OT: Disposal of carwash chemicals/cleaners?

[J Tiers]

I think some folks here operate carwashes.

A guy I know (son of a good friend) just bought a house that had been a rental (a short-sale deal, but that is irrelevant).

Among the junk left in the garage by the last renter are a number of largish containers of various Armor-All carwash products. Bug remover, "sealer", and some various other cleaning type stuff. A couple are some type of "alkaline cleaner" for carwashes. Apparently the renter operated a couple car washes.

I do not know the volume per container, but they are about 15" square and maybe 2 or 2 1/2 ft tall. Possibly 20 gallons or 25 gallons. Not all of them are full, some are. All are labeled, although I suppose technically there could be nearly anything in them, but the renter did operate car washes and the stuff is probably legitimate.

The city requires that stuff to be gone before they will issue an occupancy permit.

My first response was that he just list it as "free" on Craig's list, with the hope it would go away and become someone else's problem. He is going to try that first, and if he can get it gone that way it will be his best bet.

So, if that does not get rid of it, is this stuff considered hazmat for purposes of disposal?

I thought that the wash residue from the carwash actually went to the regular sewer, but I have never operated a carwash outside of just cleaning a car. Maybe it has to be captured and treated, although I have seen carwashes being built, and never saw a big tank for the drained stuff.

But if it does go down the drain along with whatever grime it washed off, it seems hard to call it "hazmat" aside from the concentration, since the stuff is presumably diluted in water for application. I can see the cleaned off oil and grease etc being hazmat, but this is just the unused cleaner.

He checked the household waste programs folks and was referred to industrial hazmat companies for getting rid of the stuff. Even though it is not HIS leftovers, they consider it "industrial". He did not tell me the quoted disposal costs, but mentioned that it was looking pretty expensive.

I have suggested he get product numbers, and look for the MSDS, which usually has disposal information. No word on that yet, and there may be damaged labels that the product number is unreadable on.

Anybody know what the real deal is with this type stuff?

[rohart]

Tell him to put his car near the street drain and pour the chemicals over the car. Then rinse it off and job done.

[3 Phase Lightbulb]

Go to a car wash, talk to the owner, and let him know you've got lots of car wash products he can have for free. Probably safer than giving them away on Craig's list.

[J Tiers]

Well, not everyone uses those products, or that brand, so it is probably more effective for him to let the prospective takers "self-select" as wanting the particular stuff he has available.

[J Tiers]

Nobody has better info?

I was pretty sure some folks here operated car washes, and might know the kind of stuff involved here.

The son whose house it is is off to management training out of town, so no info back for the moment.

[wierdscience]

Nobody has better info?

I was pretty sure some folks here operated car washes, and might know the kind of stuff involved here.

The son whose house it is is off to management training out of town, so no info back for the moment.

See if you have a car detailing shop nearby,they use a lot of the same stuff and would probably be more than happy to take it off your hands.

Also if you have a Waste Management facility near you they often provide access to a hazmat dumpster two days a week free of charge for just such things.

[flylo]

I's get on the phone & call all the car washes in 50 miles offer them all for $100 to the 1st one sets up a time to collect. Your times covered & they get a great deal. Sometimes free deters or delays getting it done. There has to be an association of car wash owners where you could get a list of phone #s & e-mails. Or take it all to your place & then back to his after the deal is done if you still have them.

[6270 Productions]

If you live where I think you do (kind of hard to tell from your "location"), a quick Google search showed 16 car washes there.

Seriously, contact the nearest one and take a photo of the chemicals to them. Tell them all for sale for $200. You can always negotiate a lower price. They will most likely follow you to the house to pick it up.

That stuff is expensive! If they don't want to pay cash, tell them a year's worth of free car washes will work.

[Baz]

I've not become so lazy I don't wash my car by hand. What do car washes do that needs 'chemicals' apart from a simple non foaming soap? Have I miss-understood and 'car wash' is code for illicit drug factory where you are?

[J Tiers]

I've not become so lazy I don't wash my car by hand. What do car washes do that needs 'chemicals' apart from a simple non foaming soap? Have I miss-understood and 'car wash' is code for illicit drug factory where you are?

I have no idea whether the "car wash" in question is one with the revolving brushes, or one of the you-spray-it types. The U spray it types presumably use a different soap that loosens without using the brushes, but having been disappointed in how they worked I have not been to one in at least 10 years. I use soap and a brush.

I did not even note down the numbers of the products when I was over at his house, so it's reasonably genneral as a question, and I would ONLY expect a carwash operator to know about them. I was under the impression that we had a member or two who actually owned a carwash.

[flylo]

Look up the MSDS sheets, That's easy to do.

[Glug]

Dear Sir,

Having consulted with my colleagues and based on the information gathered from the Nigerian Chambers Of Commerce And Industry, I have the privilege to request your assistance to transfer the car wash chemicals into our warehouse...

[J Tiers]

Look up the MSDS sheets, That's easy to do.

I told him to do that, but he is out of town for the week and I don't know if he did it before he left

....

I have suggested he get product numbers, and look for the MSDS, which usually has disposal information. No word on that yet, and there may be damaged labels that the product number is unreadable on.....

[flylo]

And if been opened may not be the same product as original.

[J Tiers]

And if been opened may not be the same product as original.

That is true, and is also true of the "apparently unopened" ones,for that matter. We do not know they are not radioactive waste, as I have not checked (and I no longer have a Geiger counter). Actually got no info from any carwash folks, who I figured would at least know if similar products are considered hazmat when by themselves, without all the nasty stuff from the undersides of cars.

The renter apparently operated a couple of carwashes, so actually the "provenance" of the stuff is credible. I rather doubt if the containers are full of dioxin masquerading as carwash chemicals. You cannot tell that to the local disposal folks, if they do not know, they assume it is radioactive poison gas and take appropriate precautions. Which I suppose they have to do, as they deal with stuff, and probably with folks who come in with a pack of lies about what they have, too.