Messages Archive

Subject:
Floor cleaning

JL
Cleaning the floor.
In the old days I would have recommended TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate).

Heavy oil stains - paint thinner, naphta, mineral spirits to somewhat dissolve and loosen the stain. Followed by a clay kitty litter or clay absorbent material. Repeat as necessary. Leave the kitty litter dry outside.

Light oil stains, anti-freeze, brake fluid stains - make a slurry of powdered detergent and dish detergent. Let it set on the stain for a while. Scrape it up. Rinse. Repeat as necessary.

Muriatic acid wash - household muriatic (hydrochloric acid) is about 31% as you get it from most stores. I usually dilute it 1:10 for etching concrete. Some people go for a bit more dilute (1:20). Wear gloves and old clothes, rubber boots and possibly a Tyvek coverall. Rinse the floor afterwards to clean up any residual "flaking" of the concrete. The acid is neutralized by the cement in the concrete.

© 1998 - 2012 by Ellis Walentine. All rights reserved.
No parts of this web site may be reproduced in any form or by
any means without the written permission of the publisher.

WOODCENTRAL, P.O. BOX 493, SPRINGTOWN, PA 18081