Warehouse Floor Cleaning

Removing Tire Marks from Concrete

Most of the time when we are asked to perform concrete floor cleaning services, the customer has already exhausted many options with no results. If a previous tenant of the facility did not take proper care of the floor, this task may seem almost impossible to the new owner. However, we have had much success in removing all types of contaminates from concrete floors such as, epoxy, grease, and years of dirt and grime. The most difficult to remove: black forklift tire marks! Here we will discuss the problems with conventional concrete cleaning and introduce a new and effective method that can not only remove these stubborn stains, but restore your concrete making it better than before!

How to Clean Concrete Floors

Cleaning concrete floors in warehouses, factories, and distribution centers from black tire marks can prove to be difficult. Although industrial floors are washed daily with autoscrubbers, the black forklift tire marks are not removed and in fact continue to accumulate, leaving rubber buildup that is not attractive and does not condone cleanliness in your plant. So, what is the best way to remove tire marks from concrete? And even better, how can you prevent them?

Using Chemicals to Clean off Forklift Tire Marks

Chemically cleaning concrete floors is marginally effective. Using chemicals to clean concrete can be a tricky proposition. Muriatic (hydrochloric) acid is highly corrosive and may condense on metal items and turn stainless black or cause other damage. Acids and citrus cleaners that are strong enough may cause respiratory distress both to those applying the chemical and to plant employees. There are porous building components such as insulation or drywall that may absorb the strong, citrus order and it remain for many weeks or longer. Whether the chemical is acidic or alkaline, chemicals pose a health threat to those applying them and to those present when they are applied. If the chemical is strong enough to deep clean into the pores of the concrete, then it is most likely also damaging the surface of the concrete. Finally, at the end of the job there may be a disposal problem for the spent chemicals that may be environmentally toxic.

Using Water and Diamond Abrasives for Cleaning Concrete

The safest and preferred method to restore and clean concrete floors is by using water and diamond impregnated abrasive pads, also known as polished concrete. This concrete cleaning method is environmentally friendly, safer than chemical cleaning, OSHA preferred to dry grinding, and does not damage your concrete floor. In fact, your floor is substantially improved. The aesthetics, light reflectance, dust proofing, and hardness of the concrete floor surface floor, and ease of future cleaning are all improved.