What Is Needed to Apply TSP to Concrete Walls?

Personal Safety

• Using TSP in any context begins with taking the appropriate personal safety measures. Exposure to TSP in any form can cause irritation of the skin, eyes and respiratory and digestive systems. Prolonged exposure may result in tissue burns. Always wear safety glasses or goggles and heavy-duty work gloves when working with TSP. You should also wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and shoes at all times. As an extra precautionary measure, wear a mask to protect your respiratory system.

Dilution

• You need to dilute TSP before using it as a cleaning agent. When you purchase TSP, the bottle should contain information on proper dilution procedures. As a general rule, dissolve 1 cup of TSP in 2 gallons of water, at a water-to-TSP ratio of 32-to-1. The authors of “Walks, Walls and Patios” suggest a mixture of five parts water and one part TSP. Roger German, author of “Remodeling a Basement,” recommends diluting TSP with both water and bleach for the ideal concrete wall cleaning solution.

Tools

• You only really need two tools when using TSP to clean a concrete wall: a bucket and a steel cleaning brush rated for use with concrete. Use the bucket to create a diluted TSP solution, and use the brush to spread the solution onto walls and scrub. Using a ladder can help you avoid reaching over your head with your cleaning brush. Since gravity naturally draws liquids toward the ground, lifting a brush with TSP may cause the liquid to drip down onto an unprotected part of your skin, such as your neck or ears.

Additional Information

• If a concrete wall contains glue, paint or some other substance, you must remove that substance before using TSP to clean the actual concrete, not just the surface material. Online resource Concrete Network recommends using nonflammable chemical strippers, available at hardware stores, for this. Try to avoid allowing TSP to enter the water table in your area. Allowing TSP to drain to the outside can cause damage to water sources such as lakes and ponds.