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Chen asked: We have a non-profit art gallery with a concrete floor that’s painted with oil-based floor paint. An artist painted the floor with lots of chalk, that people dragged everywhere with their shoes. We’ve washed with soap and warm water, but when it dries, the footprints are still there. There are also water streaks from the mop and the chalk left on the floor. Any suggestions?Thank you!
In most cases, a simple wash with soap and water with a scrub brush should take care of chalk left on oil-based paint. If that method doesn’t prove effective, give this one a try.
You Will Need:
- Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
- Water
- Mop
- Soft bristled brush
Steps to Remove the Chalk:
- Fill the bucket with water.
- Add a generous amount of washing soda, following the package’s guidelines. The washing soda is recommended over regular soap because of the slight abrasion the baking soda offers. This will help lift the chalk from the surface so that it can be removed completely.
- Agitate the solution with the mop, then wash the floor with it. Rinse the mop frequently to keep from reapplying the chalk to other areas of the floor.
- Scrub the stained areas with the soft bristled brush to help lift any stubborn chalk residue away.
- Rinse the floor with clean water. It may take several rinses to completely remove the chalky water residue.
- Mop up any excess and allow it to dry completely.
- If streaks remain, then all of the chalky residue was not completely removed during the rinsing process.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Stubborn stains may need a vigorous scrubbing, but take care not to scrub too hard. You may chip, damage, or compromise the painted surface.
- Prevent further chalk stains by applying a protective finish to the floor.
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