Dark Stains on Concrete -HELP!

[timrein]

I have a restaurant with light colored concrete that needs its walks cleaned. I had been using cold water, as I do not have hot water. I am not satisfied with the results. It doesn't get as clean and it turns darker faster after the job is done. I did not know if it was a problem a different chemical could solve, or if I NEED to spend money I don't have on hot water. I am using a degreaser from Home Depot.

I need to have a solution in mind by next week if I am to keep this account.

Thanks,
Tim Reinagel
Premier Window Cleaners, Inc.
Thomaston, GA

 

[PressurePros]

You are in most cases going to get out what you put it. Cold water + Home Cheapo chems = mediocre results. Have you tried sodium hypochorite on it? (bleach) There are too many variables to accurately predict what is going on. Have you tried bleach? Can you get a picture?

 

[timrein]

Ken,

I have not used bleach. I am new to pressure washing, have 23 years in window cleaning, so I am totally green here. What affect does sodium hypochlorite have on concrete? Does it harm it in the long term?

If I am using proper chems, is the cold water still going to do the job? Can you give a rough idea percentage wise how much cleaner hot water will make the job?

Thanks, I know I'm asking a bunch of questions, I do appreciate your input.

Tim Reinagel
Premier Window Cleaners, Inc.
Thomaston, GA

 

[timrein]

Ken and others,

What chemical do you recommend for concrete degreasing and who do I contact?

Tim Reinagel
Premier Window Cleaners, Inc.
Thomaston, GA

 

[Micah]

Tim,

I would suggest finding an industrial cleaning supply company that sells chemcials. They would be the best to advise you on what chemical will work best for each situation. Hot water may be the only way to lift the stain completely, but you should be able to get decent results with a cold water unit, a surface cleaner, and the right chemical. Currently I am using a caustic soda type chemcial that is bright green, like anti-freeze. It works very good for degreasing and regular cleaning for concrete. As for your question about bleach and/or sodium hypoclorite, I don't think you'll have any problems with the two damaging concrete as long as they don't dry. You may also find using a oxalic acid on the concrete will help, although you will have to apply this chemical to all the concrete to give a consistant look, it will brighten and add the finishing touch. How far away from Greenville and Columbia, SC are you?

Micah Kommers
We Wash Windows & Concrete
Greenville, SC

 

[timrein]

Hey Micah,

I was glad to see a fellow AUWC member on the board here! I am probably 3-4 hours from Greenville. 1 1/2 hours from Atlanta, l'm south of ATL. Guess I'll have to hunt up some chemical place nearby.

Thanks,
Tim Reinagel
Premier Window Cleaners, Inc.
Thomaston, GA

 

[Keep It Clean]

I have had great results with hdb from hotsy,it will clean and brighten your flat work.

 

[timrein]

I googled "hdb hotsy" and all I get are posts you have made on other boards, but no details on what it is and who to call for it. Is it your own product line?

 

[FCPWLLC]

HDB is awsome stuff. It is Sodium Hydroxide based with Butyl.

 

[Dave Olson]

Hello Tim,

Hot vs Cold.

We have cleaned sidewalks at national brand type stores and restaurants for many years in my area. I also shop at some of these stores.

Last year I tried using some of my 2nd string guys to do this work. Both had been doing these same locations with my crew leader or me many times. We clean these locations every 30-60 days.

I just happened to shop at a couple of these places a day or two after they had been cleaned. They were clean but not as clean as usual.

I found out later that my 2nd string crew did not use Hot water even though that is the way we always have done it!

In my opinion you must use hot water when doing commercial flatwork.

Dave Olson

 

[Kory]

I have a restaurant with light colored concrete that needs its walks cleaned. I had been using cold water, as I do not have hot water. I am not satisfied with the results. It doesn't get as clean and it turns darker faster after the job is done. I did not know if it was a problem a different chemical could solve, or if I NEED to spend money I don't have on hot water. I am using a degreaser from Home Depot.

I need to have a solution in mind by next week if I am to keep this account.

Thanks,
Tim Reinagel
Premier Window Cleaners, Inc.
Thomaston, GA

There are a number of companys in the good old GA Sunbright and are good places to google.

 

[Mark]

We have a company in Georgia that manufacturers our
chemicals.

 

[PressurePros]

Tim, a mix of sodium hydroxide, butyl and sodium metasilciate will do an awsome job at cleaning concrete. If you have to use Home Depot stuff or time is of an issue Zep's driveway cleaner isn't bad, mix it stronger than recommended on the label (ie do not dilute it as much).

The reason I asked about bleach is because you mentioned cleaning it then the black coming back. This could be regrowth? Not trying to make you into a backyard chemist but mix some of that zep cleaner with water and then double the solution with household bleach. You should see pretty dramatic results when followed by a pressure rinse. For the ultimate in "wow" follow that by a coating of oxalic acid.

 

[CaroliProWash]

Mark, do they ship from there??? Silly me, I've always assumed (we know what that can do!) that since you're in CA, that shipping would kill me.

Celeste

 

[Micah]

Much like Dave's situation, I cleaned one of my regular commercial flatwork with the burner off by mistake - all 3000 square feet. (at least I hadn't went back to remove the gum quite yet) I had applied the chemical as usual, the only difference was no heat. When I noticed I had left the burner off, I turned it on and cleaned the concrete right away. I had always knew that hot water did a better job, but I never knew it had THAT much of a difference. If you plan to do a lot of commerical work, and you don't have a hot water unit, you either won't make any money, or you'll lose the account to somebody with hot water.

 

[timrein]

Thanks for the input guys! Where do I get HDB Hotsy? Who supplies it? I guess hot water is the way to go.

 

[Keep It Clean]

Hotsy is a maker of hot and cold pressure washers and chemicals, hdb is one of several cleaners they sell.