GETTING RID OF TOUGH SALT STAINS FROM WINTER WEATHER

Now that warmer weather is just around the corner, a lot of folks are doing their spring cleaning — and that includes businesses, schools, libraries and the like. In many cases, that cleaning involves removing salt stains left over from the winter, when it was tracked in on shoes or equipment. Because salt is an alkaline, the key is finding a “neutralizer” — an acidic cleaner that will dissolve the dried salt so it can be rinsed away.

See a List of Floor Care Products available for purchase from Acme Janitor

FLOOR CARE PRODUCTS

REMOVING SALT STAINS FROM FLOORS

St. Louis is known for its slippery winter weather. Unfortunately, the salt products businesses use to keep customers and employees from slipping and falling all over parking lots, sidewalks, and patios cause lasting damage to different types of flooring. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we have a few pointers on how to get rid of salt on hardwood floors and removing salt stains from carpet or tile.

SALT STAINS ON WOOD OR TILE FLOORS

Any business with hard surface floors knows the struggle of keeping them clean in the winter. Sometimes it seems like the mopping will never end! The sooner you can clean salt from hardwood and tile floors, the better. Using the right products and techniques during cleanup will not only help you keep your floors gleaming clean, it will help head off long-term damage to your floors and its finish.

1. Start by vacuuming your floor in order to get rid of any loose dirt and to vacuum any salt you can.
2. Prepare your floor cleaner.

  • If using a commercial or industrial floor cleaner, follow instructions on the product label. Use products only as directed.
  • For home cleaning or other situations where access to professional floor cleaning products is not possible, try a simple DIY solution. Mix together ⅓ cup of distilled white vinegar with 1 gallon of water.
  • Put the contents of the mixture into a spray bottle for easy application.

3. Spritz the liquid onto the stained area. Make sure you do not saturate wooden surfaces too much with the solution.
4. Next, let the solution sit for 5 minutes.
5. Once the solution has sat on the salt stain, mop up the area and dry it with a towel.
Notes:
  • Stone floors can be damaged by acidic cleaners, so look for a product that is safe to use on natural stone.
  • If your floor has a naturalistic surface texture or grout lines, avoid sponge mops.
  • Use circular cleaning motions and rinse quickly to avoid streaks.

SALT STAINS ON CARPET

A salt-stained hard surface floor might just look like it needs a good mopping, but carpet stains send a different message. Stained carpeting can look like a long-term problem that’s been left unaddressed – not the best impression to make with your employees and customers. Here’s how to  remove salt stains from carpeted floors.

1. Start by vacuuming the area where the salt stain is at.
2. Prepare your carpet cleaning solution.

  • If using a commercial or industrial cleaning product, follow instructions on the product label. Use professional products only as directed.
  • For home cleaning or other situations where access to professional carpet cleaning products is not possible, try a simple DIY solution. Mix together 1 cup of distilled white vinegar with 3 gallons of water.

3. Lightly apply the solution to the stained area using a wringed out sponge. Dab the area instead of rubbing it so the stain does not settle further into the fibers of the carpet.
4. Let the solution sit for 10-15 minutes or as directed on the product label.
5. Take a dry sponge and blot up the solution until it is completely dry.
6. Using another clean sponge, dab the area with water to clean off any leftover vinegar.
7. Once the vinegar and water solution is cleaned up, blot the area dry again.
8. Repeat if needed. DIY cleaning solutions like vinegar may be less effective than professional cleaners designed to remove salt stains from carpet.

SALT STAINS ON CONCRETE

Salt and deicers create a chemical mixture that, when diluted with water, can seep into concrete surfaces like driveways, parking lots, patios, sidewalks, and floors. As temperatures change, this seeped-in mixture can re-freeze and thaw repeatedly, leaving behind salt stains or even worse damage to your concrete.

1. Start by vacuuming your floor in order to get rid of any loose dirt and to vacuum any salt you can.
2. Prepare your floor cleaner.

  • If using a commercial or industrial floor cleaner, follow instructions on the product label. Use professional products only as directed.
  • For home cleaning or other situations where access to professional floor cleaning products is not possible, try a simple DIY solution. Mix together ⅓ cup of distilled white vinegar with 1 gallon of water.
  • Put the contents of the mixture into a spray bottle for easy application.

3. Spritz the liquid onto the stained area. Make sure you do not saturate wooden surfaces too much with the solution.
4. Next, let the solution sit for 5 minutes or as directed on the product label.
5. Once the solution has sat on the salt stain, mop up the area and dry it with a towel.
6. Repeat if needed. DIY cleaning solutions like vinegar may be less effective than professional cleaners designed to remove salt stains from concrete.

REMOVING SALT STAINS FROM OTHER SURFACES

For most other surfaces such as clothing, shoes, and car mats, the same basic steps can be applied to remove salt stains. The main difference between surfaces is the ratio of cleaner to water and the application process.

1. If you’re using a professional cleaning product, always follow the instructions on the label.
2. For a DIY solution, mix together one part distilled white vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle.
3. Spray the area where the salt stain is.
4. Next, let the solution sit for about 5 minutes or as directed on the product label.
5. Finally, clean off the area where the salt stain was using a towel. If it is clothing, it is a good idea to put the item in the wash.
6. Repeat if needed. DIY cleaning solutions like vinegar may be less effective than professional cleaners designed to remove salt stains from fabrics, upholstery, and other surfaces.
Use Our Cleaning Agents to Help with Salt Stain Removal

Different stains require different approaches. Don’t let pesky salt stains from the winter ruin your clean areas during warmer weather. No matter what stain you don’t want, Acme Janitor in St. Louis, Missouri has a professional cleaning product to help you obliterate it. We even carry Green Seal Certified Products for your green cleaning needs. Ask us about the best commercial cleaning products to keep your company ready for business.