[andi wilson]

I have just been called out to clean up a water flood in a cellar plant room. Heating oil has leaked also, not much, but it doesn't take much to make a hell of a mess..

What chems would you guys advise to break the oil down, for extraction.   House currently being renovated so, I have access to suitable oil disposal. Just need to know what is the best product to breakdown oil for extraction, and then to clean floor afterwards..

[Kev Martin]

can't you just vac it up with a wet vac?

[andi wilson]

Well that's what I was going to do.. But all the pipes will get proper icky, I thought if I had something to break it down it may help cleaning machinery/hose...

[Kev Martin]

Just add some fairy liquid that should break it down

[Yada Yada Yada - www.m-clean.uk]

I use washing up liquid on a lot of surfaces and it is definitely worth having in the van.

I'm not sure, if you use washing up liquid, where it would fit into your clean up and or where Kevin suggested it should be used. I'm not picking at his suggestion.

But if you are going to wet vac up a mix of water, some oil and washing up liquid (dependant on how much of each part there is) you will also introduce air into the collection and the whole will be agitated.

This will foam the washing up liquid and the ball in your vacuum will rise and cut out the wet vacuum, thinking the drum is full before it is.

Non foaming whatever you use.

Chris's professor in his 'Anderson shelter' will have the answer but you are on the edge of what I find as quite an interesting part of the cleaning market, colloids, solubisers, emulsifiers etc and their use.

Mike will know because they use them all the time in their non foaming chems.

[chris scott]

Residue pump down the bog till you get to the oil. Deal with the oil. Wash the floor with some soap  .

[BDCS]

Prochem powdered de foamer will sort the foam from the fairy
http://www.prochem-uk.com/shopimages/pdf/psss760.pdf

I'd go for a tfr - caustic if the floor will stand it

[Smurf]

Jesus that takes me back a wee bit as used carpet cleaning powder and defoamer for the waste tank over 30 years ago.   

[BDCS]

I think bubbles are much the same nowadays