August 3, 2023, 1:51 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Every now and then, wooden furniture or floors need a care treatment. In many cases, wood oil is used for this purpose. However, oil-soaked rags can catch fire. Why does this happen?
Wood oil penetrates deep into the material, protects the surface, and makes it shine. Typically, the oil is applied to the surface with a rag—whether it’s a parquet floor or solid wood tabletops. There is a wide range of products available in stores. However, caution should be exercised when handling the oil. What many don’t know: If the rag is soaked with wood oil, it can spontaneously ignite if stored improperly.
Why Wood Oil Rags Can Catch Fire
Once the oiling of wood surfaces is done, the soaked rags often end up carelessly in the trash. And here’s the problem: Oil has a very low flash point. A chemical reaction can occur between the fatty acids in the oil and the oxygen in the air, producing heat. If the rag is crumpled up in the trash can, this heat cannot escape and accumulates.
Also interesting: Staining, waxing, oiling wood—what’s the difference?
“Since oil has a low flash point, the rag can spontaneously ignite due to the trapped heat,” explains Torge Brüning, fire protection expert at R+V Versicherung. For this reason, the rag should not be crumpled up after work—or even during a break. It’s better to spread it out on a fireproof surface, such as a stone floor.
Proper Disposal of Wood Oil Rags
The fire protection expert recommends soaking the rag soaked with wood oil in water after use. Then, let it dry in the fresh air, such as over a chair back. Over time, the oil hardens, and the fire hazard is eliminated. Afterward, the rags can be disposed of in regular trash. If you want to reuse the rag, it’s a good idea to store it in an airtight container, such as a screw-top jar. Then you can take it out and use it again for the next wood care treatment.
myHOMEBOOK Opinion
“Wood is a great material, but it should be regularly treated with wood oil. This prevents water from penetrating quickly and avoids unsightly water stains. I actually noticed once that the oil-soaked rag became warm when I carelessly set it aside to take a break. Whether it would have actually caught fire, I can’t say. However, when doing DIY projects, it’s always better to be safe.”