Kari
05-31-2004, 04:31 PM
We have a horrible issue with gum at our store, both inside and out. After you scrape up what you can off the ground outside there is that residue left that collects dirt. So you still have the black spots all over.
Some people don't even know what those black spots on the sidewalks and parking lots are. For those of you who wonder what the black spots are that are on your sidewalks or parking lot, those are gum spots.
The best way to clean it up is to scrape up what you can and then pour a little paint thinner on the spot and clean the area with a small brush - a tooth brush works really well. (I then pour water on the area. I don't want anyone stepping in it and then tracking it into the store or into their car. I also have lots a young children that walk around without shoes and I do not what them to step in the paint thinner).
I am passing this tip along because I have researched solutions for gum removal for a long time but have had no luck at all. A guy who owns a shop for repairing airplanes was at our store a month ago and saw me mopping up oil that a car had left behind.
He said his worst pet-peeve is a dirty parking lot or floor and he is very anal about keeping his parking lot and shop floor very clean. He said that he wipes up the spilled oil and then sprays a little paint thinner on it. It removed that oil residue. He also said he uses the paint thinner to get up the gum residue.
He takes a plastic pop bottle and pokes a small pin size hole in the cap and that is what he uses to 'spay' the area. That way when it gets old and dirty you can just throw it away.
I have used it on the gum residue and it works GREAT. I have yet to use it on the oil. But I will as soon as I pressure wash my parking lot.
Some people don't even know what those black spots on the sidewalks and parking lots are. For those of you who wonder what the black spots are that are on your sidewalks or parking lot, those are gum spots.
The best way to clean it up is to scrape up what you can and then pour a little paint thinner on the spot and clean the area with a small brush - a tooth brush works really well. (I then pour water on the area. I don't want anyone stepping in it and then tracking it into the store or into their car. I also have lots a young children that walk around without shoes and I do not what them to step in the paint thinner).
I am passing this tip along because I have researched solutions for gum removal for a long time but have had no luck at all. A guy who owns a shop for repairing airplanes was at our store a month ago and saw me mopping up oil that a car had left behind.
He said his worst pet-peeve is a dirty parking lot or floor and he is very anal about keeping his parking lot and shop floor very clean. He said that he wipes up the spilled oil and then sprays a little paint thinner on it. It removed that oil residue. He also said he uses the paint thinner to get up the gum residue.
He takes a plastic pop bottle and pokes a small pin size hole in the cap and that is what he uses to 'spay' the area. That way when it gets old and dirty you can just throw it away.
I have used it on the gum residue and it works GREAT. I have yet to use it on the oil. But I will as soon as I pressure wash my parking lot.