Cleaning Cement Floors?

I've got a 12x24' skinning room that is cement floored and has been really abused for 12 years with everything imaginable. I'd like to give it a good cleaning and de-greasing, then paint with an epoxy paint (if I can afford it). Looking for recommendations for doing the cleaning. It's not got a floor drain, so using chemicals that can be washed away is probably a no-go. I've tried spot-cleaning areas with various household cleaners and they seem to work poorly. I'm looking for something industrial-strength. Any suggestions?

Many thanks guys.

Jack

Google using muriatic acid to clean concrete.

Back when I worked in an auto shop we would use speedy dry or kitty litter on the floor and rubbed in with a common brick, then swept up . It took care of the oil & grease. Not sure what would be next to use to ensure your coating would stick.

Thanks Lugnut. I've used muriatic acid for cleaning rockwork, but need to spray it down with water to stop the action. Don't want to do that on the floor. Perhaps I could just wet it slightly and wipe off sections with a large sponge?

Thanks Zuter. I'd not thought of something like that. Might give it a try.

Appreciate the help guys....

Jack

Brake parts cleaner works good to cut thru the grease. Then use oil dry to clean up (rice hull ash works the best, but regular oil dry will work with a little more effort), you can clean small areas and have no run off. For sealing try Diamond Clear or Super Diamond Clear. But the concrete has to be oil/grease free before you seal it. Google Diamond Clear (i think Euclid Chemical make it, not sure).

Gulo, you can use baking soda to neutralize the acid as an alternative to hosing the floor off which you can’t do because there’s no interior drain.

I have never tried that, so take that advice with a grain of salt. I have always used muriatic acid where I could completely hose it off whatever masonry I was cleaning. Maybe try a small area to see how well it works?

We use muriatic acid ,but we mix 1gallon of muriatic to 4 gallons water. and a stiff brush!

If you want to do an epoxy coating, you need to grind the floor surface, no need to clean. Find someone in your area with a walk behind floor grinder and a pulse bac or similiar vacuum.

And muriatic acid is not an alternative to breaking the surface with a grinder.

TSP (tri sodium phosphate) works pretty good as a cleaner!

We use a citrus oil based cleaner-degreaser at the office on the concrete below our jet vac trucks. Sometimes you have to scrub it in with a good stiff bristled brush and do a couple of applications but it cleans the concrete real well. We commonly have stains from hog and poultry grease, processing byproducts, waste materials like hog crap, rendered grease and so on. It works real well. I would follow that with muriatic acid if your going to epoxy or paint them.

Back in high school auto shop, many moons ago, we used an orange powder that we sprinkled on a dampened floor. I remember two things pretty well..when the orange powder hit the damp floor, it turned green...and two, it did one heck of a good job lifting grease and oil. Sure wish I remembered what is was called or if it was still made. Thought about that stuff many times over the years when I was staring at a dirty shop floor.

Dang if I didnt find it on google. ZEP powdered cement cleaner. Might not be what you are looking for as it needs a wet floor.

Why not blast it with some sort of media-like soda-then vacuum up after.

Read about using 1 cup of TSP in a gallon of water, and add sawdust and stir to a pasty peanut butter consistency.
Spread on floor and leave over night.
Sweep up with old broom and repeat if necessary.

That would embed the grease in the concrete. I would use muratic ,hose the floor before and after and use a squeegee to push the water out after the last rinse. If you’re concerned about washing the chemical away and being toxic use enough water and muratic is pretty well harmless.

Yup. We used an abatement contractor or residential environmental clean up places. The guys that scrape off asbestos back vinyl and such messes. It was a lot cheaper than I thought it would be, about 75 cents a square foot. Basement game room, fur room and shop. Clean as a whistle. Just a thought, make sure they know you don’t have an actual abatement job.



Owl

I use an orange citrus cleaner for grease/oil on the shop floor and it works well. Spray on the crud, let it soak, brush and wipe. Have to repeat on tough spots.

Pressure washer

Pressure washer, a big one, and HOT water would be my first shot. They make good soaps to add to the pressure washer for your purpose.

The muriatic if you use it needs to be done really carefully, mixed thinner than you think. Gulo before I used muriatic or anything for that matter I'd talk to whatever resurfacing outfit your considering. They can tell you what residue is compatible with your product, and you will have residue.

I just helped a friend Monday who went after his garage floor with a number of things including muriatic acid. More is not better. What a mess. I use acid when washing out new concrete for an exposed Ag finish so I'm not opposed to the product itself, I'm thinking there are better options for your use. Again, talk to the finish surface guys.

Osky

I am surprised at that Osky. I have always used powdered sugar for exposed aggregate.

Simple Green makes a product for pressure washers. I've used it with good results on dirty finished concrete, but not soiled with oil, etc.

I would not use a pressure washer. It will make a mess on the walls. I would grind it or maybe blast it with some fine media.

Something to consider Jack, is while you are at it put in a floor drain. Even though the floor is flat you could always squeegee liquids down the drain.

Your well is close but way deep enough to not be affected