Dirty Rags

[jaybet]

So...
I used to hear the occasional story about a fire that starts spontaneously because of oily rags.
We're a little scary about the dirty swatches, q-tips, rags, whatever, after we clean our guns.
Does anyone know if combustion is a real worry, or does stuff like Hoppes cleaner evaporate fast enough
to be safe?

[Pathfinder]

Usually the oily rags fires are from being dumped in a pile in a can, or into a closed container where the fumes can collect (in the bottom of the can for example), and the heat generated as the hydrocarbons evaporate or degrade (exothermic) can ignite the remaining oil, rags or fumes.

Linseed oil can burn pretty much spontaneously from a rag left on the floor - no can needed. But that is used in woodworking, like sealing a wooden floor, not gun cleaning. I heard of a brand new log cabin that burned to the ground the day after they sealed the floor with linseed oil, and the day before the owners were to move in, because a rag got left on the floor.

As for our our cleaning supplies, I would think careful airing of the cloths used in cleaning would be adequate to prevent problems. Always store unused supplies in an out building, metal container or the like. To be safe, do not store dirty rags unless well aired and/or laundered first.