Cleaning Concrete....

[StaggeringGoat]

I've got a 40x60 that used to be a marijuana grow...they made a real mess of the concrete floor. I'd love to pressure wash the entire thing but I can't get my drywall wet. I've tried mopping with some simple floor cleaner, but I can't really scrub as hard as I need to with the mop. The floor looks like it was sealed to begin with but a lot of that has flaked off, even though it's only about 2 years old.

What should I use to clean this floor....without making a huge, wet mess inside?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Is there ANY kind of drain (for rinse water) or does it have to air dry ?

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Is there ANY kind of drain (for rinse water) or does it have to air dry ?

Nope, all has to air dry. Rinsing would be very difficult.

 

[Edger]

Best you can do I think is to scrub it with a very strong alkaline detergent and let it soak. Use a fine bristle house broom to agitate the chemical into the fine cracks and voids. Hire a wet vac and **** it all up, broom out rinse water onto it and swirl it around doing small sections that you can wet vac clean again easily. Repeat the rinse and vac. Anything that stays there should not be a worry or would probably need diamond grinding.

 

[dcs Inc]

You could also rent a small walk behind auto scrubber. It sprays the cleaner, scrubs it and then ***** it up with a squeegee type vac. Make sure you get aggressive scrub attachments as they have different types of scrub heads. This is what I use on larger projects. (Ride ons on really large ones). gene ec-Indy

www.elitecreteindiana.com
www.indycrete.com

 

[StaggeringGoat]

Anybody have suggestions for what type of cleaner to use? My floor is cut into 10x10 sections so I could work a section at a time, using the shop vac to dry it up.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I don't know how well it would work on large areas, but for oil spots I use Greased Lightening or Drive Up. Lightly scrub in (push broom) and let sit over night. Rinse (and vacuum in your case).

After it is dry, if their are still spots left, repeat.

Laundry soap on a wet floor with a broom actually works pretty good !

 

[Edger]

Go with the laundry powder, cheap and strong, dishwasher powder is stronger, more expensive. Put it on the wife's budget, but don't tell her.

 

[sxk122]

My workaround was to paint the walls with exterior gloss paint..... then powerwash.....

 

[Cabby89]

You need an attachment like this for a pressure washer.

 

[elevator joe]

Rent a floor scrubber (box store) with an abrasive pad(different grits available), use concrete cleaner of choice. Wet concrete with cleaner, scrub,mop up residue. Takes some time but cleans well.

 

[XsteveedgeX]

check your area for a crime scene clean up company, and ask them, or see what they'd charge. it's hard to get that smell out man...

 

[outcast]

lay some plywood or whatever against the wall, and power wash it. just try and not aim right at the wall.

 

[Provincial]

Put some rubber baseboard around the bottom of the drywall. It costs about $72.00 for 120 ft. at HD. They sell adhesive in caulking tubes and an applicator adapter for the tubes. Once you have the baseboard in, tape plastic to the walls and seal it to the baseboard with duct tape. With the drywall protected, you can get aggressive with a pressure washer, and well-sealed (glued) rubber baseboard will allow you some standing water until you get it vacuumed or pumped out.

 

[Dragster Racer]

I tried to clean my shop floor today. It was sealed with cure and seal when new about 3.5 years ago. I really use my shop. Race car, daily drivers, brake fluid, trans fluid and oils. They get cleaned up as I go, when I catch them.
Today I tried mopping with laundry detergent, sprinkled on floor and brushed with stiff bristle brush. It cleaned the dirt, but the stains were prolific. Tried some parts washer that is dilitable and can be used on floors. Helped, but not a lot. Even tried Methanol, and that really didn't do anything. There is no doubt the floor is cleaner. I am not against stripping and resealing, but what is going to lighten those dark stains?

 

[Jaguar Fan]

... I am not against stripping and resealing, but what is going to lighten those dark stains?

My guess: you've done about as much as you can do short of putting an epoxy on it.

 

[Dragster Racer]

I think you are right. No epoxy for me. It doesn't have to be a showplace, nor would it stay that way. Just want to get it as clean as I can while I am at it.

 

[hoho98925]

just tape some plastic sheeting on the walls to protect them, use a citric acid cleaner and power wash.

 

[Robert0155379]

TSP (trisodium phosphate) and hot water. Strong stuff, don't get it on your skin. Use a pail or two of fresh water and a squeegee to push the rinse water out. Might want to rewash the floor with laundry detergent afterward for a better smell. It did a number on the chicken smell in my garage. And its cheap.

 

[Dragster Racer]

TSP (trisodium phosphate) and hot water. Strong stuff, don't get it on your skin. Use a pail or two of fresh water and a squeegee to push the rinse water out. Might want to rewash the floor with laundry detergent afterward for a better smell. It did a number on the chicken smell in my garage. And its cheap.

The last box I got said "No phosphates" I may very well try some of the real stuff.