Gun related laundry

[rmuzz]

I used to work in the construction industry for a couple years, dealing with concrete/abrasive saw dust/silica sand/xylol... huge list of fairly nasty stuff. Most of my work clothes were washed separate from my day-to-day mostly because ALL of my clothes were work clothes but also because I didn't want to get these chemicals on my good clothes or the girl's stuff.

Should I take the same precautions after spending an afternoon at the range? Right now mostly what I take with me (indoors, less than ideal ventilation) is a .22 lr, and my S&W 19-5 .357. When it warms up Ill probably shoot some more centerfire rifles outdoors including some milsurp 7.62x54 corrosive stuff. Its hard to tell if I can really smell anything on my pants and t-shirt I used the other day, but I had some cheater smokes and all I smell is the tobacco. Am I being overly cautious? I guess I don't know enough about the smoke leaving the barrel/breach/barrel gap to say I'm 100% comfortable around it. Some of the .38 reloads I was using for a while got smoke everywhere. Let me know what you think.

-Rmuzz

PS- if this should be placed somewhere else, please move it. It seemed like the right place for it though.

 

[WardenWolf]

I wouldn't worry about it. The only real toxin is lead, and that's generally left in the barrel. People have been exposed to powder smoke for years without problems. As for corrosive ammo, you know water is actually the solution, right? So there's no harm done by throwing anything exposed to it in the wash.

 

[rmuzz]

Okay, I figured it couldn't be a huge problem... I just got used to hearing "don't get on your skin, it causes cancer" or "don't breathe this stuff or it will kill off your little soldiers." It might have made me a little paranoid about dust and smoke I kind of enjoy the smells when shooting, but then again the solvents I use I kind of like the smell of as well.

I knew that water or windex is what you use down the barrel to dissolve the salts, guess there wouldn't be any harm running my coat through the wash with it on either then. I'm not rolling in the stuff, hehe.

 

[rbernie]

The only real toxin is lead, and that's generally left in the barrel.

Actually, the principal source of lead from the range is in the primer residue. That *is* a dust.

I don't separate my dirty range clothing from the regular dirty laundry, but I also don't wear my range clothing again after a trip to the range until it's washed.

 

[jnyork]

I dont think it is a big problem, but nothing wrong with being cautious and if it makes you feel better to wash 'em after a range session, go to it.

 

[Claude Clay]

take range shoes off in garage or on door mate so as not to track up the house. pets and small kids live close to the floor--be nice.

i was thinking this was a question about wether or not to unload your glock before putting it in the washing machine.
and just to be safe, are kel-teks are color fast?

 

[Spyvie]

You'll have much better luck washing your guns in the dishwasher.