Warning: Adding a splash of dish soap to the wash water for a broom finish was a bad idea

We were finishing a big patio slab in Spokane last Tuesday, and it was setting up way too quick in the sun. Someone on the crew said a little soap in the water would help the broom glide easier. We tried it, maybe a quarter cup in a five gallon bucket. The finish looked slick at first, but the next morning the surface was covered in these weird, shiny streaks that wouldn't come off. Learned that soap can mess with the surface cure and leave a residue. Anyone else run into this and know a better trick for hot day brooming?

4 comments

4 Comments

ruby_henderson362mo agoMost Upvoted

Yeah that shiny soap mess is the worst, right? @the_linda is totally right about the spray bottle trick, we switched to that last summer and it's a game changer. Feels like you get a second chance to get the broom lines just right.

angela_harris21d ago

The spray bottle trick is solid advice. What we started doing is adding a tiny bit of that white vinegar to the water too, seems to slow the set even more without the soap residue. Just gotta test it on a small spot first!

the_linda3mo ago

Been there, seen that shiny mess on a driveway years back. What gets me is the soap can actually pull moisture out of the top layer too fast while it's curing. We keep a couple spray bottles of just clean water now to mist the slab right before we broom, seems to buy those extra few minutes without leaving any junk behind.

karenh563mo ago

Ever think soap was just a harmless way to slow things down? I used to, but hearing how it pulls moisture out makes total sense. The water mist trick sounds like a much cleaner fix.