75 AskMes about cat pee and this hasn't been covered
August 31, 2010 11:53 AM Subscribe
What's the best way to clean a bunch of tools that are encrusted in old cat pee?
Dear, recently deceased cat was fond of creating his own litterboxes. I've been cleaning the garage and found a pile of tools that he'd peed on. (Mostly wrenches, some pieces of a socket set, a couple screwdrivers and a chisel -- all steel with some hard plastic handles.) What's the best way to clean them? Can I soak them all in a bucket of something? If so, what?
Dear, recently deceased cat was fond of creating his own litterboxes. I've been cleaning the garage and found a pile of tools that he'd peed on. (Mostly wrenches, some pieces of a socket set, a couple screwdrivers and a chisel -- all steel with some hard plastic handles.) What's the best way to clean them? Can I soak them all in a bucket of something? If so, what?
2nding the dishwasher...I've washed my tools in mine....and they were already cat pee free.
posted by rtodd at 12:06 PM on August 31, 2010
posted by rtodd at 12:06 PM on August 31, 2010
Soak in rubbing alcohol, rinse and then run through the dishwasher on 'HOT.'
FYI: sometimes hard plastic just absorbs smells and they don't come out.
posted by Uniformitarianism Now! at 12:15 PM on August 31, 2010
FYI: sometimes hard plastic just absorbs smells and they don't come out.
posted by Uniformitarianism Now! at 12:15 PM on August 31, 2010
My kingdom for a dishwasher!
I often come across little surprises like this from my dear cats and usually end up having to throw everything out, so I'll be watching this thread closely!
posted by platinum at 12:15 PM on August 31, 2010
I often come across little surprises like this from my dear cats and usually end up having to throw everything out, so I'll be watching this thread closely!
posted by platinum at 12:15 PM on August 31, 2010
Soak them in Nature's Miracle or another enzyme cleaner before the dishwasher.
posted by elsietheeel at 12:17 PM on August 31, 2010
posted by elsietheeel at 12:17 PM on August 31, 2010
soak them in a bucket with an enzyme cleaner, scrub where necessary, and then wd-40 the hell out of them to finish cleaning them and to stop any rust.
posted by rmd1023 at 12:24 PM on August 31, 2010
posted by rmd1023 at 12:24 PM on August 31, 2010
NATURE'S MIRACLE FIRST. Sorry to be shouty, but I mean it. Soak the tools in a bucket of that first (do not dilute), rinse them thoroughly and then run them through the dishwasher on the hottest cycle you can manage. Then treat them with WD-40 or another product designed to inhibit rust formation.
I have done this, with metal tools, just this way, and the tools are usable today.
posted by cooker girl at 12:39 PM on August 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
I have done this, with metal tools, just this way, and the tools are usable today.
posted by cooker girl at 12:39 PM on August 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Complicating factor: No dishwasher.
posted by mudpuppie at 1:06 PM on August 31, 2010
posted by mudpuppie at 1:06 PM on August 31, 2010
Enzyme cleaners are way cheaper, but AntiIckyPoo laughs at any odor including the ones that enzymes let linger.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 1:12 PM on August 31, 2010
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 1:12 PM on August 31, 2010
MeMail me, and I will send you the UN guide to ammonia-based stench removal that won't asphyxiate you or rust your stuff. Work won't buy me a dishwasher either.
Pro-tip: if you fall in a necropsy gutcart and you need a home solution, buy the big bottle of rotgut, bottom-shelf vodka. It will help pull the smell out of your hair and skin....and whatever objects you were carrying. Rinse thoroughly so as not to be arrested. This really does work, and it's better than NM for tools/things that won't be affected by the solvent aspect.
posted by Uniformitarianism Now! at 1:17 PM on August 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
Pro-tip: if you fall in a necropsy gutcart and you need a home solution, buy the big bottle of rotgut, bottom-shelf vodka. It will help pull the smell out of your hair and skin....and whatever objects you were carrying. Rinse thoroughly so as not to be arrested. This really does work, and it's better than NM for tools/things that won't be affected by the solvent aspect.
posted by Uniformitarianism Now! at 1:17 PM on August 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
I've had good luck using hydrogen peroxide. It's a lot cheaper than Nature's Miracle ($5 for the biggest bottle in the world), and it tends to work just as well on things that aren't porous.
Put the tools in the bottom of a bucket, pour on the hydrogen peroxide, and watch it foam. Wait 5 minutes, then scrub with soap & hot water, rinse, and dry. WD-40 sounds like a good idea afterward.
posted by vorfeed at 2:31 PM on August 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Put the tools in the bottom of a bucket, pour on the hydrogen peroxide, and watch it foam. Wait 5 minutes, then scrub with soap & hot water, rinse, and dry. WD-40 sounds like a good idea afterward.
posted by vorfeed at 2:31 PM on August 31, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all -- I'm going to try peroxide, unless anyone thinks it's going to damage the tools. They're good brands -- Craftsman or Husky. So, while I don't want to ruin them, I also suspect they'll stand up better to peroxide than Harbor Freight stuff would.
posted by mudpuppie at 3:12 PM on August 31, 2010
posted by mudpuppie at 3:12 PM on August 31, 2010
3% peroxide (like the kind you get at the drugstore) won't harm hard plastic or steel. You can even use it to take rust off tools. If you're worried, try it on one of the cheaper tools first, but I'd be flabbergasted if it does any harm. Just don't leave the tools in forever, and make sure to dry and WD 'em when you're done. They should be fine.
posted by vorfeed at 4:38 PM on August 31, 2010
posted by vorfeed at 4:38 PM on August 31, 2010
Once you've got the pee off them by whatever means, note that anything that now has a healthy crop of rust growing on it can be electrolytically de-rusted. It's a surprisingly easy procedure, and a cat-litter tray is actually a really well-shaped container for de-rusting many items.
posted by dansdata at 5:38 PM on August 31, 2010
posted by dansdata at 5:38 PM on August 31, 2010
Go to the auto supply store and buy a big can of Brake Clean. CRC makes a low VOC solution that works very well without all the nasty carcinogen side effects.
Step one: Put tools in bucket
Step two: Empty can of brake clean onto tools
Step three: Remove tools and oil (WD40 or PB Blaster)
Step four: Enjoy pee-free tools.
I clean everything with brake clean. It displaces moisture, so it's good for cleaning metal. It can be a little harsh on some plastics. I've seen it take paint and pigment off of some cheaply made items, so test it out before you commit.
Brake clean works on oils, grease, adhesive, permanent marker, insects, baked on crud, and basically any seemingly permanent vile encrustation you can imagine. With the application of enough brake clean, whatever you're trying to clean will ultimately either be clean or completely vaporized. It cannot be defeated.
posted by Jon-o at 6:15 PM on August 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
Step one: Put tools in bucket
Step two: Empty can of brake clean onto tools
Step three: Remove tools and oil (WD40 or PB Blaster)
Step four: Enjoy pee-free tools.
I clean everything with brake clean. It displaces moisture, so it's good for cleaning metal. It can be a little harsh on some plastics. I've seen it take paint and pigment off of some cheaply made items, so test it out before you commit.
Brake clean works on oils, grease, adhesive, permanent marker, insects, baked on crud, and basically any seemingly permanent vile encrustation you can imagine. With the application of enough brake clean, whatever you're trying to clean will ultimately either be clean or completely vaporized. It cannot be defeated.
posted by Jon-o at 6:15 PM on August 31, 2010 [2 favorites]
Husky hand tools rust.
After the cleaning, and after the WD40, let everything sit for a day, wipe it down, then go over it all lightly with 3in1.
I think it helps prevent rust better, and at the very least it feels better in your hands.
posted by gally99 at 9:27 PM on August 31, 2010
After the cleaning, and after the WD40, let everything sit for a day, wipe it down, then go over it all lightly with 3in1.
I think it helps prevent rust better, and at the very least it feels better in your hands.
posted by gally99 at 9:27 PM on August 31, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Don't run it with cooking items, and run an empty load afterwards if you want to be sure it's clean. Dishwashers are magical.
posted by fontophilic at 12:00 PM on August 31, 2010 [1 favorite]