Old shop floor cleaning

[tidewater.mechanic]

I just purchased a mechanical business with 4 separate shops that all have oil soaked concrete floors. We work on everything from marine Tig welding to total CAT engine tear-downs to old greasy tractors. Grease and oil everywhere... its awesome, but the floors are a disaster. What would be a good starting product to put down that might help break down the oil or lift the oil? I don't need a sparkling clean floor because we are using all shops frequently but when my guys crawl under equipment it would be nice not to have a huge grease streak on them!!

Thanks, now I have to get back to work!!

AQ

 

[driftpin]

Not sure if it's still available but trisodium phosphate is a good start. Guess it is: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001GOGQW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Warrenator]

There are commercial steam cleaners that spray steam and chemical then vacuum it up..... if you want to hire it done that might give the best results.

For a more DIY approach I agree with driftpin, TSP or powdered laundry detergent, add a little water, scrub the bad spots with a brush, then squeegee the mess into a drain or big sloppy dustpan, lather rinse repeat.

 

[tidewater.mechanic]

Thank you. Has anyone heard of Purple Power, sold in big box stores I think...

 

[txvwnut]

Purple power will do it, Greased Lightening is great and Simple Green will cut it too.

 

[MarlynOC]

Unheard of now but we used to pour mineral spirits on garage floor and use push broom to clean then spray with water hose.

 

[SunsetsAndFriends]

...

 

[Kmp259]

Oil Eater......

 

[rkevins]

Lowes also carries TSP

 

[James-W]

What are you planning on doing to the floor once you get it clean? If you don't protect the floor once you get it clean, it will just get all soaked with grease and oil again.

My suggestion is, have a professional crew come in and clean the floor, one area at a time. Then have a crew come in and epoxy the floor, one area at a time. I know this will be very expensive to do, and it may even be cost prohibitive. But if you were to do this the floor would be clean to start out and it would be easy to keep it clean. My point is, long term you would be way ahead if you spend the money to do it right the first time. That's my opinion, others may disagree.

 

[yhprum]

Sounds like it might be too much area for Pour and Restore, but that stuff works like a charm.

 

[kd3pc]

CAT used to make a commercial cleaner, green in color, that was just for this application. Not sure if they still make it/sell it.

We do a bit of the same thing, and use TSP, muriatic acid wash, and rice hull absorbent when the spill occurs. For light spills/stains, I have found that Tide detergent, the old plain stuff, lightly spread or Dawn lightly sprayed - leave for a couple hours and then wash thoroughly.

just be aware that in some states, use of these methods and chemicals are highly regulated and not approved (except the rice hull) for use in areas without containment and water filtering - ie Marinas and shoreside repair facilities..

then you will need to get one of the licensed, commercial guys in....

 

[krcoomer]

CAT used to make a commercial cleaner, green in color, that was just for this application. Not sure if they still make it/sell it.

We do a bit of the same thing, and use TSP, muriatic acid wash, and rice hull absorbent when the spill occurs. For light spills/stains, I have found that Tide detergent, the old plain stuff, lightly spread or Dawn lightly sprayed - leave for a couple hours and then wash thoroughly.

just be aware that in some states, use of these methods and chemicals are highly regulated and not approved (except the rice hull) for use in areas without containment and water filtering - ie Marinas and shoreside repair facilities..

then you will need to get one of the licensed, commercial guys in....

This brings back memories for me. When I worked in a service station in the early 80's we hosed it down, scrubbed with Tide powder and rinsed every night. This was on untreated smooth troweled concrete. IIRC, the water went into a grease trap for environmental reasons.

 

[tom-ky]

Not sure how much area you have to do but renting a good floor scrubber will work or hire someone with one.

 

[Armorpoxy]

We find that the way to get rid of an oily surface is to shot blast it.

Then, coat it. Note that shot blasted floors always have to be primed since the process makes the floor absorbent and somewhat textured/profiled. Grinding can work too, but it takes longer, plus since shot blasting is a 'top down' process where the shot hits the floor from above, this process does a fantastic job of getting the **** out of the low spots. Grinding, which is a horizontal process does nothing to the low spots.

See example photo....

 

[benwah]

Powerhouse degreaser, Purple Power etc. Use full strength if the floor is terrible, or cut 1:1 with warm water. Use a swing buffer with nylon bristles and wet vacuum up the nasty oily water.