I got some new traps and was wondering what would work to remove the factory grease. I was thinking of baking soda in hot water will it work? How much of ______ to ________ gallons of water?

Baking soda is too weak for that job. Get some unscented dishwasher powder. Use about 1 cup to every five gallons of water.

-- Hal

Thanks Hal. Is baking soda good for cleaning at the end of the season?

The only thing baking soda is good for is taking the shine off of snares.

-- Hal

thanks hal

LJ

Hal, could you post the name of the unscented detergent you use. I cannot find any and when I ask at the store the clerks are useless.
Thanks!

I've used many different "brands". Right now the box I've got is called "Everyday Living".

Just get in the proper asile at any major supermarket, and start looking for the cheap, generic-type brands. If it doesn't say "lemony fresh" or something to that effect on the box, chances are it is unscented.

-- Hal

At your hunting stores I get and use the earth scent clothing detergent for hunting clothes.Makes your traps smell like dirt.

Just put some gasoline in a 5 gallon bucket, put your traps in the gas for about 30 minutes and your done.

"and you're done." Done with what??, living, or trapping???? According to this site, there are more user friendly ways to de-grease traps. Gas in an open bucket is life threatening dangerous. Also, how will you dispose of the contaminated fuel. Sure can't dump it out. Mother earth deserves better than that. And what about your gas traps? Is there an 'oil well' set we don't know about? Frank.

Playing devil's advocate here…

Indeed I think there are better ways to degrease traps, especially at $3 per gallon for gasoline. And yes working with an open container of gasoline can be dangerous but… There is no qualitative difference between soaking traps in gasoline to degrease them or soaking traps in a petroleum based dip, thinned with gasoline. And a number of people use dipped traps even at canine sets, there is no special oil-well set needed to use these traps. As for disposal, gasoline is very volatile it will evaporate quickly. And I don't really see how evaporating a gallon of gasoline is much different than running a gallon of gasoline through your car.

-- Hal

Very well said hal, i use gas to degrease and speed dip to coat my traps, put a lid on them and store in the corner of my shed.

Run the new traps thru the dishwasher just make sure the chains are not hanging in the way of the spray arm. I have also boiled dirty traps in dishwasher compound outside to clean them. It leaves no odor.

I put mine in a big tub and spray them down with a good degreaser, rinse with hot water then wash them with dishwashing liquid and rinse well. This is just how I do it and it works very well. I'll still let them air real good for a while and then they are squeaky clean and ready for boiling.

remember to run the dishwasher again after you use it to wash your traps because your wife will not be as made at you my dad tried that and forgot to clean the dishwasher after and mom found trap oil lines in the dishwasher she put a stop to that quick and yes so no one says he did it wrong he says he most likely did but if he can so can someone else who has never did it just remember you are warned lol he he

My dishwasher said she wasn't cleaning my traps anymore//.

lol good post beez you sound like Cyber Possum

What about boiling with lye?

Cleaning in a lye solution works quite well.The diswasher detergent reccomended above is slighty safer,easy to find and a little less expensive.

Dated for search.