Cleaning stuff

I am a fan of the Simple Green for a good combination of degreasing effectiveness and decent non-toxic/biodegradable cred. But that doesn't solve the problem of where the waste fluid goes. Maybe I'm shirking my enviro-responsibility but I don't see how, with a reasonable amount of effort, at home one can capture, store and dispose of the water/Simple Green/automotive effluvia mix. So it's ground, gutter or drain. I would like to hear alternatives.

I think it's kind of a no-win. Water based cleanup - waste fluid produced. Acetone or other higher hydrocarbon based cleanup - fluid evaporates into the air, plus now you have to throw away or wash rags. If you throw away, oily rags in the landfill. If you wash, automotive effluvia goes down the drain.

PS: I just found out there is Crystal Simple Green (I believe it's the same without color or the mint fragrance). Next time I buy some, I'll get that.

PPS: I use a generic pump-up garden sprayer to deliver the diluted Simple Green. Seems like I use less as I'm able to target it better.

Harbor freight has a 20 gallon parts washer for $100. You'll have to spend another bill on solvent.  I have one and it works pretty good.

My driveway is concrete and it drains down a side passageway next to my house and into a drainage culvert in my back yard, so I don't want to let any nasty stuff go down there at all.

I was looking at the HF parts washer and it looks like a decent option. I just have to decide if it's worthwhile spending that much, and the reviews seem to say the pump doesn't really hold up.

I'll likely just go with a big tub and some Simple Green or similar degreaser, and I can take it to the local recycler, but I just figured I'd see if there was a smarter solution.

This!  IT can even work if you prefer to use a solvent like mineral sprits or kerosene. I do this when I clean my parts washer. I drain it into jugs, let it settle, pour the upper part off and then let it settle some more. After a while I have about a gal. to 1/2 gal. of very thick sludge in the bottom of the jug. I then pour that into a large shallow pan and let it sit somewhere where it can dry out. Once it has I just empty the pan into the garbage.

was always diesel or purple power. but now, gasoline for life.
best cleaning ever, dirt and grease, all gone.
quick rinse, take it out, and done, just dont let it puddle up on the part, or the dirt will settle.
just do it outside, no power brushes like diesel.

+1 to a modest amount of kerosene, a bunch of elbow grease, then Purple Power/Oxygen Orange/Plum Fierce/degreaser of choice.

I, too, was concerned about making a big old mess.  I ended up just using a toothbrush in a paper cup with about a cup of kerosene, and that's enough to go a _long_ way even in a 20+ year old engine bay.  Repeat with hot degreaser in a spray bottle, then scrub and rinse until you'd rather actually work on the car. 

On stuff on the bench (cylinder head, I'm looking at you, hurry up and reassemble yourself!) it'll do just fine to make it look newish.

Throw down the cardboard to catch the drippings, if you're in the driveway, and have a bonfire with the remains!