ?

 

[armalites]

Just get into the habit of doing it more often, washers are pretty good and can cope. The only issue you may have is the smell it may leave but it if they washed on a hot wash(60-90) then it should be fine. Maybe just needs a bit of planning ie don't put them just before you wife's best clothes. I think as they protect your clothes it's easy to get into a habit of waiting till they are minging. You can claim tax relief for washing your own overalls

Mine go in before the dog/floor towels.

 

[fixerupper]

Yeah the old twin tubs were great , I had one out in the shed back in the day , leave it on for an hour on a boil wash with a bit of bleach and washing powder, and all the filthy jeans , overalls and work shirts come up loverly .... shrunk but clean ....

 

[tomsutton529]

I buy new ones when they get too dirty.

 

[fixerupper]

Or to small.....

 

[lotus 30]

Hide all day don't get dirty