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Bay wall stains

KleanRide

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Bought a 7-bay SS two months ago and we're doing an extensive rehab. My bay walls are white tile block supported by split-face concrete block columns at each end. The previous owner probably hasn't cleaned the bay walls in 10 years and they are a mess. I've done one pass with Klean Wall and a 3600 psi pressure washer, but it didn't cut a lot of the stubborn pink foam stains and build up around foam brush hangers, etc.

Any recommendations on an acid cleaner that's stronger than Klean Wall? If not, is sand blasting a viable option?
 

tdlconceptsllc

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Did you apply it straight concentrate may have to do it 3-4 applications. 4000psi @ 4gpm would be minimum pressure washer very gruesome process. Would definitely try this before sandblasting. The reason I know this is I have done it and in the current process if you look at older threads from this year
 

KleanRide

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Did all the bays at about 1:4 dilution, then went back for the stubborn spots at full strength. Bad stains wouldn’t budge, even dialing the nozzle down to laser beam pattern. Baked on crap that isn’t giving up.
 

Randy

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Look at the wall tile, does it have a shiny gloss to it or is it dull? If it's ever been cleaned with straight New Wall the top finish is gone it'll never come clean. Once you remove the top gloss surface it will suck up everything. We have a carwash near us and they cleaned thewall tiles with New wall and ruined the tiles, looks like crap now.
 

KleanRide

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Look at the wall tile, does it have a shiny gloss to it or is it dull? If it's ever been cleaned with straight New Wall the top finish is gone it'll never come clean. Once you remove the top gloss surface it will suck up everything. We have a carwash near us and they cleaned thewall tiles with New wall and ruined the tiles, looks like crap now.
No, the main wall are actually tile block with a dull finish (more porous) and they are in the worst shape. There's an accent band of yellow/black glossy tiles and they've held up pretty well. Coating still intact. Honestly, I'm not sure these walls have ever been acid washed prior to my attempts.
 

MEP001

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They probably have been acid washed, which is what makes them dull and porous. For some reason the accent colors hold up better against the acid cleaning. You might try calling Elgin-Butler Brick Co., who is most likely the company that made your glazed block, to see what they recommend.

Plain muriatic acid seems to do the best job cleaning while doing the least damage. The pink stains will disappear with bleach, just apply it about 2:1 and leave it.
 

Earl Weiss

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Cover with FRP and make future cleaning easier.
 

Rfreeman

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I have tile walls at one wash and when I purchased it the walls looked like they hadn't been cleaned in 5 to 10 years as well. I used straight muriatic acid on them. I also go a bunch of paint rollers to roll the acid onto the walls and let it sit there before hitting it with my pressure washer (7500 psi with 120 F water).....it came right off
 
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