Butter-N-Sugar Spill

[The Ranger]

I was in the kitchen when the crash happened; Pyrex glass clashing against
terracotta tile, followed by a nine-year-old's squeal of fright. With the
reflexes born of a parent given an adrenaline-pump in hyper speed, I rounded
the corner to see my middle daughter-unit rooted in a sea of yams, butter
and sugar sauce, the Pyrex having shattered like a proverbial mirror.

It was nothing to lift her up and over the morass. She willingly reached
high and lifted her legs clear as I craned her over into the kitchen.

Cleaning up the mess... That's become my Waterloo.

The gobs of goo, shrapnel of sharpened glass slivers, and splatter onto the
door and walls cleaned up quickly. The terracotta tile, though, has clung to
the film of sugared butter as if using it as an anti-wrinkle formula. I have
tried Dawn and hot water, mopped with a sponge mop and Sunlight. I've tried
a string mop, swiping at the 409 and wrung dry after each swirl. The grease
and stick just don't want to come up completely.

Any other ideas?

The terracotta was treated with a sealant less than 3 months ago.

The Ranger
--
I called you arrogant, but should have used a much longer list of
pejoratives.
-- Oorah!!, sdnet.eats, 6/17/03

[Phisherman]

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 09:21:50 -0800, "The Ranger"
<cuhulain__98@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I was in the kitchen when the crash happened; Pyrex glass clashing against
>terracotta tile, followed by a nine-year-old's squeal of fright. With the
>reflexes born of a parent given an adrenaline-pump in hyper speed, I rounded
>the corner to see my middle daughter-unit rooted in a sea of yams, butter
>and sugar sauce, the Pyrex having shattered like a proverbial mirror.
>
>It was nothing to lift her up and over the morass. She willingly reached
>high and lifted her legs clear as I craned her over into the kitchen.
>
>Cleaning up the mess... That's become my Waterloo.
>
>The gobs of goo, shrapnel of sharpened glass slivers, and splatter onto the
>door and walls cleaned up quickly. The terracotta tile, though, has clung to
>the film of sugared butter as if using it as an anti-wrinkle formula. I have
>tried Dawn and hot water, mopped with a sponge mop and Sunlight. I've tried
>a string mop, swiping at the 409 and wrung dry after each swirl. The grease
>and stick just don't want to come up completely.
>
>Any other ideas?
>
>The terracotta was treated with a sealant less than 3 months ago.
>
>The Ranger

I'd use a good detergent with a hefty amount of household ammonia
added. Rather than a mop, use a scrub brush for the soap mix and
cellulose sponge in a separate rinse bucket containing water. Change
the rinse frequently and scrub a 4x4 area at a time. Knee pads will
prove to be a good investment.

[The Ranger]

Phisherman <nobody@noone.com> suggested in message
news:khuksvgm5cf56nso4c24ibpek3d4r3vuls@4ax.com...
> >[..] a sea of yams, butter and sugar sauce, the Pyrex having
> >shattered like a proverbial mirror [on terracotta tile] [..]
> >
> I'd use a good detergent with a hefty amount of household
> ammonia added.

Why ammonia? Will this cut the grease?

> Rather than a mop, use a scrub brush for the soap mix and
> cellulose sponge in a separate rinse bucket containing water.
> Change the rinse frequently and scrub a 4x4 area at a time.
> Knee pads will prove to be a good investment.

Roger that, Houston. I already have four of the five items stored in my
catch-all; looks like I'll be making a purchase at Home Despot tomorrow
morning.

The Ranger

[Wayne Boatwright]

"The Ranger" <cuhulain__98@yahoo.com> wrote in news:bqek0o$21b9ii$1@ID-
61173.news.uni-berlin.de:

> Phisherman <nobody@noone.com> suggested in message
> news:khuksvgm5cf56nso4c24ibpek3d4r3vuls@4ax.com...
>> >[..] a sea of yams, butter and sugar sauce, the Pyrex having
>> >shattered like a proverbial mirror [on terracotta tile] [..]
>> >
>> I'd use a good detergent with a hefty amount of household
>> ammonia added.
>
> Why ammonia? Will this cut the grease?
>
>> Rather than a mop, use a scrub brush for the soap mix and
>> cellulose sponge in a separate rinse bucket containing water.
>> Change the rinse frequently and scrub a 4x4 area at a time.
>> Knee pads will prove to be a good investment.
>
> Roger that, Houston. I already have four of the five items stored in my
> catch-all; looks like I'll be making a purchase at Home Despot tomorrow
> morning.
>
> The Ranger

You might also consider using an automotive degreaser, followed by a
detergent scrub and clear water rinse. I did this when I had a grease
spill on my clay tile floor.

Wayne

[Vox Humana]

"Wayne Boatwright" <WayneBoatWright@SMN.worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:Xns9443F14338AB0wayneboatwright@204.127.36.1. ..
> "The Ranger" <cuhulain__98@yahoo.com> wrote in news:bqek0o$21b9ii$1@ID-
> 61173.news.uni-berlin.de:
>
> > Phisherman <nobody@noone.com> suggested in message
> > news:khuksvgm5cf56nso4c24ibpek3d4r3vuls@4ax.com...
> >> >[..] a sea of yams, butter and sugar sauce, the Pyrex having
> >> >shattered like a proverbial mirror [on terracotta tile] [..]
> >> >
> >> I'd use a good detergent with a hefty amount of household
> >> ammonia added.
> >
> > Why ammonia? Will this cut the grease?
> >
> >> Rather than a mop, use a scrub brush for the soap mix and
> >> cellulose sponge in a separate rinse bucket containing water.
> >> Change the rinse frequently and scrub a 4x4 area at a time.
> >> Knee pads will prove to be a good investment.
> >
> > Roger that, Houston. I already have four of the five items stored in my
> > catch-all; looks like I'll be making a purchase at Home Despot tomorrow
> > morning.
> >
> > The Ranger
>
> You might also consider using an automotive degreaser, followed by a
> detergent scrub and clear water rinse. I did this when I had a grease
> spill on my clay tile floor.
>
> Wayne

In addition to the auto degreaser, she might look into powders that can be
applied to the floor to draw out the grease. I have hear of people using
kitty litter. Also, you can get oil removers for concrete that are designed
to removed oil stains from your driveway. One brand that I have heard that
works is called "Fade."

[Phisherman]

On Mon, 01 Dec 2003 06:43:02 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
<WayneBoatWright@SMN.worldnet.att.net> wrote:

>"The Ranger" <cuhulain__98@yahoo.com> wrote in news:bqek0o$21b9ii$1@ID-
>61173.news.uni-berlin.de:
>
>> Phisherman <nobody@noone.com> suggested in message
>> news:khuksvgm5cf56nso4c24ibpek3d4r3vuls@4ax.com...
>>> >[..] a sea of yams, butter and sugar sauce, the Pyrex having
>>> >shattered like a proverbial mirror [on terracotta tile] [..]
>>> >
>>> I'd use a good detergent with a hefty amount of household
>>> ammonia added.
>>
>> Why ammonia? Will this cut the grease?
>>
>>> Rather than a mop, use a scrub brush for the soap mix and
>>> cellulose sponge in a separate rinse bucket containing water.
>>> Change the rinse frequently and scrub a 4x4 area at a time.
>>> Knee pads will prove to be a good investment.
>>
>> Roger that, Houston. I already have four of the five items stored in my
>> catch-all; looks like I'll be making a purchase at Home Despot tomorrow
>> morning.
>>
>> The Ranger
>
>You might also consider using an automotive degreaser, followed by a
>detergent scrub and clear water rinse. I did this when I had a grease
>spill on my clay tile floor.
>
>Wayne


I did not think of an engine degreaser. Lye (oven cleaner) dissolves
grease too. Of couse these products have a safety/environmental
concern, unlike household ammonia.

[Melba's Jammin']

In article <bqda4e$20otig$1@ID-61173.news.uni-berlin.de>, "The Ranger"
<cuhulain__98@yahoo.com> wrote:
(snip)
>
> Any other ideas?

My niece is currently preaching the joys of Krud Kutter (Home Depot).
--
-Barb
<www.jamlady.eboard.com>
"If you're ever in a jam, here I am."

[Melba's Jammin']

In article <bqek0o$21b9ii$1@ID-61173.news.uni-berlin.de>, "The Ranger"
<cuhulain__98@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Why ammonia? Will this cut the grease?

Oh, yeah! That's why it's so good on Sheldon's cruddy grill.
--
-Barb
<www.jamlady.eboard.com>
"If you're ever in a jam, here I am."