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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
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How to clean up coolant spill?

  • Thread starter Thread starter lparsons
  • Start date Start date Nov 19, 2008
L

lparsons

20+ Year Stangneter
May 24, 2004
198
1
18
Upstate New York
Nov 19, 2008
#1
  • Nov 19, 2008
  • #1
This is a pretty stupid question but I don't know the answer. What is the best way to clean up a coolant spill from a cement garage floor?

I spilled some antifreeze when I installed a new water pump.

I'm sure I'm not the only person dumb enough to try cleaning up antifreeze with floor-dry (cat litter). Actually, I've made that mistake twice now ... For those who haven't tried that, it creates an evil frictionless mud on your floor that never goes away.

So really, I have two problems now -
What should I have used when I had antifreeze on my floor?
What will clean up the evil mud?

 

ProKiller

Founding Member
Apr 26, 2002
3,064
15
78
PA
Nov 19, 2008
#2
  • Nov 19, 2008
  • #2
i've always just used brake clean in the past. just spray it down and wipe it up with paper towels.
 
T

Touring23

Founding Member
Dec 29, 2001
294
0
0
Washington
Nov 19, 2008
#3
  • Nov 19, 2008
  • #3


Soak up the anitfreeze with old shop towels, wring them out, and hang them up to dry. An old bath towel works great. Paper towels work, too. This is assuming you drained the system first(!)

The mud sux. Snow shovel? Is the floor sealed or porous?
 

MysteryMachine

Active Member
Jun 21, 2003
1,835
2
39
Parkesburg, PA
Nov 19, 2008
#4
  • Nov 19, 2008
  • #4
that just means you didn't put enough kitty litter down to soak it all up. Thats what we use on accidents and if its done right it works great
 

millhouse

Founding Member
May 14, 2002
1,985
0
46
Simpsonville, SC
Nov 19, 2008
#5
  • Nov 19, 2008
  • #5
Invite all of you're neighbors who have cats to bring them over. From my understading it tastes pretty good. Nice and sweet!
 
L

lparsons

20+ Year Stangneter
May 24, 2004
198
1
18
Upstate New York
Nov 19, 2008
#6
  • Nov 19, 2008
  • #6
ProKiller said:
i've always just used brake clean in the past. just spray it down and wipe it up with paper towels.
Click to expand...
I've never heard that suggested before, I'll try that next time I spill antifreeze. I had a spray can of brake cleaner on the shelf right next to my car, too!

touring23 said:
Soak up the anitfreeze with old shop towels, wring them out, and hang them up to dry
Click to expand...
It's probably about time I go get a box or bag of shop towels. I don't think my wife would appreciate my using the bathroom towels to clean the garage floor

touring23 said:
The mud sux. Snow shovel?
Click to expand...
Indeed the mud does suck. I think its the base material for teflon, really. I've never stood on anything with that low of friction - I know friction coefficients should only go down to zero, but really the mud qualifies as negative friction in my book.

I'm surprised I didn't fall and fracture my skull while trying to walk across this evil, evil, mud. I'll scrape with everything I can find and see what works. Maybe I'll pick up a big bag of salt or something...

MysteryMachine said:
that just means you didn't put enough kitty litter down to soak it all up
Click to expand...
I had a pile of cat litter about 2 inches tall. I somehow doubt the mud came from lack of litter. I didn't spill that much antifreeze.

millhouse said:
Invite all of you're neighbors who have cats to bring them over. From my understading it tastes pretty good
Click to expand...
As much as I'm not that fond of cats myself, the loose cats in the neighborhood help with the never ending rodent problem. I'd rather have a couple neighborhood cats than another several dozen mice (I've already caught three in my house this week and its only Wednesday).
 

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 14, 2004
9,297
1,641
214
Acworth, GA
Nov 19, 2008
#7
  • Nov 19, 2008
  • #7
I usually keep a stack of old underwear that no longer have enough continuity to support my gems. Comes in handy when you need to clean up stuff like that. Never through linens away when you have a Ford in the house.

Kurt
 
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