[kinder clean]

Probably a silly question, but is there an easy way to tell rubber backed tiles from bitchumen backed tiles?

Thanks

Paul - Kinder Clean

[Ken Wainwright]

If you have difficulty recognising the backings, apply a very small amount of solvent to a cloth, then gently wipe the edge of a tile. If it's bitumen it will transfer.

Some bitumen backed tiles can have a primary backing that offers a small degree of penetration protection from solvents, so you may not immediately have a bitumen ring appear on the tile face.

Most plastic backed tiles, I've forgot the correct term, can bubble permanently from solvent contact/penetration.

I will treat all tiles as being damaged by solvents.

Always use indirect application of solvents on carpet tiles.

I do however, find that the Rid-A-Gum type of gum remover is less likely to cause damage to tile backings, but can also be used as a mild solvent spotter. I have used successfully on gum, absorbed well afterwards with a towel and bonnet/Dry Fusion cleaned afterwards with no adverse effects. But caution is needed.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Bitumen is very readily soluble in something like white spirit and rubber isnt.

You will be able to tell almost instantly.

Cheers

Doug

[derek west]

ken
would i be right in saying that its non water based solvents you are on about.
i did tests on a bitumen tile, with the likes of citra boost and greasebreaker which state they are solvents on the bottle,(all though i'm guessing they're water based) they had no effect on the bitumen, then i put some orange jel on one and it oosed bitumen which was un moveable.
maybe some clarification for us newbies cos all though i did the tests, i still worry with the ltd knowledge of what constitutes  being a dangerous solvent and a less threatening one.
derek

[Doug Holloway]

Derek,

Technically anything in which other chemicals will dissolve is a solvent, water being known as the universal solvent.

However the term solvent is commonly used to describe hydrocarbons solvents of which there are many but common ones would be white spirit, meths etc.

Products like OJ confuse you because they have ' perfume' to mask the solvent smell.

If you come to my talk on stain removal I am doing something about solvents.

Cheers

Doug

[Ken Wainwright]

Derek

What Doug said.

The citrus gels you talk of are vegetable based and are typically water rinsable, but can still lift bitumen.

The best thing to do for testing is to use a product that you would normally use to remove a tar/bitumen stain.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[derek west]

sorry.
just not getting it, doh!

even neat, the citra-boost didn't lift the bitumen, there wasn't even a slight transfer to the terry towel. maybe i didn't give it long enough.
might do some more experiments with it while ive got the afternoon off.
ive given up with red wine experiments, hic!
derek

[Ken Wainwright]

Derek

Citra Boost is not intended for spotting, it's a pre-spray additive.

Perhaps you should have used Citra Gel which is specifically formulated for most solvent soluble spots and stains.

Safe and happy cleaning
Ken

[Hilton]

White spirit on a cloth rub the back

or

Take a stanley knife and slice the back bitumin will be released on the blade, take a cloth rub it and it will transfer brown. Rubber backed nothing.

Rubber backed tiles are also more pliable, bitumin more difficult to bend.

Alternatively take the tile and scrape the edge against the wall if its bitumin it will leave a nice brown line.(ONLY JOKING FOR CHRISTS SAKE BEFORE YOU ALL START ! BUT TRUE.)

[derek west]

oops
i use for both, bloody good stuff neat on oil and stuff. hope i don't get any after problems, i do rinse it well afterwards so fingers crossed.
derek

[Dave_Lee]

The way I look at is, Solvents are are spirits, free of water, i.e. petrol, white spirit, surgical spirit etc or natural citrus solvents that derive fron the peel of citrus fruits, oranges, limes, lemons etc.
Citra boost and greasebreaker are water based with the solvent additive, so although containing a solvent it is greatly diluted.
As for tiles, rubber backed tiles are easily recognised by their black rubber backing, whilst bitumen backed ones usually have a rough grey backing layer that goes to the floor with the bitumen layer between that and the carpet pile. You can see these layers if you inspect the tile edge.
Dave.