Help Spilled PVC Purple Cleaner

[Bert Kemp]

on linoleum kitchen floor. is there anything that will take it out? I tried goof off didn't do anything.

[Christopher Herzog]

You are in deep trouble! That is a strong dye and in my experience, what it touches it stays.

If you are able to find a solution please share back. I might know of a small patch in my kids basement.

Otherwise, sounds like you have a looming trip to either a flooring or rug dealer in the near future.

Best of luck,
Chris

[Malcolm Schweizer]

I believe this will help:

https://www.wayfair.com/keyword.php?keyword=throw+rugs

[Malcolm Schweizer]

...but seriously, I think any solvent that strong is just going to etch the linoleum. I would try denatured alcohol but let it sit and float the dye out, and then blot it up.

[Tom M King]

I use the clear cleaner, even on pipes that are going in the ground.

[roger wiegand]

Insidious nasty stuff. There's a purple stain on the maple floor in front of our kitchen sink. After 8 years it has faded to the point where only I see it. I buy the clear stuff now for anything where the inspector doesn't need to see the telltale dye.

[Tom M King]

I took night courses at the local Community College, in 1975 in preparation for taking the Plumbing, and Electrical license tests. There was an old guy in the plumbing class that had been a plumber all his life, but could not pass the test. I don't think he could read.

Anyway, the instructor asked him, with his many years of experience at plumbing, what advice could he give all the young ones in the class. He answered, "You use dat copper pipe, you gonna get burned. You use dat PVC pipe, you gonna get dat purple stuff on somethin' you don wan to, and get glue all over everything."

[Bert Kemp]

might be my only alternative, but I don't really want a rug in front of the sink.
I believe this will help:

https://www.wayfair.com/keyword.php?keyword=throw+rugs

[Kev Williams]

Main working ingredient in purple cleaners is lye, so it likely etched the linoleum. I use the stuff to clean the linoleum on my basement floors: My rotary tool machines all have a cheap bucket/fountain pump setup to flood water soluble cutting oil to the engraving area when engraving metals. The floor is caked with the dried drips and splashes around every machine. Straight purple cleaner and a stiff brush takes it right off, and has never hurt the flooring-

Here's a spot, you can see where the bucket sits ;)
456619

ZEP purple cleaner, straight up, not a whole lot-
456620

very stiff boat-deck brush-
456621

scrubbed for about 30 seconds-
456622

-wiped the excess with paper towels,
456623

--then sprayed a little water on, and wiped again--
456624

Closeup of the before/after...
456625

the flooring is cheap-as-it-gets 'machine shop' floor tile, at least 52 years old. Not sure if it's vinyl, linoleum or what exactly, but purple cleaner just cleans it...

That all said, are you sure the stain you can't get off isn't actually a really clean spot?

[Ed Aumiller]

Think OP was talking about PVC purple cleaner...
Not industrial purple cleaner...
????????????????????

[Bert Kemp]

Ok this is what I spilled456627
This is what it looks like456628
this is what I tried456629

[Frank Pratt]

That flooring is vinyl, not linoleum. Big difference. Vinyl flooring is made of PVC, which the cleaner dissolves the surface of as it cleans & primes.

Since there's nothing to lose, get some aerosol PVC cement (basically PVC solvent with very little filler), wet a rag with it & gently work away at the spots, removing surface material until the stain is gone. That will leave a nasty rough spot. Apply seam sealer (that flooring installers use on the vinyl seams) in sufficient layers to build up the surface again. It will likely be a lot glossier than the rest of the floor, but a 3M pad could be used to dull it just a bit. You will still know it's there, but it wouldn't be that noticeable. I've done much smaller repairs using that technique.

[Tom M King]

Some Inspectors want to see the purple, but I use this, if I can get by with it, anywhere possible.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Oatey-8-fl-oz-Cleaner/4756181

[Bert Kemp]

Thanks for the replies. I think I have 2 options the cheapest is a mat and the second is replace the whole thing. I'm looking into replacing the flooring.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Some Inspectors want to see the purple, but I use this, if I can get by with it, anywhere possible.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Oatey-8-fl-oz-Cleaner/4756181


Using duct tape, tape both cleaner and solvent cans together. If possible, tape a third can into the bundle. Makes it harder to knock over. Also set a square of cardboard under cans. I'm not sure which is worse, on the floor, or on the counter.

[Kev Williams]

Sorry Bert, you wrote 'cleaner' not 'primer', so I thought you meant cleaner :)

Have you tried denatured alcohol? Acetone? Turpentine? (or 'Turpatine; as some call it now)

Test on some hidden flooring if you can first, especially with acetone.

--hand cleaner? Bar Keepers Friend? Or just plain old soap and water? Funny thing about chemicals and cleaners, while plain old tap water will clean up a dried coffee stain, alcohol won't touch it!

[Bert Kemp]

well I did try soap and water and I tried goof off which I think is like acetone, anyway it didn't work:(
Sorry Bert, you wrote 'cleaner' not 'primer', so I thought you meant cleaner :)

Have you tried denatured alcohol? Acetone? Turpentine? (or 'Turpatine; as some call it now)

Test on some hidden flooring if you can first, especially with acetone.

--hand cleaner? Bar Keepers Friend? Or just plain old soap and water? Funny thing about chemicals and cleaners, while plain old tap water will clean up a dried coffee stain, alcohol won't touch it!

[Dwayne Watt]

.....
the flooring is cheap-as-it-gets 'machine shop' floor tile, at least 52 years old. Not sure if it's vinyl, linoleum or what exactly, but purple cleaner just cleans it...

That all said, are you sure the stain you can't get off isn't actually a really clean spot?

At that age, the tile has a better than average chance that it is vinyl with an asbestos base.

[Jason Roehl]

You could try some of the clear PVC primer/cleaner to “re-wet” it, then wipe it up. But, I agree with some of the other assessments—the vinyl is likely permanent etched.

[Ole Anderson]

Have you tried bleach?

[George Yetka]

+1 on rewetting it. Pvc primer etches the pipe and has a chemical reaction with the pvc. Your only chance at saving the tiles is to rewet it with clear and try and wipe it up. Test it in the back of a closet if you have one. I was on a job where another plumber spilled a quart in a new tub, we ended up getting it cleaned up with the clear.

I too will always use the clear. to prevent this.I have had inspectors comment but I produced the can and they ok'd


When using glue/primer primer should still be wet when adding the glue for the best glue up

[Rick Potter]

I unfortunately dropped a can of the primer on the floor of my shop from a step ladder. 15 years ago. Still there.

At least I have learned they have a clear primer available now.