Does anyone wash and reuse cotton cleaning patches?

[bones92]

Just curious.  I've been thinking about this for a while.  Seems a shame to throw cotton cleaning patches out once they're fouled.  Wonder if they can be put in a small mesh laundry bag and washed.

[Daryl]

I leave the drying patches on the back steps and use them time and again for drying.  The car-port allows them to dry from shooting session to shooting session.

 The cleaning "patch" (the wet one used for flushing water into and out of the barrel) gets thrown out as there is only one- it is also used for cleaning out the hammer cup of the cap locks, and for wiping off the fouling from the bolster.  The 4 drying patches are saved.  The 5th drying patch is used for oiling the bore and other metal, like the lock's outer surface. So=- yes- you can use them over and over until they wear out.

No- they do not need washing as they are not dirty - only used for drying.

[jimc2]

I did till I got caught putting them in the washer 

[Ky-Flinter]

Just curious.  I've been thinking about this for a while.  Seems a shame to throw cotton cleaning patches out once they're fouled.  Wonder if they can be put in a small mesh laundry bag and washed.

Yes, my wife washes mine for me.  That's how she does it.

-Ron

[Eric Krewson]

I have thought about it, because cotton flannel is so cheap (with a half off coupon from Joann's) and I can cut hundreds in 30 minutes with a fabric cutter wheel, I throw them in the trash.

[OldMtnMan]

I use tow for the fouling, so the patches I use are just for drying and never get dirty. They last forever.

[Clark Badgett]

I used military issue patches. Got about a million of them.

[Molly]

Well, if one were fiscally inclined and conservation minded I'd say "why not".  Fact is I go through them by the droves.  But I guess I'm not driven to do that and never will be.

[Standing Bear]

Yes. The wife hasn't caught me yet.  I got a small mesh laundry bag off the net and thro it in w some jeans.  I wipe between shots, damp patch one trip in and out next shot I use the other side.

[Darkhorse]

Yes. I most certainly reuse my patches until they get holes in them and then they are trashed. I bummed a couple of old short nylons from my wife. I don't try to clean too many at a time or they won't get clean and just bunch up inside the nylon. I just put a moderate amount inside the nylon and tie a knot in it and into the washer it goes, then into the dryer.
I use large plastic coffee cans to separate the different sizes as the .54's are larger than the smaller caliber patch. I use one big can for all the dirty patches.

[nosrettap1958]

Sure do. I use old cotton T-shirts ripping them up into patches for cleaning. Soak them in a bucket of hot water and dishwashing liquid and reuse them until they get either filthy or have too many holes in them.

[EC121]

I wash mine in a 5gal. bucket and spread them on the well house to dry in the sun.  I use whatever I can cut up for cleaning.  The cheaper made cotton materials decay and tear quicker after the first use, but all the material used seem to soak up the cleaner and dry better than the the new cloth with sizing on it.  Usually toss them after the second use.
      Lately I have been using a mixture of coconut oil and Track's mink oil.  It seems to clean up easier than others.  Soon as the rain moves out, I need to try the 20gr. cleaning load.
     

[bones92]

I did till I got caught putting them in the washer

  Now that was funny.   

I can see that playing out in many a laundry room... wife walks by and sees you putting a bag of them in the washer... "Whoa!  What is that?  What are you doing?  Please tell me you are NOT washing your greasy old patches in my washing machine!..."


I was even thinking of putting them in a bucket, squirt some Dawn detergent, fill with hot water, and wash them by hand.   Grab the whole mess, wring them out and lay them out to dry.   My concern is the washing/drying machines might fray them.

[hanshi]

I don't wash patches but usually lay clean ones to dry on my bench.  With lots of old  t-shirts and flannel baby blankets (from the thrift store) I've got plenty without reverting to my genetic frugality.  So a few patches do get reused from time to time as cleaners and oilers.   

[P.W.Berkuta]

My brother does but I throw them away - the cost of the fabric is cheap or if you have old cotton socks, T-ee shirts, underware -- use it .