Home made POWDER deck cleaner?

[Ruffles]

I clean the decks with some stuff I bought years ago. It's a POWDER which you sprinkle on a wet deck, spread around with a broom an leave to do its magic before rinsing off.

The label on the bottle says it contains 10% oxalic acid. Now I have a big 5kg tub of oxalic acid so I fancy making some up rather than paying marine prices.

So the question is what do I mix in with the acid powder? Is it just chalk? Where do I get it?

 

[Quandary]

No, I think your carrier would have to be water soluble, would 'hand wash' detergent powder which I use on our deck be too sudsy.

 

[Ruffles]

No, I think your carrier would have to be water soluble, would hand wash powder which I use on our deck be too sudsy.

I don't think it dissolves at all. It's white when it washes off.
Washing machine powder is mostly expensive chalk!
I guess I could cut it with soap powder but it seems an unnecessary pollutant. And it might react with acid!

 

[Quandary]

If you have the oxalic acid it would not be too hard to make up a few small test batches with different carriers.

 

[sarabande]

possibly use fine builders sand as the admixture, thus providing a bit of gentle abrasive as well as the cleaning function of the oxalic acid ?

 

[VicS]

Is this the stuff ?

It's quite effective but if you already bought some I cant think what you want more for. I bought some 30years ago and It'll see me out.

No sorry I don't know what the oxalic acid is mixed with. I don't think it will be chalk as that would neutralise the acid, and certainly not as abrasive as sand.
Does it effervesce when added to water. It probably would if was oxalic acid and chalk.

A detergent powder would make it useful for removing general dirt and grime

Why not use oxalic acid dissolved in water and thickened with wallpaper paste.

 

[Ruffles]

SUGAR SOAP!!

Dunno why I didn't think of it before. Cheap enough at a couple of quid a kilo.

I will report back.

 

[VicS]

SUGAR SOAP!!

Composition varies a bit but is generally quite alkaline so would neutralise the oxalic acid.

 

[Ruffles]

Is this the stuff ?
..

Not the same brand but probably identical concoction.
Yes my bottle is ten years old but smaller than yours.
Wallpaper paste is not really appropriate. I'm cleaning the textured bits on the deck.
And you're right. The stuff does fizzle up slightly. I'll try the sugar soap.

 

[ianabc]

oxalic acid ... damage ....

Exposure to oxalic acid may cause joint pains and perhaps lead to kidney stones......

 

[VicS]

I'll try the sugar soap.

it is quite strongly alkaline. I think you will find that it will neutralise the oxalic acid. it'll be good for general cleaning but it wont then do the things, like removing rust stains, that the oxalic acid is good for.

acid + alkali → salt + water​

IIRC

 

[Ruffles]

it is quite strongly alkaline. I think you will find that it will neutralise the oxalic acid.

Fair point. Not worth spending my £2 on.

Do you know what powder is used to pad out washing powder? Wikipedia fails to mention it.

 

[tel1]

Is this the stuff ?

It's quite effective but if you already bought some I cant think what you want more for. I bought some 30years ago and It'll see me out.

No sorry I don't know what the oxalic acid is mixed with. I don't think it will be chalk as that would neutralise the acid, and certainly not as abrasive as sand.
Does it effervesce when added to water. It probably would if was oxalic acid and chalk.

A detergent powder would make it useful for removing general dirt and grime

Why not use oxalic acid dissolved in water and thickened with wallpaper paste.

interesting thread, i use this stuff and its great, better than y10, bar the rust patches. do let us know if you find a cheap method of making your own, i cant keep afording £10 a time!!! however i do find my small pressure washer gets a good amount of dirt off!

 

[Baddox]

As already mentioned, laundry detergent will neutralise you oxalic acid so you’ll cancel any benefit of using one or the other. Wallpaper paste will be OK with the acid and will help hold the cleaner in place while it does its job. Personally, I’d blend the acid with a bit of fairy liquid and form a scouring paste with cat litter and water. Unused cat litter of course; in the good ol’ days it was used to clean sheep’s fleece and is still used in many cleaners.

Be careful though, oxalic acid is the poison found in rhubarb leaves.