Cleaning Conundrum

Kinja'd!!! "smobgirl" (smobgirl)
08/30/2018 at 12:16 • Filed to: None

Kinja'd!!!0 Kinja'd!!! 18

Ok Oppo. I need to deep clean a concrete floor so I can paint and seal it. The dog keeps peeing in the laundry room, which has a concrete floor (with no drain), drywall walls, and an electric baseboard heater.

The internet is full of suggestions like power washing it or hosing it out, which obviously aren’t going to work. What would you do?


DISCUSSION (18)


Kinja'd!!! merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 12:25

Kinja'd!!!1

A wet vac with a squeegee should get the liquid up. Possibly clean with a muriatic acid (sp) and then use the vac to suck up the water as you go.

Check the coating for prep details, it will tell you what you can use.


Kinja'd!!! KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 12:25

Kinja'd!!!0

If the dog keeps peeing in the laundry room why don’t you build a nice toilet for him/her?


Kinja'd!!! merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 12:26

Kinja'd!!!1

Or rent a grinder with a diamond wheel and vacuum attachment to grind off the top layer of concrete prior to coating.


Kinja'd!!! Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 12:27

Kinja'd!!!1

Is the doggo okay? Why the peeing?


Kinja'd!!! OPPOsaurus WRX > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 12:28

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eliminate the source of the mess.

I’d probably get a wet/dry vac and throw down some water with bleach. soak the floor and then vac it up


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 12:29

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Mop and scrub with TSP, then paint with a commercial epoxy designed for coating concrete? I think the paint will cover up any residual stains and odors. There are also some biological activated sprays for odors, they seem to work okay.


Kinja'd!!! crowmolly > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
08/30/2018 at 12:32

Kinja'd!!!1

This. Clean with a mop and a bucket first, then either etch with acid or use a grinder. Should be OK using an off the shelf epoxy but follow the instructions to the letter. Be aware that a coating might make the surface slick.


Kinja'd!!! smobgirl > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/30/2018 at 12:37

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Usually she can only get to the laundry room through an act of brute force or desperation (there’s a really strong baby gate in the way). So, when she’s utterly terrified (think f ireworks or thunderstorm) and then pees out of fear. 


Kinja'd!!! smobgirl > merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc
08/30/2018 at 12:38

Kinja'd!!!1

That sounds like way more work than I had in mind.


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 12:40

Kinja'd!!!1

Get a deck brush. It’s just a stiff bristle brush with a long handle. Scru b all the loose stuff off with that and the cleaner of your choice. Paint over that. It won’t be perfect, but it’ll be a a huge improvement.


Kinja'd!!! smobgirl > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time
08/30/2018 at 12:42

Kinja'd!!!1

She shouldn’t be able to get to the laundry room, but sometimes she breaks through. The system of baby gates to keep some  animals in some areas while allowing others to pass is pretty complex in my house.


Kinja'd!!! smobgirl > shop-teacher
08/30/2018 at 12:45

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Yeah, I suspect if I can attach the garage to the house this room will get demolished in the process (and the floor will be destroyed  to replace the sewer line). So I don’t want to do a ton of work...


Kinja'd!!! Wacko > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 12:45

Kinja'd!!!0

clean with TSP, pick up excess water with shop vac, let dry then paint.


Kinja'd!!! shop-teacher > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 14:00

Kinja'd!!!0

Perfect.


Kinja'd!!! ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 14:20

Kinja'd!!!1

Muriatic acid (the trade name for HCl sold in a 10 molar concentration)   is the way to etch concrete for painting. For indoor use, it needs to be seriously diluted with water . Like 10:1 or more. A little goes a very long ways for etching.

Two-part epoxy floor paints are the way to go on  concrete for a finish that holds up, but they’re not fun to work with. A respirator, a fan and an open window would be needed for indoor floor painting.


Kinja'd!!! smobgirl > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/30/2018 at 17:24

Kinja'd!!!1

Sounds like a plan.

Also sounds like it would’ve cost a negligible amount for them to just seal the damn floor to begin with, but what do I know.


Kinja'd!!! merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > smobgirl
08/30/2018 at 20:56

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Yeah, that’s the extreme for sure, but that way you get good bonding with the coating, and not much mess indoors


Kinja'd!!! merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > crowmolly
08/30/2018 at 20:57

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Yeah if I remember correctly the rust oleum coating has a citric acid cleaner to use.