I am having a heck of a time finding lye in the local stores to boil traps in this year.

What are you guys using?

Get some of the toilet bowl cleaner called "The Works" and boil them in it, good as new.

Menards had it last I checked.

Thank you, I will pick some up too.

TerryC

Don't need lye to clean traps. I just boil them in something with tannic acid.

I didn't know this. Thank you!

TerryC

Any preferred sources? Sumac bark? Maple leaves? I am looking to clean old traps and degrease new traps.

logwood trap dye or black walnuts, hull and all. I've never seen a need for anything more to clean traps. The vinegar stuff has gotten out of hand. lol You'd only need that for severely thick scalely rust. A good coat of surface rust it perfect for dying with.

If you're looking to degrease new traps dawn dish soap is good as anything. I ran new traps in dishwasher on pot pan cycle works well. Just got make sure wife is not home to see ya do it.
I did the toilet bowl cleaner and lye thing years ago. Not saying don't do it but if you do. Don't do it inside anywhere and don't park your chair or even your truck to close down wind if outside.

Mac

Here’s what the Menards lye looks like if you’re still interested.

I would shy away from lye. Dangerous & not necessary.

For new traps, and if I have time, I just wire six together and throw them in the creek spread apart. If the creek runs a little fast tie them to something or stake them down. They will clean in a few days or a week. Easiest method I've found if you have them time and a water source.

Not at all dangerous if you use some common sense and if you want bare metal clean it's the safest of solvents.

Been using it all my life.

I do have a fast flowing creek about 20 yards from the garage.

Perfect ksnow. Try it if you have time. You will be suprised I think.

Same here.

Don’t put oily traps in a creek. Clean them with Dawn dish soap or a biodegradable degreaser.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to wash them in dish soap, not in the dishwasher though. Then dye and wax them.

Dawn dish soap for degreasing

X2 on ADC. Me & a friend use our old logwood dye solutions to clean

So that’s what’s wrong with you. lol