Bilge Water/Sludge

Testing Procedure

Using a 500 milliliter cup, proceed as follows:

  • First rinse cup to make sure that there are no other contaminants present.
  • Fill cup to the 350-400 milliliter line.
  • Add 1-1/2 teaspoons of SWR into the solution.
  • Lightly stir product.
  • Stir adequately to disperse the SWR thoroughly.

This protocol is for purpose of separating bilge water contaminated with fuels, grease sediment and bio growth that can contribute to odor problems. The addition of SWR to the bilge water will also improve oil/water separator performance.

If the bilge water sample is mostly fuel or oil, then water equal to the sample tested should be added along with the SWR to help activate the product and give a visual separation line in the beaker.

General Stain Removal

Testing Procedure

Start with a 10:1 Mixture of water and SWR in a spray bottle. If possible, use a bottle with an adjustable sprayer to allow for better dispersal at the stained area.

General cleaning of organic based stains on carpet, clothing or fabric on furniture can be obtained at 15:1 or 20:1 depending upon circumstances with positive results.

Individuals have reported that a 10:1 Water/SWR mixture works on blood, food and banana stains.

Keep in mind that the cleaned area may stand out after cleaning and appear to be lighter and the colors brighter than the rest of the fabric. This may necessitate a cleaning of the entire surface area.

A small brush is helpful to gently work the area of the stain after applying the mixture.

Procedure:

  • Apply the SWR/water mixture directly upon the stained area while allowing some of the mixture to extend slightly beyond the stain.
  • Apply enough mix to thoroughly wet the stain.
  • Wait 2 – 3 minutes then brush or wipe back and forth with a clean dry rag or paper towel.
  • Some of the stain may become visible on the rag and this is a good indicator that the stain is being removed.
  • If it appears that the stain is gone, apply a small amount of clean water on the area and blot it with a dry rag.
  • Another clean-up method would be to use a wet/dry vacuum since that would enable clean water to be poured directly on the stain and then extracted with the vacuum.

In some cases, we suggest testing the SWRmixture on an area with a lesser stain or in a less prominent location to insure that there is no visible discoloration as a result of the cleaning process.

Grease Trap Cleaning

Testing Procedure

Equipment needed:
Container of SWR product (undiluted), gloves, safety glasses and a camera.

Procedure:

  • Most industrial grease traps are cleaned using a vacuum method prior to adding any chemical product such as enzymes.
  • SWR can be added to a drain upstream of the trap prior to cleaning. This may need to be repeated several times before the actual cleaning of the trap is attempted.
  • Some traps may be fouled to the extent that mechanical agitation with scrapers or brushes along with the SWR product being added directly to the trap.
  • The use of hot water will greatly benefit the efficiency of the cleaning.
  • SWR usage in such applications is helpful in reducing odors associated with grease traps of any size.

NOTE: in some countries, government entities may not allow cleaning materials to go ‘downstream’ of the trap. Check with local authorities and regulations regarding this issue before attempting any grease trap cleaning.

Oil Stains on Concrete

Testing Procedure

This test is fairly easy to perform with minimal equipment. Items needed would be a spray bottle with a 5:1 mix of water/SWR plus some rags, paper towels and a small stiff brush.

Procedure:

  • Locate an oil stain on concrete such as one might find in a parking garage or concrete floor. Such stains usually occur near the front of the parking place under the location of the engine and transmission.
  • Spray an area about 150mm x 150mm in area. It helps to outline the area with masking tape for contrast to an adjacent stain. After spraying liberally, wait 3 – 5 minutes before gentle scrubbing with the brush. Scrubbing does not have to be extensive.
  • After scrubbing, wipe the area with the absorbent rags or paper towels. If available rinse with clear tap water.

At this point the stain will be greatly reduced. In some cases, you may need to repeat the above process to get down to bare concrete depending on the built up layer or oil and dirt.

Waiting time before scrubbing is affected by ambient temperature. The colder it is at the time of the test, the longer the waiting period before scrubbing.

Oil Water Separators

Testing Procedure

Equipment needed:
Sufficient quantity of SWR (undiluted) to treat the system being serviced by the oil/water separator.

Procedure:

  • Add SWR to the bulk system being cleaned by the oil/water separator. The separator will be cleaned as the SWR and water flows through the unit. SWR should be added to the bilge to approximately 1000 ppm initially as product. If the volume being treated is not known exactly, then the product should be added in increments over a few days while observing results at the separator. The goal should be clear odor free water flowing out of the separator.
  • Extremely fouled systems may take a week or more to improve water quality.
  • If the separator is taken off line for cleaning, the SWR can be used as a cleaner for all components of the unit. Screens, baffles, sumps will benefit from cleaning procedures either by manual scrubbing or pressure washing. (Usage of SWR in bilges greatly reduces the need to clean oil water separators).
  • The performance of the Separator is enhanced significantly by the use of SWR. Improvement in the water quality of the effluent can sometimes be observed in just a few days after introducing SWR.
Painting Preparation and Clean up

Testing Procedure

Painting Prep:

Equipment needed:
For small jobs, a spray bottle with 10:1 mix of water and SWR. For larger jobs a garden type sprayer or pressure washer may be required.

Procedure:

  • The intent here is to remove surface oil and grease that would prevent proper adhesion of paint or primer prior to painting. With SWR, a protective film will remain that prevents surface rusting prior to painting once the metal is cleaned. This effect lasts several days after application so that it is not necessary to paint parts as soon as they are dried.
  • This use of SWR may be somewhat difficult to demonstrate to a customer until a trial is attempted that includes the whole process. The effect of using SWR to clean metal prior to painting is easier to demonstrate on small parts that have a protective oil coating.
  • This use of SWR is especially attractive to production shops that have multiple metal parts going through a process prior to powder coating or spray painting.
Clean up

SWR is a superb cleaner of paint brushes encrusted with oil or latex based paints.

Procedure:

  • Remove excess paint from brushes with rags.
  • Pour a 10:1 solution of SWR and water in a glass jar and then immerse the brushes completely covering the bristles.
  • Bounce the brushes up and down in the jar to get a good intrusion of the mixture.
  • After the paint has released use a stiff brush to further clean and groom the brushes on a rag.
  • If necessary, repeat the process in a new clean solution.

Using SWR in this manner adds years of life to expensive professional quality brushers.

Cleaning Spray Equipment

Testing Procedure

Equipment needed:
Small quantity of SWR concentrate to introduce to spray equipment reservoir.

Procedure:

  • SWR can be a substitute for the typical solvents and chemicals used to clean industrial and commercial paint sprayers. While solvents are very effective, containment and disposal of the cleaning media is a significant challenge.
  • SWR is very effective in cleaning paint guns and hoses simply by adding a mixture of SWR and water in a 1:5 ratio to the paint pot (after it has had residual paint poured off) and then spraying into another container to be collected. This can be repeated until the sprayed water mix appears clean.

The usage of SWR in this procedure does not expose operators to fumes associated with solvents. After cleaning, equipment can be inspected to determine if further rinsing is required.

Use of warm water is helpful but not mandatory.

Stains on fabric and clothing

Testing Procedure

Equipment needed:
Spray-bottle with 10:1 mix of SWR and water.

Procedure:

  • Spray a mixture of SWR/Water directly on the stain prior to washing.
  • Wash in the usual manner after application product and then follow the directions on the clothing label.
  • Some stains will seem to change in appearance immediately after applying the mixture. This will depend upon the nature of the stain and the fabric involved.
  • Take before and after photographs.
Cleaning of Stoves, Kitchen Appliances and Porcelain

Testing Procedure

Equipment needed:
Spray bottle with a 5:1 or 10:1 mix of SWR/ water plus rages, paper towels, a stiff brush or scouring pad, sponge, gloves and safety glasses.

Have a camera handy to take ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of the surfaces.

Procedure:

  • For stoves and cooktops and internal oven cleaning, spray the mixture directly on the areas to be cleaned. Apply liberally and then wait 5 minutes to allow for product penetration and softening of cooked-on material.
  • Try wiping with a sponge or abrasive pad to see how cooked-on material is loosening. Once the area can be scrubbed clean, wipe down with a sponge and tap water.
  • Most appliances and porcelain can be cleaned with a 10:1 mixture. Use 5:1 where food is baked on and will require additional scrubbing.

An added benefit of using SWR is the fact that it removes biological films that discolor surfaces and cause unpleasant odors.

Tank Cleaning

Testing Procedure

Equipment needed:
Garden sprayer for a 10:1 dilution of SWR and water. Using a pressure washer with heating capability is also effective.

CAUTION: Personal protection equipment for working on a confined space of the tank (could include an outside air source) is required. Confined space safety precautions should be employed at all times.

SWR can be used in a large variety of tank cleanup operations. In most cases, tanks are pumped down as empty as possible before any manual cleanout of tank bottoms or sludge. Once the sludge is removed then the procedure outlined below can be employed. The example shown below is based upon a 20,000 gallon frac tank previously containing a petroleum product:

Procedure:

  • Cleaning an empty frac tank starts with closing off all bottom drains and opening up the man-way access points.
  • SWR mix can be sprayed on all interior surfaces prior to starting the pressure washing phase.
  • If using hot water, there can be a visibility problem if too much steam is created in the tank. It may be necessary to reduce the water temperature as a result.
  • If the pressure washer has a cleaning product eductor then you can supply a 2 – 5 gallon container with the diluted mixture in it.
  • Proceed cleaning from top to bottom. During the pressure washing, a vacuum truck should be connected to the low point drain. This will remove debris and keep the water level from building up on the floor of the tank.
  • After all surfaces are pressure washed, inspect the tank interior using good lighting. If clean, then a rinse with clear water can be effected using the vacuum trunk to pull out all residual water.
  • Water and debris in the vacuum truck can then be disposed of in a manner complying with local regulations.

Typically, a 20,000 gallon frac tank can be cleaned with less than 5 gallons of SWR concentrate.