any tips for cleaning a dryer belt?

[Du Manchu]

I just purchased a heavily used 48" x 12 ft Hix Dryer from a larger  shop.   The Belt is nasty and has damaged some light shirts with dirt and soot.  Does anyone have any tips or chemicals for cleaning a belt ? 

Thanks,
Dewey

[Croft]

I had same situation , ended up buying a new belt. still looks like new. Some people just destroy there belts for some reason

[Frog]

I have found that even a "clean" belt can mark shirts when the shirts are allowed to remain stationary with the belt rubbing them.

[RICK STEFANICK]

there are several sources out there that sell belts at resonable prices.. i can think of greenbelt company.. hopefully someone has a belt source list they can share..

[Homer]

simple green and time. take some old rags, press them on the end of the roller/belt, (the spot where a shirt would naturally fall)  - and let'er run for a few hours. not going to get it all but it'll help with "belt burn" as we call it.... Simple green is great stuff.

OR:

http://screenprintsource.com/category/?supply=232

[RICK STEFANICK]

there you go CGS. Tony is a super nice guy. and will have great prices.. thanks J..

[Frog]

Keep in mind that even at "great" prices, Dewey is looking at a few hundred dollars, so if in otherwise good shape, a little wiping could be a good start.

[Du Manchu]

Thanks gang.  I'll put a little elbow grease and simple green to the test.  A bigger drop box and paying attention to the pile of shirts stacking up would certainly help also!

[ZooCity]

Take the whole thing, rolled up and throw in the washout booth and blast the hell out of it. 

Soak the rolled up belt in a 5gal or bigger bucket or even a dip tank, flipping it.   Let it sit for a couple of days if you are using simple green or something gentle.

Blast it again.

Put it on the press and run at a slow belt speed.

Get a couple big buckets of warm soapy water or more simple green + water and scrub that belt as it goes around the rollers.  Keep doing this until you pass the white glove test sufficiently.  If it's really gnarly you might have to flip the belt and scrub both sides. 

Our belt is a piece of junk but it carries shirts down the dryer.

[tonypep]

Careful! Even products like Simple Green can give off noxious odors when subjected to heat. Even after its dry. Be sure to ventilate when firing up the dryer for the first time.

[RICK STEFANICK]

most belts are teflon coated. I like the idea of pressure washing it though. I would think that would be enough without simple green. great point zoo..

[ZooCity]

most belts are teflon coated. I like the idea of pressure washing it though. I would think that would be enough without simple green. great point zoo..

Hey it worked for us but we had to soak, soak, soak and blast it twice and we still needed a warm soapy scrub down after installing it.  Still cheaper than a new belt but I'll buy a new one at some point- old, warped belts don't track well.

Run it with just the belt or just the air on v. with the heat or, if the heat must be on, set it super low.  When you can rub a clean white or light shirt on it and nothing comes off yer good to go.