Can I use sulfuric acid to clean some old varnish off tile?

Question

I have some dried varnish type stuff on my tile bathrrom floor.
I also have some drain unclogger that is concentrated sulfuric acid.
Can I use the acid to dissolve the varnish on the tile?

Also, how can I dilute the acid to clean the rest of the tile?

I was using the drain opener and it melted the pipes and spilled on the floor. Now, that area looks much cleaner than the rest of the floor (I was already flushing with water, so no harm done). I want the whole floor to look like that.
The floor is 56 year old mosaic tiles.

Please be specific, as I want to do this carefully. I know sulfuric acid can be dangerous stuff.

I read somewhere that small amounts of acid can be added to water to dilute the acid to a strength that can be used to clean old tile.

I don't absolutely know it's varnish.
It appears to be varnish. It was there when I bought the house.

I am doing research by asking this question. Since the drain cleaner (sulfuric acid) cleaned the floor so well, I don't see the harm in using it on the rest of the floor, as long as it is done safely.

I recall reading on the DIY website that diluted sufuric acid could e used to clean old tile and grout.

The varnish is only on one spot, in the shape iof the bottom of a can, so I am assuming someone at some time put a can of varnish (or something like it) on the floor and failed to clean it up before it dried.

Answer 1

in an open area the sulfuric acid will clean the tiles and will ahve to be washed up with cold water
DO NOT use hot

and NO it WILL NOT remove the varnish

varnish is basically plastic and as you may have noticed the sulfuric acid is in a plastic bottle and has not melted yet

sulfuric acid will destroy metal and will desolve you tile very slowly

thats why the spilled area looks so good you 'burnt off the top layer that was holding all the old dirt and waxes in its pores

be very careful when using that stuff it desolves pretty much anything that is not plastic or glass

as for that other comment about being dangerous when mixed with water that is only true in an enclosed space like a drain line

Answer 2

do not use sulfuric acid. mixed with water is will splatter and give off a toxic gas. Go to a hardware store and look for a stripper. mineral spirits might work. ask someone at the store what could be used. also check the cans of varnish for what is recommended to clean up the stuff. Good luck

Answer 3

"Varnish
A transparent surface coating which is applied as a liquid and then changes to a hard solid. Varnishes are solutions of resinous materials in a solvent, and dry by the evaporation of the solvent or by a chemical reaction, either with oxygen from the air or by some other means, including absorption of atmospheric moisture.

Spirit varnishes are those in which the evaporation of solvent is the only drying process; the solvent is usually alcohol, although the term is used for similar coatings made with other solvents. Shellac varnish, made by dissolving shellac in alcohol, is the most common of this type. Oleoresinous varnishes are made by treating a drying oil with a resin, usually with heat, and dissolving the reaction product in a solvent, usually a petroleum fraction; drying results from the evaporation of the solvent, followed by polymerization of the drying oil portion, a reaction which is accelerated by metallic driers added to the varnish. For a discussion of the mechanism of this drying action. See also Drier (paint); Shellac; Solvent.

Varnish coatings on wood are used to protect against abrasion, staining, and weather and to reduce the penetration of water and other materials without obscuring the grain or changing the color materially. Varnishes are used on masonry to reduce the penetration of moisture and the damage from freezing. Paper is coated with varnish to resist moisture and keep printing from being damaged. See also Printing; Surface coating."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First of all I'm having a difficult time assuming that ANYONE would "Varnish" over tile. No offense to you.

Secondly, there are strippers and dissovling agents designed specific to the purpose, and I cannot imagine anyone using Sulphuric Acid for more than it's intended purposes. Again, no offense meant.

Third, I'm as curious to know how YOU know, it's "Varnish"

Finally, and once more, with all due respect, do more indepth research, before you attempt anything.

Steven Wolf
(Just some Old Guy)

Answer 4

Drano is a strong base. It will react violently with sulfuric acid. (Lots of heat produced, maybe enough to cause steam and a chemical splatter.- Stay well clear.) Sulfuric acid itself will produce a lot of heat when it contacts water. (Wiki ;"Heat of hydration'). The acid is denser than water and will sink. The heat will be produced below the surface of the standing water. This can be dangerous as the liquid can 'bump' back up at you. I'd let a lot of water seep through that clog before I added the acid if I were you.

Answer 5

I would try to gently scrape the varnish up and then apply a laquer thinner to remove the rest. Then go to Home Depot or Lowes and get Frazzle to clean the tile and grout. It does a wonderful job when applied with a scrub brush and has no odor.

Answer 6

Use fast drying lacquer thinner to remove varnish. Wipe on-wipe off. Never, never use sulfuric acid to clean anything except the drain.

Answer 7

DO NOT EVER add water to conc. sulfuric acid.
It will float on top, heat up, possibly boil,
with spattering, and acid burns, and ER visits.

That said, there are probably better and safer things
with which to clean that floor.
The film you speak of is probably mostly wax and grease.
Try ammonia or strong detergent.