Effective Water-Based Cleaning is controlled by Five Key Variables:

• Choice of Cleaner- Aero-Green is a proven effective cleaner Degrease that quickly removes dirt, grease, oil, hydraulic fluids and out performs Solvents with environmentally preferred chemistry.
• Time- Length of time the cleaning solution is in contact with the surface
• Agitation- Impingement of the cleaning solution on the surface, i.e., scrubbing, force of high-pressure spray or immersion into cleaning baths designed to clean by soaking, agitation, spry or ultrasonic’s.
• Concentration- Strength of the cleaner.
• Temperature- The temperature of the cleaning solution. Each +18°F increase in temperature doubles the cleaning rate.

Summary:

This details the equipment, products and techniques recommended for fast, safe, and effective cleaning of concrete and industrial floors using hot water pressure water techniques. The combined effect of the high-pressure spray, heat and detergency in continuous contact with the soil results in fast cleaning, reduced pressure and minimum detergent use.

Equipment:

• 3,000+ psi hot water pressure washer
• Chemical injection system which allows high pressure detergent injection
• 15° wand tip for routine cleaning
• 0° Oscillating tip for heavy soil removal
• Quick-Disconnect fitting for the wand tip

Preparation:

• Adjust temperature to deliver 140°F at the wand tip. Temperatures above 140°F may cause thermal shock to concrete floors in refrigerated work areas.
• Adjust injector for 10-12 oz. of detergent per gallon of water.

Method:

• Position the 15° tip so that the fan spray pattern is horizontal.
• Work in 10' x 10' sections. Begin in a corner and work toward floor drains, if available.
• Prevent re-contaminating treated areas by cleaning boots frequently.
• Hold wand within 12" of the floor so that the spray strikes the floor at a 45° angle. This provides the maximum "chiseling" effect and the fastest soil removal.
• Move the wand at 1' per second. Push spray to insure complete coverage.
• Flush floor with hot water after cleaning. For best results, scrubs while rinsing using a clean push broom.
• Use pedestal fans, compressed air or an electric leaf blower to reduce drying time.

Tricks of the Trade:

• To determine if the floor is clean, spray water onto a clean, dry area. The water should flow evenly over the surface and wet the concrete. If the water beads or breaks, the surface is still contaminated and should be re-cleaned.
• Heavily soiled areas may require pre-wetting with detergent and scrubbing with a brush or push broom or using a 0° oscillating wand tip.
• Some pressure washer manufacturers offer a floor cleaning attachment that can be connected to the hot water pressure washer. Such a unit may further reduce cleaning time and improve cleaning results.-If floor drains are not available, vacuum up the cleaning solution using a wet-dry vac.