Stubborn efflorescence

[Banjo-guy]

I've Diambrushed the floor and etched the perimeter where the blade couldn't reach.
I've power washed and leaf blown the garage.
There is still a very thin, patchy layer of white powder which I assume is efflorescence. I did an over night plastic square moisture test and there was no moisture under the plastic sheet or on the floor.
Yesterday I did a denatured alcohol wipe of the rear of the garage. The other half of the garage was wiped with xylene.
I planned on doing a second wipe of the solvent but it soaked into the concrete almost immediately and there was nothing left to wipe up.
The floor seems like it is profiled very well but I need to get rid of the thin, splotchy efflorescence that remains.

How do I get it clean? Hard sweeping does seem to help but there is still a small amount of white powder on the floor.
The picture has a good view of my problem

 

[Shea]

Actually, that does not look bad. The best way to wipe it down is to pour the denatured alcohol or xylene liberally onto a lint free towel and then wipe. It does not evaporate nearly so fast.

It should just be dust and not efflorescence since you don't have moisture issues. When you wipe your fingers across the floor do they turn white or do you just get a fine white dust particles on them? If it's the latter, then you are good to go.

 

[Banjo-guy]

I just got done with the solvent wipe. I used a liberal amount of denatured alcohol. The floor looks like it's ready now. The white powder is up.

I am repairing the pitted surface with an epoxy cement product. I haven't heard back from Justin Krauss ( it's Sunday ). I wonder how long I need to wait after the alcohol solvent wipe to repair the pitted areas. It's been about an hour.


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[LegacyIndustrial]

Shea hit it. You have concrete dust left over and it sounds like you got it.
Denatured alcohol should be evaporated well enough in approx. 30 minutes over a porous concrete floor that probably ate a bit of it.

Of course, let Justin concur as he is your salesman.

For future reference, we find that brooming in conjunction with an electric blower is a great way to remove the dust (3 or 4x). A vac will not pull the dust well enough. Lastly, if dust is still present, as this post mentions, soak a towel with denatured alcohol and wipe it down.

It will evaporate well and does not have a bad stink as some solvents do.

DIY sometimes have the benefit of TIME. In that case, it is ok to use a pressure-washer but keep in mind you will have to wait several days, maybe a week, for the water to evaporate fully. Joints/Cracks will hold the water the longest.

 

[Garage Flooring]

I just got done with the solvent wipe. I used a liberal amount of denatured alcohol. The floor looks like it's ready now. The white powder is up.

I am repairing the pitted surface with an epoxy cement product. I haven't heard back from Justin Krauss ( it's Sunday ). I wonder how long I need to wait after the alcohol solvent wipe to repair the pitted areas. It's been about an hour.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hey now, I'm pretty sure I emailed you back straight away Seriously though if you ever need me I post my cell, drop me a quick text and I am happy to help.

From the reply I got from you on Sunday it sounds like it was taken care of

 

[Banjo-guy]

Hey now, I'm pretty sure I emailed you back straight away Seriously though if you ever need me I post my cell, drop me a quick text and I am happy to help.



From the reply I got from you on Sunday it sounds like it was taken care of

Justin has been amazing in his response time. I didn't in any way mean to say the customer service wasn't great. Just the opposite. Justin has been very quick to answer my frequent questions.

 

[Garage Flooring]

Justin has been amazing in his response time. I didn't in any way mean to say the customer service wasn't great. Just the opposite. Justin has been very quick to answer my frequent questions.

Thank you!