cleaning up those common oil spills

Grumpy

Grumpy

The Grumpy Grease Monkey mechanical engineer.
Staff member
I don,t care how careful you are you'll eventually find you spill oil on your shops floor,
now this results in both a dangerously slippery surface and a damn ugly UN-sightly mess, now you can go to your local auto parts store and buy special oil absorbent compounds, but they tend to be expensive and the concrete cleaners tend to dissolve asphalt so you sure don,t want to use them if you flushing the residue into the local street with your garden hose as you'll eventually find it tearing up the street and the city may bill you for the damage!
a smarter route is to go this route below
CLOSELY RELATED THREAD
http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/cleaning-the-garage-floor.6501/

step one is containment and absorption,
walmart sells 25 lb bags of kitty litter for around $6 each that works very effectively, yes theres other options,but many don,t work as well and few are as cost effective!
but pouring as much kitty litter as required on the oil , working in around with a broom helps absorb the majority and its certainly FAR cheaper than some products designed for the task
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Special-Kitty-Natural-Cat-Litter-25-Lb-Cats/10293705

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Pure-Nat...e-All-Natural-Kitty-Litter-HC005060/205786206

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quickie-Bulldozer-18-in-Indoor-Outdoor-Push-Broom-00528RMCAN-20/100133494
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http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quickie-Professional-17-in-Aluminum-Dust-Pan-428/202843358
you'll generally want to sweep up, collect and trash bag, the oil soaked kitty litter for proper disposal,
(don,t put more than about 10 lbs per heavy duty trash bag)

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Genuine-...ctor-Cleanup-Bags-20-Count-GJO02311/205612591
STEP TWO
DEGREASING THE SURFACE

http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Driveway-Concrete-and-Masonry-Cleaner-ZUCON128/100619236

there are several very functional effective grease solvents,
a shop broom, some solvent and water,
will float up, dissolve and remove the vast majority of oil trapped,
in the concrete micro surface cracks
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Formula-88-All-Purpose-Cleaner-and-Degreaser-128-oz-04312/100145974
http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-128-oz-Driveway-Concrete-and-Masonry-Cleaner-ZUCON128/100619236
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http://www.walmart.com/ip/Zep-Commercial-Fast-505-Cleaner-and-Degreaser-128-oz/23795009
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88grs.jpg



STEP THREE.
OWNING AND HAVING ACCESS TOO<a PRESSURE WASHER WILL BE A HUGE ASSET in removing surface stains and remaining surface oil
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http://www.lowes.com/pd_600025-24212-65 ... Heavy-duty


a 250 mph,rated, 110 volt, cord type of leaf blower makes water removal and drying the DE-greased concrete surface, fast and easy.
the pressure washer and solvents also come in very handy when cleaning used engine blocks
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Toro-Ult...-12-Amp-Blower-Vacuum-Mulcher-51619/205746070


the BROOM and leaf blower , also come in handy for removing sand and leaves and grass clippings along with drying concrete
leafbl.jpg
 
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I was Porting aluminium today in Eds New Garage Grumpy.
Using a Die Grinder.
I sprayed WD-40 on the Carbide cutter to make the task easier .
A few drops hit the New Concrete Floor.
Didn't know it till later in the evening.
Laquer thinner won't remove.
Only 1/2 the Floor is sealed.
Of course the Porting bench is on the 1/2 of unsealed concrete.
Crap.
Feel bad.
Then Ed pointed out other oil droplets that stained other parts of his Floor from projects he worked on.
Fick used over & over by Ed.
Just Krazy Ed Sharing his Feelings on Matters.
He is Rooting for Trump.
Called Bam A Faggot today Too.
 
Its Super Baby Smooth Concrete.
Ultra High Tensile Strength.
Poured 8 inches deep.
I call it Olympic Swimming Pool Concrete Grade.
 
I'll let just 1 or 2 of you in on my top secrete, environmentally safe concrete cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50% Dawn detergent, 50% Regular Tide detergent and thin mix 10:1 (1 part water). Pre wet concrete with any clean water (forceful water spray) to stains and a immediate area for 3 to 5 minutes (or until floating rainbow disappears) If site conditions limit this method, use 3 to 5 gals of water at a rate of 1/3 to 1/2 gal every 5 minutes poured over stained area working in with a brush or broom (do not let dry).
Note:Water penetration/absorbing abilities are effected by many variables. Age, Concrete densities and Calcium componds such as anti-hydro added to allow for lower working temperatures.
Pre-wetting is a very critical step. Wet the concrete around and under the limitations of the hydrophobic petroleum products and the wetter abilities in Tide will draw in the degreasing abilities Dawn provides.
Fill a plastic quart bottle (the kind dish detergent comes in with a flip-top squirt cap) with your mix of Dawn, Tide and water for the purpose of application. Repeat if necessary.
 
I want to add a bit of important information regarding the sealing of finished concrete and masonry in general.
You will never, I repeat, NEVER find any really great sealer products in your local big box home centers.
Where really great sealants are appreciated and the extra price paid is at your local Mason's supply yards where you buy commercial volumes of building blocks, bricks, mortar mixes and professional tools and equipment.
The better products don't have the profit margins big box stores require from home owner grade products. HO grade sealants don't hold up against UV light and are not subject to strict government construction standards and in many cases are not compatible with most materials.
Any good application of a liquid masonry sealant is one that allows for a modest but not over applied coating followed by (when dried) a liberal second coating that won't get sucked into but rather lay on top of a foundational coating.
The sealants you apply to masonry for pedestrian foot traffic and light duty auto traffic (of high quality) have non-slip, non-visible solids that won't yellow or when wet are not a slip hazard. This is a very costly process with components to transparent sealants that HO grades aiming for a competitive price point can't provide. You can buy something from HD that will last a season or two, or pay extra and have something that provides true protection and holds up 10 years or more.
 
This is great stuff! I live in a rental and I'll have to clean up a patch of oil splotches (from engine stripping and rebuild) and get old tire marks off the concrete later this year... No spills, just spots of oil, grease and dirt... My rental contract says no working on cars in the garage.... I have kind of ignored that... But, haven't made a huge mess.. I do want my bond back though.... :)
 
Jimmy, I removed rubber tire marks (on concrete) with a powerwasher, I never tried anything else.
 
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