Garage floor clean up question-NDR

Dwight Harley

Dwight Harley

Well-known member
I had a rubber mat under a treadmill on my concrete garage floor. I noticed it was "sticking" to the concrete and when I went to pull it up there had been some sort of bizarro chemical reaction and now there is a sticky residue where the mat was. I have tried mineral spirits, TSP and Goo Gone without any luck...the residue just gets tackier and spreads around. Any suggestions?
 
I second Capt Jeff...in my world (epoxyboats, crappy british cars) muriatic acid cleans my garage floor faithfully!
 
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll give the muriatic acid a try.
Jim, I had to laugh at the comment about your world of "crappy British cars" When I was younger I owned several Triumph bikes. They spent more time in the shop than they did on the road, and when you were on the road you better have a metric socket set and a roll of duct tape with you. But I like British bikes, can't help it, and I'm thinking about buying another.
 
My wife has a Tiumph spitfire, and I have an Austin Healey Sprite...Both CAME with a set of Whitworth wrenches (I should have taken THAT as a sign!!) Actually the bugeye sprite is a gem...but it does leave a mark on the garage floor....: ) But right now they are both covered in sawdust while I build a melonseed skiff to irritate my sneakbox friends!!!


I'm in a fowl mood ....
 
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whoopss just read it again...


Muratic acid or.....hydrochloric acid should do the trick!

Now if you are really in a pinch,..... sulfuric acid may do it but it will eat your face away
 
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I wouldn't use any of the acids. The acids mentioned above are what is used to etch concrete prior to applying some sort of floor coating such as an epoxy. You will etch your concrete using these acids.

I'd try a good adhesive remover. Or, I'd buy some toluene as this takes up almost everything. Mineral spirits isn't as polar as you want it to be to pick up rubber or other stuff like it. Be careful with these solvents as they are considered carcinogens.

If you can't find toluene straight up, look at some of the octane boosters they sell at auto stores. These are usually toluene or toluene blends.

Mark W
 
I'd be careful with muratic acid, or any acid for that matter. The bricklayers use these acids on jobsites to clean the mortar and grout of their walls when they are done and some times they eat the top right off our new concrete. I'm sure the older the concrete the harder the cure. Wet down any area you dont plan on cleaning, and try a diluted mix first. Personally I think i'd try a good hot laquer thinner you'd get at a auto body supply store. Just my two cents.
 
If the acids & solvents don't do what ya want, try burning it off with a propane torch. Be careful tho, concrete has a tendency to pop & spall when heated too hot! Good luck to ya.
Denis
 
Dilute the acid and rinse immediately after scrubbing or try bleach,but dont let it sit or like the man said -it will etch the floor!
 
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