going to try spring maintenance for first time.

[FSH 210 Sport]

Go buy some diapers.

I'm dead serious.

Use the diaper as a "glove" of sorts when you spin off the filter. It'll catch most of the oil from dripping into the bilge, and they hold way more liquid than physics should allow.

Also, keep a small trash can with a disposable liner, and paper towels handy. It'll help with any mess you do make and prevent it from being a stain later.

Oh, another thing. Knee pad of some sort. While you're in the kids section getting diapers, get a knee pad thing for adults to kneel beside the bathtub. Saves your knees from either the carpet, or the non-skid while you're down around the bilge area. Totally worth the $6 at WalMart!

Great suggestions!

 

[tdonoughue]

I just picked up a box of oil absorbing pads. They absorb oil but will not absorb water. It was like $30 for a box that will last me forever. I keep these in the bilge basically at all times in case of oil disaster. When changing the oil, just pull out the old pad and put down a new one.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XU7UHK/

 

[jsg73]

You can also use doggy pee mats to catch oil. They are cheap and have worked for me.

 

[Rodder77]

NGK LFR6A (also known at #6668) $4.04 each. RockAuto

 

[drewkaree]

I just picked up a box of oil absorbing pads. They absorb oil but will not absorb water. It was like $30 for a box that will last me forever. I keep these in the bilge basically at all times in case of oil disaster. When changing the oil, just pull out the old pad and put down a new one.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003XU7UHK/

I can vouch for this type of product. I deal with these on a daily basis for work, and I have no idea what kind of voodoo they're made out of to absorb oil but no water, as @tdonoughue says, but that's exactly how they work. I haven't had a need for them when doing an oil change, but your engine setup may be different. @2kwik4u with diapers works quite well also - I "borrowed" some from the grandkids when doing the car.

 

[tdonoughue]

If you are in the controlled environment of an oil change, then I'm sure the diapers/puppy pads work fine. I like these because they not only work for the oil changes, but I can put them in the bilge and they won't soak up any water down there, but will get the oil before it gets to the pump and keeps my bilge from getting too messy. And at 30 cents a piece, I could spring for that. Now I break them out for all environmental disasters around my house (bottom of the car tools box, that generator with the oil leak, etc...).

 

[TimW451]

I never knew these pads absorb oil and not water, pretty cool.

I guess this is why we refer to boats as she/her:

 

[Sonic Blue]

?....... still laughing