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When salts are being removed from my equipment, where do they go?

Holdtight 102 turns potable water into an extremely effective cleaner. After application, the water and the Holdtight 102 evaporate from the surface without leaving a residue that will interfere with coatings adhesion. But salts won’t evaporate with the water. That’s why the oceans are full of salty water but rain isn’t salty. Thorough flushing of the Holdtight 102 water away from the cleaned surface is the key to removing the salts.  Ponding water must be eliminated.  

How to Effectively Use Holdtight 102

Effective use of Holdtight 102 requires two things:

  1. Proper flow (at least 1 gallon per minute) and proper pressure (1500 to 5000 psi), along with the correct dilution rate. Learn more (link to Salts Remover) about his information.   
  2. A thorough flushing is critical to effectively remove the salts away from the surface that you want to clean. This means that every inch of the surface must be cleaned. A common misperception is that if the surface is wet, it has been cleaned. That’s no more true than saying that your body would be thoroughly cleaned if you stand in the rain.  You wouldn’t be clean, you would only be wet.

Remove Salts with Water Flow, Water Pressure & Holdtight 102

For salts removal, thorough cleaning requires a cleaning agent like Holdtight 102 and a mechanical action (pressure and flow). Therefore, every inch of the surface must receive the flow and pressure with the treated water. I have seen people try to do a really good job of salts removal or flash rush prevention by applying Holdtight 102 at full strength with zero dilution. But remember, when applied at less than a 50:1 dilution of potable water to Holdtight 102, the solution will leave a residue on the surface that may cause an adhesion problem for some coatings down the road. Do not apply Holdtight 102 at an undiluted or very low dilution ratio.

When using Holdtight 102 for salts removal and flash rust prevention, water pressure and flow rates work together. Holdtight 102 is a surfactant or washing agent, like a soap. However, it is different from a soap because it does not leave a residue when applied at the recommended dilution ratios. Forcing more water at higher pressures into the surface profile of the steel will result in more effective salts removal. We recommend a flow rate of 1 gallon per minute or more to achieve this. One gallon per minute is acceptable, and high flow rates also work well. Most pressure washers purchased in home centers can achieve 1500 psi at one gallon per minute, and industrial pressure washers can easily produce 5000 psi at higher flow rates.

How to Wash Your Equipment with Holdtight 102

Start at the bottom and work your way to the top. On tall structures, if the water evaporates before it drains off of the surface that you are cleaning, the salts will remain on the surface. If you don’t apply enough water to flush the salts completely off of the surface, the water and Holdtight 102 will completely evaporate, while leaving the salts in concentrated areas that were not thoroughly removed. You must pay careful attention to the water movement after applying Holdtight 102.

What To Do with Pooling Water When Using Holdtight 102

Remember, the salts that you are trying to remove are contained in the water that is running off the surface. They cannot be allowed to dry on the surface that you are trying to clean in order to avoid the residue. Pooling water on the substrate is not acceptable when using Holdtight 102, and it should be thoroughly removed by blotting, tipping the substrate to allow for draining, or blowing out the pooled water with clean, compressed air. If you use compressed air, remember that if the air is dirty, you’ll blow contaminants back onto the surface.  A good test to check for the cleanliness of compressed air is to blow the air into a clean white cloth for one minute, then closely examine the cloth for evidence of contamination.   

Our team of experts will work with you to maintain best practices while using Holdtight 102. Learn more about this salts remover.