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Dave,
Just go to the hardware store and get a gal.container of mineral spirits then start cleaning.Make sure you put on saftey glasses and gloves and you are good to go.
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I do beg to differ with you on that. For mineral spirits to be used properly the operator really needs to wear a full apron, gloves, safety glasses and a respriator. Failure to use this saftey equipment, especailly after pro longed use will lead to brain damage, lung damage, skin damage and possible cancer. For way too long people thought they didn't need all that saftey equipment but today we know otherwise.
Can you imagine walking into your mechanics shop and seeing the mechanic in a full respirator, plastic apron, gloves cleaning your parts.....................But if they don;t wear the recommended safety equipment when using Mineral Spirits to clean the substance is toxic to lungs and to the nervous system. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage as stated on their own MSDS
Mineral Spirits is sold under the names: Petroleum distillates (V.M.&P. naphtha) is used as a quick evaporating paint thinner. Stoddard solvent is used in the dry cleaning industry. Mineral spirits is a general purpose thinner, a dry cleaning agent, and a solvent for paint and varnish industries. (Ref. 5.1.)
Mineral Spirits is Hazardous to skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, of inhalation. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (permeator).
Federal and State Regulations: TSCA 8(b) inventory: Mineral spirits
Other Regulations: OSHA: Hazardous by definition of Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200).
WHMIS (Canada): CLASS B-3: Combustible liquid with a flash point between 37.8°C (100°F) and 93.3°C (200°F).
CLASS D-2A: Material causing other toxic effects (VERY TOXIC).
DSCL (EEC): R10- Flammable. R36/38- Irritating to eyes and skin.
OSHA Requires Protective Equipment: Gloves.Vapor respirator. Be sure to use an approved/certified respirator or equivalent. Wear appropriate respirator when ventilation is inadequate. Protective Apron to guard against splashes. Splash
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Flammable, Combustible, Hazardous, HAP'S Regulated, 100% VOC, Waste must be transported and treated off site. Can not be used heated.
That is the stuff you have to worry about working with Mineral Spirits. The Hurrisafe product line has been tested and certified for use by the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines. Some of these tests took 3 or more years to complete. Simple green is not a viable alternative as it has not been as tested as throughly as Hurri-Safe has. For the question about how safe the product is please take a look at this link and see PDF files that go into all of that. I do have a piece that shows the damage mineral spirits can do to body organs. I need to find it and post it. It will blow you away.
http://www.hurrisafe.com/gs07f0782ne...rtswasher.html
Hope this helps~
Tom