Cleaning Tips?

[illy dilly]

WOW, I feel really lazy now!
I come home... and throw that shit in the washing machine!
Comes out clean enough for me. Especially since half of it goes back into a bin, until next burn.

As for my 'rough' leather boots (probably fake leather), knock on the ground out side a couple times, maybe wipe them down with a wet rag, and put'em on a shelf tell next year!

All this vinegar in the wash, soaking, pre-scrubbing, and hand washing has me feeling like a slouch.

[Bay Bridge Sue]

Just a silly aside - FWIW I ended up using cider (not white) vinegar this year (got the wrong bottle - oops!!) - it seems to be working better. Just my observation, YMMV and stuff.

[alexamonkey]

Cleaning Stuff:

Simple:

Oxyclean (in the washing machine, for example. Better than Vinegar! (but you can use vinegar also!!)

Everything else, PLEDGE! PLEDGE! PLEDGE! Truck cabs, coolers, tables, electronics, etc. I’ve tried it all over my 16 years on the playa, & I’m telling you, PLEDGE is the ONLY way to go. One swipe over a truck dash & it’s clean. One wipedown of electronics and it’s clean. For coolers, tables, etc. that haven’t been cleaned in years, it MIGHT take 2 swipes.

PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE allegiance to the PLEDGE

Seriously, PLEDGE

(of course, you can use a cheaper version- pledge is kind of pricey)

I DO NOT WORK FOR PLEDGE, FYI

[The CO]

Diluted vinegar spray & Awesome brand cleaner do wonders to remove playa from all sorts of stuff.

An important note: If you clean off your bike chain, lube it ASAP. I prefer Pedros Ice Wax, but at least 3-in-1 oil if nothing else. The minute you clean your chain it will begin to rust, so get it greased!

[AntiM]

I just discovered that hard surfaces clean like a charm with a Magic Eraser sponge. You an buy the knock off version inexpensively, and it has done an impressive job on our camp stove. I use them at home in the kitchen all the time on the fridge handles which never seem to quite come clean any other way.

[bubbavic]

What do you guys do to clean your fun fur? I have a couple of coats that are pretty dusty. I also have a bike that I furred. Not sure how to clean those besides chucking them into the wash (for the coats) and hosing down the bike. Maybe dry clean??

[Trishntek]

All my dungeon leathers get a good cleaning with vinegar water. The "pony" which is an oil-tanned upholstered spanking bench gets cleaned with bleach water before and after every use. Once home, after a good spraying down with vinegar water and hosed off, I use Neet's Foot Oil generously. That makes it semi-impervious to a variety of "fluids".

My finer leathers of everything from cow hide, to pig skin, deer, elk and kangaroo are wiped with 10% bleach water. All of them get a quick wipe with saddle soap-moistened rag which simply provides a surface treatment to keep them supple. The heavier, oil-tanned leathers get a good rubbing with Neet's foot oil. The finer, more supple leathers get a final wipe with furniture polish i.e. Pledge.

[phil]

> I have removed some very old water rings from old dolls cloths.

If there's anyone who knows about old dolls, it's unjon.

[Sail Man]

> I have removed some very old water rings from old dolls cloths.

If there's anyone who knows about old dolls, it's unjon.

[theCryptofishist]

What do you guys do to clean your fun fur? I have a couple of coats that are pretty dusty. I also have a bike that I furred. Not sure how to clean those besides chucking them into the wash (for the coats) and hosing down the bike. Maybe dry clean??

YOu can toss your coats in the dryer and just run air without heat. Don't wash first. This will not work on bikes.

[jkisha]

That's what we do. Though we take them to the big dryers at the Laundromat and we put in several of those softener sheets. We also pack cleaned clothes away for next year and include a dryer sheet or two with them.

What do you guys do to clean your fun fur? I have a couple of coats that are pretty dusty. I also have a bike that I furred. Not sure how to clean those besides chucking them into the wash (for the coats) and hosing down the bike. Maybe dry clean??

YOu can toss your coats in the dryer and just run air without heat. Don't wash first. This will not work on bikes.

[bubbavic]

That's what we do. Though we take them to the big dryers at the Laundromat and we put in several of those softener sheets. We also pack cleaned clothes away for next year and include a dryer sheet or two with them.

What do you guys do to clean your fun fur? I have a couple of coats that are pretty dusty. I also have a bike that I furred. Not sure how to clean those besides chucking them into the wash (for the coats) and hosing down the bike. Maybe dry clean??

YOu can toss your coats in the dryer and just run air without heat. Don't wash first. This will not work on bikes.

Great advice! There's a coin op laundromat not far from my house. I'll head there tomorrow. You're right, I don't think they have a dryer big enough for me bike. =)
(I guess I should just de-fur and redo it for next year.)

[theCryptofishist]

I'm wondering if something like canned air would do it. Or a fan set on high...

[jkisha]

No, not really. I'm about to go out and buy a compressor. The canned air doesn't blow hard or long enough to be effective--for the things I'm trying to get the dust out of anyway.
I have resisted buying a compressor because somewhere I read that you can actually cause damage to certain things by using to strong a blast of air. So I'm hoping I can find one that has some sort of regulator to adjust pressure.

I'm wondering if something like canned air would do it. Or a fan set on high...

[theCryptofishist]

I'm wondering about a compressor to plug into my lighter and then using it to pump up my suspension. I actually did that today, and it was easy. But finding a gas station with working air and accessible might become a pain...

[jkisha]

Quick Google search found this: http://www.amazon.com/Slime-COMP01-12-Volt-Plug-Inflator/dp/B000ENQRF0 and many more, but I'm certainly no authority on these kind of things.

I'm wondering about a compressor to plug into my lighter and then using it to pump up my suspension. I actually did that today, and it was easy. But finding a gas station with working air and accessible might become a pain...

[Snow]

nearly any air compressor has a regulator. well not some of the 12v ones for filling up tires, but any real compressor should come with a regulator.

I use an air compressor to clean most of my large stuff, including fur coats. It gets most of the loose dust out, but still leaves a gray hue. I don't mind that as anything I bring to the burn is only for BM or burner events so a bit of gray don't bother me one bit.

[The CO]

What do you guys do to clean your fun fur?

I cannot help answer this question as I am not nor have I ever been a Sparklepony.

[bubbavic]

What do you guys do to clean your fun fur?

I cannot help answer this question as I am not nor have I ever been a Sparklepony.

My suspicion is that you are in fact a closet Sparklepony. As a matter of fact, I betcha yer wearing furry leggings right now thinking we can't see you! Really, there's no need to be shy. =)

[Raymaker]

don't wear your favourite white t-shirts is one answer, I washed mine 3 times and the ends of the sleeves are still pinkish. they're my playa t-shirts now.

[FIGJAM]

Quick Google search found this: http://www.amazon.com/Slime-COMP01-12-Volt-Plug-Inflator/dp/B000ENQRF0 and many more, but I'm certainly no authority on these kind of things.

I'm wondering about a compressor to plug into my lighter and then using it to pump up my suspension. I actually did that today, and it was easy. But finding a gas station with working air and accessible might become a pain...

You can find those 12 volt compressors at Harbor freight and they are handy, but won't have the omf for cleaning.

I like my leaf blower for major dusting and last year found out that the intake was on the flat bottom of the blower.

Running that flat bottom over the truck seats worked better than any vacume cleaner!

[moonrise]

What do you guys do to clean your fun fur?

I cannot help answer this question as I am not nor have I ever been a Sparklepony.

My suspicion is that you are in fact a closet Sparklepony. As a matter of fact, I betcha yer wearing furry leggings right now thinking we can't see you! Really, there's no need to be shy. =)

yes, NO, bubbavic, CO is def not a pony type, lmao...

[alexamonkey]

So what are your great clothes cleaning tips, especially for items that can't be tossed in a washing machine? Thanks.

OK- I've been bringing the same black furry jacket for over a dozen years- and have never washed it-
I have never been crazy enough to bring suede, but both this year and last year 2 suede hats and a suede jacket have been left at my camp- so I did some experimenting with my miracle playa-away ingredient: pledge. I have discovered that pledge is working brilliantly on the suede AND the fur! Both look restored, the fur has regained a little suppleness (and looks like the original fur, not rat tails!) and looks black again! Seriously, that stuff works on just about everything!

I also have a vinyl outfit and a pvc outfit: pledge (for vinyl, sometimes you have to let it sit or grind it in with a towel to get it into the fiber canals)

Any fabric that you can get wet, however, I would hand wash with Oxyclean- another product that should pay me to promote them- if you haven't tried it, it works just like a super-strong bleach, but completely color safe. (only thing that will get up the dinge from my rug)

Velvet or silk? Never tried, but I'm betting pledge works for Velvet, also.

Any other hard to clean items? If I don't know, I'll experiment and try to find the answer!!

[alexamonkey]

What do you guys do to clean your fun fur?

I cannot help answer this question as I am not nor have I ever been a Sparklepony.

My suspicion is that you are in fact a closet Sparklepony. As a matter of fact, I betcha yer wearing furry leggings right now thinking we can't see you! Really, there's no need to be shy. =)

FUN FUR:

I just posted about this: pledge! brush first (I used a fingernail brush, but a bristly hairbrush should work fine)- if you need to, bang extra dirt out or use air (I just give a light dusting with a good air mattress pump)- spray on Pledge, brush through immediately, & watch the magic! (I just did this on a black jacket- going to try a white one I have, & will report my findings)

[creativecstasy]

Diluted vinegar spray & Awesome brand cleaner do wonders to remove playa from all sorts of stuff.

An important note: If you clean off your bike chain, lube it ASAP. I prefer Pedros Ice Wax, but at least 3-in-1 oil if nothing else. The minute you clean your chain it will begin to rust, so get it greased!

I read this about a week too late. My chain and gears are rust colored right now. Is it something I can fix, or do I have to junk the bike, or....?

The rest of the bike is basically pristine.

[Bob]

Wipe off all the dust and take it to the bike shop for a tune-up. Do not mention Burning Man, they will laugh at you.

[The CO]

The minute you clean your chain it will begin to rust, so get it greased!

I read this about a week too late. My chain and gears are rust colored right now. Is it something I can fix, or do I have to junk the bike, or....?

The rest of the bike is basically pristine.

Clean Streak White Lightning chain cleaner is pretty awesome. Used in conjunction with the mechanical cleaner they make, it will do wonders.

You could remove your chain & soak in 3-1 oil for a day. However, a new chain is pretty cheap. If you can't salvage the old one, pony up for a new one.

Pedros Ice wax is very effective at keeping your chain clean if you apply it BEFORE you go the burn.

[jkisha]

FWIW http://www.burningman.com/preparation/event_survival/postplaya.html

[jkisha]

Coke (the soda) removes rust.

Diluted vinegar spray & Awesome brand cleaner do wonders to remove playa from all sorts of stuff.

An important note: If you clean off your bike chain, lube it ASAP. I prefer Pedros Ice Wax, but at least 3-in-1 oil if nothing else. The minute you clean your chain it will begin to rust, so get it greased!

I read this about a week too late. My chain and gears are rust colored right now. Is it something I can fix, or do I have to junk the bike, or....?

The rest of the bike is basically pristine.

[skibear]

Sat the bike next to the car in the DIY car wash. Sprayed everything.

Oiled the chain & some other parts - looks like new!
Then donated it to the Reno Bike Project since It wouldn't fit in my suitcase for
the plane ride east!