DianaT
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Vinager and Cement
In the past I have used white vinager to clean tile, windows and to rinse diapers (yes, there used to be diapers that we actually washed), but I did
not believe this one until I tried it.
When they built the stand for our laundry tub in Baja they made a real mess with the cement on the tile floor. We were not there at the time to clean
up behind them, so it harded.
We tried all types of cleaners, knifes of various sorts, and lots of elbow grease. Nothing worked. I thought we were doomed to have to use one of
those killer acids or live with it.
Then I read about the possibility of vinager removing cement. I poured lots of straight white vinager on the floor, let it set, and then used a cheap
hand brush with lots of elbow grease. Much to my surprise, the cement starting coming off. 
Just a handy hint----now I can throw away that bottle of awful acid I bought --- you know, the one that says that by just opening the bottle you are
risking your life.
Diane
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
Just a handy hint----now I can throw away that bottle of awful acid I bought --- you know, the one that says that by just opening the bottle you are
risking your life. |
Sounds like that nasty Muriatic stuff.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
Just a handy hint----now I can throw away that bottle of awful acid I bought --- you know, the one that says that by just opening the bottle you are
risking your life. |
Sounds like that nasty Muriatic stuff. |
Yup, and after reading lots about it on the internet, I am not openning that bottle---ever!
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DENNIS
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They sure sell a lot of it down here. It's the local rendition of Drain-O and most grocery stores have it on their shelves.
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vgabndo
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Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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There is another good use for vinagar in association with concrete. I burned my arm pretty badly by digging bare handed for a lost concrete vibrator
tip inside a form full of six sack. The old timers said wash it with vinagar. Instant relief.
Pretty cool. In those days, that was what apprentices were for...digging in muck to fix a journeyman's problem.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vgabndo
There is another good use for vinagar in association with concrete. I burned my arm pretty badly by digging bare handed for a lost concrete vibrator
tip inside a form full of six sack. The old timers said wash it with vinagar. Instant relief.
Pretty cool. In those days, that was what apprentices were for...digging in muck to fix a journeyman's problem. |
That makes sense to me---in the old days, we also used it for bad sunburns---that was back in the days we all used crisco and cocoa butter and burned
ourselves to a crisp to have that California tan and look healthy!
[Edited on 4-6-2008 by jdtrotter]
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
That makes sense to me---in the old days, we also used it for bad sunburns---that was back in the days we all used crisco and cocoa butter and burned
ourselves to a crisp to have that California tan and look healthy! [ |
Then, I'm sure you'll remember iodine and baby oil.
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Paula
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
That makes sense to me---in the old days, we also used it for bad sunburns---that was back in the days we all used crisco and cocoa butter and burned
ourselves to a crisp to have that California tan and look healthy! [ |
Then, I'm sure you'll remember iodine and baby oil. |
I remember that-- made us look like California oranges
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Paula
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
That makes sense to me---in the old days, we also used it for bad sunburns---that was back in the days we all used crisco and cocoa butter and burned
ourselves to a crisp to have that California tan and look healthy! [ |
Then, I'm sure you'll remember iodine and baby oil. |
I remember that-- made us look like California oranges |
Baby oil, yes ---iodine, never tried that one. But remember to get a jump on the season one of the first tanning lotions--Man Tan? That also turned
you orange, but with lots of streaks and joints a lot darker, and then there were the hands where it never came off.
But we couldn't invade Balboa at Easter Week looking pale.
Diane
[Edited on 4-7-2008 by jdtrotter]
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DENNIS
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MAN-TAN? Oh, Jeezo......That stuff was around over ten wars ago. They still sell similiar products. There's a woman here in town who trowels it on
so heavily, she could pass for African American. The top part of her white shirts and sweaters are the same shade of brown. What a mess.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
MAN-TAN? Oh, Jeezo......That stuff was around over ten wars ago. |
Talk about a morph---gone from destroying cement to things that destroy your skin. 
[Edited on 4-7-2008 by jdtrotter]
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Crusoe
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Baboa Island Easter Week--1958?. No able bodied, strong young lad,would go there unprepaird without his aplication of Lucky Tiger Butch Wax and his
"MAN TAN". Oh yes those were the good old days!! ++C++
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Lauriboats
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That is great news Diane, I remember you telling me about the cement on your laundry room floor when I was there. Hopefully, I won't have to use this
with the new house, but I won't hold my breath. Lauri
What we see depends mainly on what we look for.
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Crusoe
Baboa Island Easter Week--1958?. No able bodied, strong young lad,would go there unprepaird without his aplication of Lucky Tiger Butch Wax and his
"MAN TAN". Oh yes those were the good old days!! ++C++ |
First year for me was 1961---stayed in funky old beach houses on the mainland. Rent a house for 4 and just could not help that 16 showed up. We
could not afford the island. But one year a number of our male counterparts hijacked the ferry---we all swam like mad and none of us ever got caught,
but none of us wore our club jackets the rest of the week.
Remember the Prison of Socrates and of course, the great fun zone?
Do you think Man-Tan could remove cement? Butch wax---what yucky stuff that was.
Diane
[Edited on 4-7-2008 by jdtrotter]
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Crusoe
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Dianne....I am an old man now and have not lived in that area since 1965. However my son lives very close to Balboa presently. I was there last x-mas
and nothing has changed much. The ferry is exactlly the same as is the "fun zone". Each visit always brings back so many beautiful memories, its
always a pleasent and fun place to explore. Thanks ++C++
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Crusoe
Dianne....I am an old man now and have not lived in that area since 1965. However my son lives very close to Balboa presently. I was there last x-mas
and nothing has changed much. The ferry is exactlly the same as is the "fun zone". Each visit always brings back so many beautiful memories, its
always a pleasent and fun place to explore. Thanks ++C++ |
Yea, expect the fun zone as we remember it was torn down in the early 70s and a new one built---and those old funky beach houses are long gone.
Fortunately, however, when one owner wanted to take it all down and build condos----was not allowed. That is a good thing.
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jeans
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
First year for me was 1961---stayed in funky old beach houses on the mainland. Rent a house for 4 and just could not help that 16 showed up. We
could not afford the island.
Diane
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That year we were in a 42' Chris Craft named Golden Girl docked right next to the bridge going to Balboa Island. I was 9 yrs old and had the run of
the island...with Zinc Oxide smeared on my nose. Small world!
[Edited on 4-7-2008 by jeans]
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Sharksbaja
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Cleaning Grout
How do I clean grout?
Cementitious grout, as you may have observed, is porous - it can absorb a stain. Looked at under a microscope, there is a large surface area to absorb
stains. For this reason, many owners choose to seal their grout … usually the better the sealer, the more the grout joint is protected. Even better,
if epoxy grout is used, it is virtually as stain proof as the tile.
Removing stains from cementitious grout is similar to removing stains from clothing. The same cleaners you might use on clothes to get out a stain
should also work on grout.
Keep in mind though, that grout is based primarily of cement and sand. Sand, like glass, is unaffected chemically by most cleaners. Cement is not;
rather it is alkaline based and is dissolved by acids. As baking soda and vinegar react, so do grout and vinegar.
Accordingly, it is better to clean grout with an alkaline cleaner (Spic and Span, Mr. Clean, etc.) than an acid based cleaner. There are also
specialty cleaners available at most tile retailers that are designed for tile and grout. There are also cleaners with enzymes that attack stains
similar to enzyme pre-soaks for laundry.
The same cleaner that works on the grout generally will work well on the tile. In fact, since the tile is usually so easy to clean, the tile can often
be cleaned with water.
Just a few more important points: As the grout can absorb the soap as well as a stain - do not clean with oil or wax based cleaners - Murphy's Oil
soap, Pine Sol, etc. These products will leave a waxy or oily film in the grout… And, even good alkaline cleaners if not properly rinsed, will leave a
sticky soap film. This usually attracts dirt. In fact, truly clean ceramic tile without any sticky soap film will stay very clean as tile does not
tend to hold an electrostatic charge (which can attract some kinds of dirt).
The absolutely best way to clean grout is to apply the cleaner and then vacuum ("shop vac") up the dirty water. This lifts the dirt off the joint.
Apply rinse water and vacuum that water up. This lifts off any remaining soap film.
Just to mention it, there are tile installers that remove very stubborn stains on grout with an acid (like straight vinegar or a stronger acid). There
they have elected to dissolve the top layer of grout molecules so the stain is no longer attached to anything. While this works, it is not recommended
by the grout manufacturers - needing to regrout is sometimes the result. Also, extreme care should be used when handling any acids.
Should you be unable to get your grout clean through conventional methods, you may also want to try steam. Some stains that do not respond to
conventional cleaners will come clean when subjected to pressurized steam. As a last resort, some installers elect to cut out the grout and regrout.
This is possible although care must be taken to not damage or loosen the tile. Generally it is not possible to grout directly over the old grout
without cutting the old grout out. The same contaminants that made the old grout dirty may prevent new grout from sticking properly
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads\' Sunsets
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