Cleaning concrete specifically oil stains

LS Property

New Member
Just did my first gas station job and it went very smooth. I used purple power on the oil stains and scrubbed it in did that about 3 times and it just lightened it up. Is there any tips to make this easier and also what chemicals do you guys use to clean concrete I have been using straight water and it works but it seems it could be quicker.
 

New Look

Registerd User
Just did my first gas station job and it went very smooth. I used purple power on the oil stains and scrubbed it in did that about 3 times and it just lightened it up. Is there any tips to make this easier and also what chemicals do you guys use to clean concrete I have been using straight water and it works but it seems it could be quicker.

You mean like this? I use SW1000 which is a multi-purpose cleaner/degreaser.

Do you have a surface cleaner and do you use hot or cold water?
 

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Using Purple Power (a consumer strength degreaser) or any degreaser will simple attempt to emulsify the oil, forcing it deeper into the porous concrete. Sure, it might clean the surface. Problem is the oil has penetrated the porous concrete. A product such as BT200 which contains enzymes and microbes will penetrate deeply into the concrete pours, and start eating the oil and residue.

I have yet to have an opportunity to use the SW1000, but the EatsOil BT200 worked like magic.
 

LS Property

New Member
I am currently using hot water and a 24" steel eagle. Just getting started out in the business though I am timid about putting anything down. Carlos the sw looks like it works really well though.
 
Looks GREAT ! ! !

Did you do that Carlos?

Do you have any photos of the area, the next day or when it was completely dry?

This really looks good. I have not seen to many other contractors, except for Jim Cooney and a VERY few others who got the cement that clean.

GREAT JOB !!!
 

New Look

Registerd User
Looks GREAT ! ! !

Did you do that Carlos?

Do you have any photos of the area, the next day or when it was completely dry?

This really looks good. I have not seen to many other contractors, except for Jim Cooney and a VERY few others who got the cement that clean.

GREAT JOB !!!

Hey Jim...heck ya I did that.

Didn't go down to the site the next day to take pics but the manager called me and said he had another problem which was that the concrete that we cleaned looked so good that he may have to have us do the whole lot.

I have some gas station accounts locally...I will take some pics!!
 
Quality sells, and that's what keep's us in demand, and the lowballers crying about $0.02 a square foot.

I see your signature line is in order Mr. Gamble. Your probationary period continues. Eyes forward, uniform and rack tight and neat. Onward to victory Private !!! Semper Fidelis !!!

Oh wait, you're in San Fransisco. You were probably in the Navy, or in the band the Village People. You were the construction worker signing YMCA, weren't you ???? [r2]

You know if I didn't like you so much Jimbo I wouldn't be giving you so much grief. [spin]

The KING of Garage Cleaning is in the House !!!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, Jim Gamble.

Looks GREAT ! ! !

Did you do that Carlos?

Do you have any photos of the area, the next day or when it was completely dry?

This really looks good. I have not seen to many other contractors, except for Jim Cooney and a VERY few others who got the cement that clean.

GREAT JOB !!!
 

Douglas Hicks

New Member
Is the BT stuff an enzyme product? Can it just be put on and left to eat the oil stains? if it left on and not hose off, does it need to be reclaimed?
 

Doug Rucker

PWN ADMIN TEAM -
Staff member
Is the BT stuff an enzyme product? Can it just be put on and left to eat the oil stains? if it left on and not hose off, does it need to be reclaimed?

Yes and No, sort of. The BT200 has microbes in it. When the microbes come into contact with hydrocarbons, (oil and grease) they secrete a series of enzymes that digest the hydrocarbons, breaking down the oily mess substance into harmless invisible gases (hydrogen, oxygen, water vapor) and carbon. The microbes eat the carbon and breathe it out as carbon dioxide-a harmless invisible gas. After using the BT200 the stain is gone and you replaced it with 1-harmless invisible gases, 2-benign enzymes and 3- after all the hydrocarbon is gone the microbes die and are recylced in nature.

If you left on and not hosed off, does it need to be reclaimed?- Depends on your local guidelines. We recommend that you always recover your fluids and then put them down a sanitary drain and the BT200 will continue to eat the hydrocarbons it encounters all the way to the water treatment plant. For storm drains, you would have to contact your local authority and explain the product and how it works to get permission to allow it to run into the storm drain. The microbes stay attached to the hydrocarbon until it has eaten every bit of it, even if were to go into a water way.

I clean many oil stains by applying the BT200 and letting sit for at least 6-8 hours, then letting the rain clean the surface stain/shadow. Of course he stain would have to eb exposed and not under cover, so bank drive thrus, gas station islands that are covered would require the use of a pressure washer.

Hope this helps.
 

Mark

Moderator / Sponsor
Here is a little more about leaving BT200 on the surface:

EATOILS™ BT200™ is a sustainable green bioenzymatic microbial cleaner. It contains natural surfactants, microbes (bacteria) and enzymes. It is safe for simply applying and brushing into the concrete or asphalt and then powerwashing off. It is ECOLOGO™ CERTIFIED GREEN – safe to use and safe for the environment.



HOW THEY WORK: Surfactants break the bond between the surface and the contaminant (like soap), microbes are the living contaminant eaters (they actually consume the oils and greases), and the enzymes are specialized chemicals produced by the microbes to break down the oils and greases so the microbes can ‘eat’ them. When everything is working properly hydrocarbon molecules (oils, greases, solvents, etc.) which are made up of long chains of Hydrogen, Carbon, and Oxygen atoms, are broken down into smaller and smaller chains until the contaminants are completely removed. Every time the enzymes break the chain, Carbon, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, water, Oxygen and Hydrogen are released. The microbes ‘eat’ the Carbon and exhale Carbon Dioxide – just like we humans do. As long as there is food (Hydrocarbons) the microbes keep eating – when the food runs out, the contaminant is gone and they die.



You can leave BT200™ & water in place to do the best long term cleaning, however, you must adhere to ‘Federal, state and local storm water regulations concerning storm drains’ – ‘nothing but water can go down a storm drain’ – but you can collect the used cleaner together with any oily residue and simply pour it down a sanitary drain without further treatment – and BT200™ will continue to clean and break down any oils it encounters all the way to the local water treatment plant.



We are always interested by the reaction of many clients to the storm water regulations – virtually all cleaning products and hydrocarbons will have an impact on the fish & wildlife in a storm event – the chemical oxygen demand of these products when suddenly introduced to the wildlife will starve the water of oxygen so the fish and plants will suffocate. Having said that, many municipalities across North America use our BT200™ to actually clean their storm drains for maintenance as EATOILS™ BT200™ is the only safe way to do that cleaning. Contractors who use our EATOILS™ BT200™ should look into this area as a new opportunity to use our product in their local municipalities.



I hope this helps to clear up any misunderstandings about the product. ..................................................
 

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