Tsp

[Charles (in GA)]

For what its worth, someone in a thread on shop rags and cleaning them mentioned TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate) as a "booster". Someone mentioned Ace Hardware as a source of it. I went there, they had three different products labeled TSP, none of them were, the fine print on the containers said "subsutitute" under the TSP. They actually were Sodium Metasilicate, the stuff used in Westleys Bleach White tire cleaner.

Today I stumbled into the real deal, TSP, at Home Depot, in the PAINT department, just above the mineral sprits, paint thinner and alcohol. Its a powder in a box and is intended for cleaning siding, and such prior to painting. Guess since the no phosphate **** in laundry detergents, the only way to keep the stuff on the market is to "repurpose" it as a general purpose cleaner.

This evening I ran a couple of buckets of water, liquid Tide, and TSP and put some shop rags in them to soak. Agitated by hand and the water turned very gray, very quickly, I think it does help..............

FYI if anyone cares...........

Charles

 

[coldfusion21]

I used something that sounds very similar to clean some pistons I had melted ( for measuring and handling sake)

Hot hot water plus tsp made it react with the pistons and eat all the gunk off, no agitating needed. I thought it was neat stuff.

 

[Plombob]

Several years ago the environmental wackos got it removed from cleaning products because it supposedly hurt fish. When I see an old box of the real TSP at yard sales, I pick it up. Didn't know you could still get it.

 

[Amitygravel]

My Dad used TSP on woodwork and other items that needed a thorough cleaning before being repainted , the stuff does the trick. Another cleaning agent he swore by was the powdered version of ****-n-SPAN. He would wash down grimy and greasy walls with that before painting. Has anyone seen that lately ?

 

[srmofo]

I love tsp to clean wood, it really brings the grain out. Ive only seen it in the paint dept. I knew it was removed from other cleaning supplies years ago, But I am too young to remember it

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Used the TSP last nite to do a couple of loads of shop rags. I think they came cleaner than using the liquid tide alone, and the buckets did not have as much grease/oil residue inside them (I suppose it stayed suspended in the water and got tossed out)

Had to hurry as the weather was turning bad fast and I had to hang the rags on the indoor line stretched across the shop and get closed up, fast.

Charles

 

[MoonRise]

Yup, usually in the paint department.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisodium_phosphate

But read the label carefully, as I have seen TSP in big letters and then in itty-bitty print "substitute" or some-such. Which is NOT the same thing.

The 'problem' is that phosphates (in detergents and in fertilizer) cause plants to grow. (which is usually the entire purpose of fertilizers). The 'problem' is that fertilizer run-off and all the phosphates in (old, no-longer available for the most part) in old detergent formulas get into the water stream and cause plants and especially small green plants called algae to grow well. The suddenly well-growing algae and other plants in the water supposedly use up oxygen in the water and then the fish in the water can't get enough oxygen and they die. (except I thought that plants typically take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen as part of the photosynthesis process http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis).

Phosphates are (or have been) phased out of most detergents because of 'environmental concerns'.

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132072122/it-s-not-your-fault-your-dishes-are-still-dirty

 

[z28snksknr]

The 'problem' is that phosphates (in detergents and in fertilizer) cause plants to grow. (which is usually the entire purpose of fertilizers). The 'problem' is that fertilizer run-off and all the phosphates in (old, no-longer available for the most part) in old detergent formulas get into the water stream and cause plants and especially small green plants called algae to grow well. The suddenly well-growing algae and other plants in the water supposedly use up oxygen in the water and then the fish in the water can't get enough oxygen and they die. (except I thought that plants typically take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen as part of the photosynthesis process http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis).

Phosphates are (or have been) phased out of most detergents because of 'environmental concerns'.

http://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132072122/it-s-not-your-fault-your-dishes-are-still-dirty

The resulting algae blooms sit on the top of the water, blocking sunlight to plants on the bottom which die. The organisms that consume the dead plant matter bllom as a result and consume all the oxygen in the water, killing fish and other life.

It has a pretty significant impact on the environment, so minimizing the introduction of phosphates (primarily from ordinary house soaps) is a good first step at limiting the affects. I'm not a tree-hugger, I just give a ****. Use them when you need to, use something else when you don't.

 

[Graymills - Craig]

TI'm not a tree-hugger, I just give a ****.

+1

 

[Graymills - Craig]

The other place you can get TSP is from brewing supply houses. It's used to clean fermenters.

Plus, you can do "research" on the subject over a few pints.

 

[diggerrick]

I've used the real TSP and the newer TSP-substitutes on the basement floor and walls of one of our rentals and both worked well.

I'm no tree hugger either, but I believe in being responsible and using good sense.

FWIW - for my uses the new non-chlorinated brake cleaner works as well for me as the old stuff too.

 

[billspit]

If you notice, most lawn fiertilzer now has no phosporus. Just nitrogen and potassium.

 

[rieferman]

I think it's funny that people have to nervously state "I'm no tree hugger" before giving an opinion. Caring about our environment can only be considered a GOOD thing in my opinion.

What makes me nervous, is extremists of any type, such as environmental extremists. But not all "tree huggers" are that.

Everything in moderation, including moderation.

edit: I think I'll go hug a tree now.

 

[nate379]

TSP ok for septic? I have a big box of it somewhere, never figured to run it in the wash.

Tree huggers... ARGH!

For Arbor Day I fired up my chainsaw and took a few down.. just because

 

[bchee]

 

[Vicegrip]

For what its worth, someone in a thread on shop rags and cleaning them mentioned TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate) as a "booster". Someone mentioned Ace Hardware as a source of it. I went there, they had three different products labeled TSP, none of them were, the fine print on the containers said "subsutitute" under the TSP. They actually were Sodium Metasilicate, the stuff used in Westleys Bleach White tire cleaner.

Today I stumbled into the real deal, TSP, at Home Depot, in the PAINT department, just above the mineral sprits, paint thinner and alcohol. Its a powder in a box and is intended for cleaning siding, and such prior to painting. Guess since the no phosphate **** in laundry detergents, the only way to keep the stuff on the market is to "repurpose" it as a general purpose cleaner.

This evening I ran a couple of buckets of water, liquid Tide, and TSP and put some shop rags in them to soak. Agitated by hand and the water turned very gray, very quickly, I think it does help..............

FYI if anyone cares...........

Charles

You might have passed up on something that works better on dirty rags than TSP. I use Sodium Metasilicate in or on all kinds of stuff for cleaning grease. Mixed in the right % with water it will cut straight motor oil or bearing grease like a petrol solvent.
I prefer Sodium Metasilicate to TSP on oil and grease any day. I also use it in the dealerships in the shop mop buckets to boost the com grade cleaner solutions. Sodium Metasilicate will boost other cleaning solutions very well.

 

[nsmith01tx]

(Light bulb) Just figured out what happened to **** 'n Span! I used to use it on dirty coveralls etc and then the powder disappeared - and the liquid replacement just didn't work.

Sure enough, just did a quick check and voila: it was the TSP that did the work AND got it taken off the shelf.

Sorry, sorta off topic, .. we will now resume the earlier conversation ....

 

[bchee]