Can an olive oil soaked paper towel in a closed trash can cause a fire?

Question

I have heard that if you leave oily rags in a non ventilated trash can, it can cause spontaneous combustion and is a fire hazard. Does the same hold for olive oil? I have one of those garbage cans with a flip top lid.

Answer 1

I don't see why olive oil would be any different than any other oil.  I disagree that it's "less flammable" than others.  Olive oil makes great lantern oil.  It may not be refined, but who knows, maybe that makes it even more prone to oxidation.  At least one website below groups all the oils together in their warning about oily rags, including cooking oils.

That being said, although it is surely possible with olive oil and you SHOULD be careful, there are circumstances in which oily rags combust spontaneously.  If you have a big pile of them, and store them in a hot place, then their natural oxidation adds even more heat.  The big pile or an enclosed space such as a trash can insulates the insides so that the heat builds up qucker, leading to flashpoint temperatures.  This might be more likely in a garage, where people have piles of old rags that sit undisturbed for a long time in an unairconditioned garage.  In your cool kitchen in a garbage bag full of wet stuff, if you add one oily rag, the chance of spontaneous combustion is probably a lot less.  Not zero, but probably not a huge risk

Answer 2

that is so crazy cause my neighbor's garage caught on fire yesterday for the same thing! i never knew that, but i don't think it applies to olive oil. i'm gonna check back on this one so hopefully someone wicked smart will answer

Answer 3

i dont think so, maybe if the oil is hot

Answer 4

I have heard that oily substances can cause a fire.....My washing machine actually has a warning about washing and drying oil or gas soaked rags (I guess because the oil or gas never really completely gets washed out) and then you throw these items in the dryer after being washed can start a fire....

I have heard the same about leaving oily or gas rags laying about in a pile or in a trash can cause a fire.

Olive oil or vegetable oil is not as flammable as motor oil it is more refined...I think it would have to be some pretty extreme circumstances for that to happen like an open flame next to the rags........