Posted 2017-01-14 12:08 PM (#169120) Subject: Believe it or Not ?
Member
Posts: 22
Location: Omaha nebraska
Went along with a neighbor to look at new trailers. The folks at the dealership claim after you clean out your aluminum trailer putting down baking soda will help prevent urine corrosion by neutralizing the acids. Does this work? TIA
Posted 2017-01-16 6:05 AM (#169129 - in reply to #169120) Subject: RE: Believe it or Not ?
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Baking soda will neutralize the acids in urine if there is enough. In the lab we use it to neutralize any spill, and that is what happens inside a trailer too. I would however caution people to not think that this is a replacement for cleaning the trailer. You still must pull those mats and wash with soap and water the floor and both sides of the mats. One should never equate the words neutralize and clean. Also knowing when you've used up all of the baking soda and need to recharge would be nearly impossible. Once the baking soda has reacted and dried you won't be able to tell with your eyes and might still think it's ready to work when it will have already been used (it won't disappear but can't neutralize any more.)
Can it hurt the trailer? No, but remember that baking soda is used in fine polishes so it is abrasive and has the potential to damage in this way. How much should I use? More than just a dusting but less than a solid layer. How often should I replace it? Everytime you clean your trailer, cleaning can't be replaced even with this. Storing a trailer dirty is very harmful and there isn't any short cut. Underneath or on top of the mats? Yes, to both as long as you use bedding to keep it from becoming airborne and causing problems with eyes/lungs. There are also reported links to cancer but these could be nothing more than conjecture. Do your own research if you want to chase rabbits, I'm just giving you the heads up.
Posted 2017-01-16 8:33 AM (#169130 - in reply to #169120) Subject: RE: Believe it or Not ?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402 Location: Valentine, NE
Been doing it for years. Dollar General gives you a weird look when you buy all their baking soda. I don't know if it helps, but I think it might. I just put it under the seams of the mats and where the walls meet the mat. Mostly on the butt side. A fine dusting is my plan. It does dull the floor but so far, on our 4 year old Hart, that I clean out completely 4 times a year, no corrosion at all.....you do turn into a ghost when you put it down.
Believe it or Not ?
