Best way to clear gun cleaning odors in a confined Apartment?

[roo_ster]

Several good ideas were given, above. I will add & elaborate.

Hot Soapy Water
Hot soapy water will do a pretty good job of cleaning carbon & gunk off of weapons. No copper or lead-removing properties, here, outside any brushes you might use. Rinse in the hottest water your spigot can produce & shake off quick-like. A heat gun/hair dryer is also useful for getting water off metal. Lube up in detail, as all your lube is now in the sink.

Motor Oil
A quality synthetic motor oil will do a decent job cleaning a weapon. Again, no lead/copper removing properties to be found in the oil. Motor oil does not have a strong smell and can be used to lube your weapon.

CLP
CLP has less odor than Hoppes #9 & works well.

Ultrasonic Cleaner & Water or Motor Oil
Disassemble & drop in for a while.

All serious copper solvnets I have used have had a strong odor. If all you want to do is clean up your weapon and get rid of carbon, the above will do the trick.

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QUESTION: Has anybody determined the solvent value of baby oil?

 

[Neo-Luddite]

I'm with Jfruser on the hot soapy water. For the really paranoid, use boiling de-ionized/distilled h20 for a final rinse and hair dry.

Some folks throw the newer polymer weapons field stripped in the dish washer, or so I've heard.


and


"Clean them out on the deck in a stained white tshirt and camo pants?"

I long for Spring/Summer .

 

[Joey_the_Wolf]

I had the same problem... Kinda. I'm still very much single (I'm working on changing that) so no one was complaining, but the smell was making me a bit light headed and nauseated, so I just decided to clean my guns with Windex (Amonia based) and hot water and soap. If I'm feeling lazy I'll just field strip and place the metal parts (slides, barrels, bolt carriers, etc) or even the polymer frames in the dishwasher and forget about them for the night while they wash and dry. In the morning, I have sparkling clean guns The first time I did that, my mom threw a fit (it was in her dishwasher) but now she cleans her pistol the same way.

I've been doing this for quite some time now, and it works and cleans beautifully, with no rust or damage at all to my guns. I just make sure to fully DRY them afterwards, that way no moisture can collect anywhere.

 

[scurtis_34471]

I use WD-40 for the nasty stuff and Rem Oil for everything else. I have yet to hear any complaints about smell and my guns are immaculate.

 

[Big Calhoun]

You must not have a patio or balcony as that was the happy medium in our house. I use to clean in the kitchen because I'd have the exhaust fan going, a couple windows open, and the ceilinf fan in the dining room going...Hoppes still stunk up the joint. Outside of doing it outdoors or changing your cleaner, I haven't come up with a way to diminish the smell. And that's some strong stuff!!!

 

[Dorryn]

As I have a cat, I tend to prefer the smell of Hoppe's, BreakFree, etc...

 

[rxraptor02]

I just came from an apartment and my girlfriend hated this. I was lucky that our apt had a patio with a glass door that also went to the outside. I would just open up the door leading to the outside then close the glass door leading into the apartment. I also used a box fan to suck/blow the fumes outside. Since we were on the 3rd floor I sure the neighbors down below loved the fumes...lol

I made the misteak of cleaing them in the bathroom with the exhaust fan on. the fumes still over took the room and I had to leave in the middle of cleaning them.

but the Hoppes' Elite works well. I have used the spray and gel stuff.

Now I just need to buy a small table to take them outside to clean. I am glad we have a wood privacy fence so no one can see me cleaning. in the winter months I just hope that I get a day off when my G/F is at work so she can't complain.

 

[bogie]

Just wipe it down real good with CLP... Then, when the rifle's barrel starts to really copper up, inside a few hundred rounds, declare that it's shot out, and take it down to Bubba's Gun Mart. Trade it in for under half-price. I'll then buy it, spend about $15 on copper solvent and bronze brushes, and get it shooting again.

 

[gunsmith]

if your wife doesn't like hoppes

trade her in!

 

[rickomatic]

Who in the world doesn't like the smell of Hoppe's #9? Man...I wish Glade made plugins in Hoppe's #9 scent!!

 

[texas bulldog]

this won't work for eveyone, but...

...marry a girl whose dad was a sheriff and a gun collector. that's what i'm doing, anyway. she's used to the smell and will even clean guns with me. she'll also shoot with me, go to gun shows with me, and listen to me drone on about the guns i can't wait to add to the collection.

yeah...it's pretty awesome.

 

[XeRoFuN]

Hmm...I think I will try Hoppe's Elite or M-Pro 7. Thanks fellas.

 

[Bopleo]

Invite some friends over and serve them beans, boiled eggs, and beer. The smell will be gone in a few hours.

 

[vesmcd]

If your S/O doesn't like the smell of Hoppe's, what ever you do, DO NOT!!!!! use it (or WD-40) when the clothes dryer is running

 

[Feanaro]

Open the windows. A little fresh air is nice now and then.

 

[obxned]

Trade in the wife.

 

[nico]

I used Slip2000 Carbon Killer for the first time tonight, and I think it fits the bill well. It's very good at dissolving powder residue and is non-flammable, biodegradable, and has a very mild smell that doesn't spread throughout the room or linger at all. It's also reusable (meaning you can soak small parts directly in the jar), so the 16oz bottle I bought last week should last for a long time.

 

[kd7nqb]

I say its time for a new wife, I dont like the smell of all that girly candle stuff my GF insists on burning but I put up with it.