How to Clean Tile with Vinegar. Mix ½ cup vinegar with ½ tsp. all-purpose liquid detergent and 2 cups very hot tap water. Combine in a spray bottle and mix well.
What is Trisodium Phosphate? An inorganic chemical compound (Na₃PO₄), TSP is a white granular or crystalline substance that can be mixed with water to create an alkaline solution.
It is important to note that TSP is most effective against aerobic microbes (Sallam et al., 2004); 1 cup per 5 gallons is the recommended dilution, and washing with citric acid is recommended to neutralize the residue.
Standard TSP must be rinsed away with clean water. Depending on how dirty the surface is, several rinses may be necessary. As a general rule, if the water in the rinse bucket is dirty, it is worth your effort to rinse the wall again with clean water. No-rinse TSP is fairly new invention.
The most accessible way to dispose of TSP in the home would be to pour it down the toilet so it gets treated properly. This is even safe on septic systems. Never dispose of used degreasing rinsates like TSP into lakes, streams, storm drains, or open bodies of water.
Always be sure to completely rinse TSP from the walls (and let the walls dry) before you paint; otherwise, the new paint won't adhere properly. Rinse the solution with a clean, damp sponge and you should end up with a beautiful paint job.
If you are looking for a more natural trisodium phosphate substitute, borax can be a fine replacement. It doesn't require all the safety measures of TSP and is inexpensive, easy to use and it won't hurt the environment. Borax can kill fungus and strip away dirt and grease on porous surfaces such as wood and cement.
TSP and bleach are non-reactive. This means you can add up to 1 cup of bleach per gallon of TSP solution, for moderate infestations. Be aware that this will only remove mold and stains on the surface. Heavy deposits or growths will require an additional step.
It is a free TSP phosphate liquid cleaner that can clean every material and dirty surfaces. The versatility of Simple Green makes this product a fantastic TSP cleaning agent because it is not toxic and contains a biodegradable formula that can adequately clean all washable surfaces.
Trisodium phosphate is a strong chemical. Poisoning occurs if you swallow, breathe in, or spill large amounts of this substance on your skin.
TSP is moderately toxic by ingestion and is a minor skin irritant, but the big advantage of using it is that it doesn't produce toxic fumes. Keep TSP out of children's reach, and use gloves while cleaning with it. It is widely available in hardware and paint stores.
However, borax consists of sodium borate and does not contain harsh chemicals. Choosing to use borax instead of TSP will allow you to clean the surface and kill fungus without the use of chemicals that can cause skin irritation.
Acids such as those found in tile or toilet bowl cleaners, vinegar and lemon juice can react with ammonia and sodium hydroxide, both of which are basic. Ammonia solutions will undergo a neutralization reaction with an acid; vinegar and ammonia, for example, form ammonium acetate.
“Never mix vinegar with other cleaning products like bleach or ammonia or those 'blue' window cleaning products [like Windex], because they can create dangerous chlorine gas,” Gayman says.
In a large bucket, combine a half cup of TSP with two gallons of warm water and stir. Fill up another bucket with clean warm water. Soak a sponge in the TSP solution and start wiping down your cabinets. Focus on corners and any other areas where grease can build up.
Washing wood with trisodium phosphate allows paint, stain or varnish to adhere to wood. Unlike furniture sprays, TSP is a powerful cleaner and degreaser formulated to detach stubborn gunk, grease and mildew from painted and unpainted wood.
Just mix 1 gallon of water and 3 tablespoons of white vinegar in a bucket. Then, soak a soft, light-colored sponge in the cleaning solution and then wring it out so water doesn't drip from it and form streaks on your wall. Work from the top down, wiping the wall with the sponge using gentle, circular motions.
The main ingredient in TSP is phosphate, but this product contains no phosphate. It has sodium sesquicarbonate, similar to baking soda, as the main ingredient (sodium sesquicarbonate makes up about 20% of actual TSP).
Using TSP Around the House
It's strong in any concentration, so for walls, a mixture consisting of 1/4 cup per gallon of water is usually sufficient. If you need a very strong cleaner to remove something like soot or kitchen grease, you can mix as much as 1 cup of TSP per gallon.
Damage to certain surfaces: Avoid cleaning with TSP in the bathroom; it can damage metal, ceramic tile, grout, and glass. And as discussed above, it's not suitable for painted surfaces.
Instead of TSP, I like to clean my walls with a simple solution of warm water and Dawn soap (or any dish soap). Dawn is available anywhere and many homes already have it on hand, making it easier than TSP. It breaks down grease and leaves your walls incredibly clean.
Step #3: Sand Surfaces Before Painting
For previously painted water-based paint, sand with a fine-grit sandpaper. For oil-based paint, a medium-grit sandpaper (100- to 150-grit) should be used.