Frequently Asked Questions About Omnixol
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the application of Omnixol FX100, CX80 and BX Odor Neutralizer as well as the treatment of heating oil, diesel and mineral oil contamination.
For detailed step-by-step instructions and technical background information, you will find further links directly within the respective answers.
Which Omnixol Product Do I Need?
What is the difference between FX100, CX80 and BX?
FX100 is used for deep cleaning oil-contaminated mineral substrates such as concrete, screed, masonry and plaster.
CX80 is intended for textiles, upholstery, carpets and vehicle interiors.
BX is an odor neutralizer for unpleasant organic odors and can be used either independently or following a prior cleaning process.
Which product do I need for heating oil in concrete or masonry?
For heating oil or mineral oil contamination in porous mineral building materials, Omnixol FX100 is used.
Which product do I need for diesel in a car seat or carpet?
For suitable textiles, upholstery, carpets and vehicle interiors, Omnixol CX80 is used.
Can I use BX even if there is no oil or diesel damage?
Yes. Omnixol BX can be used independently as an odor neutralizer for unpleasant organic odors in rooms as well as on suitable surfaces and textiles.
Prior treatment with FX100 or CX80 is only necessary if actual oil or diesel contamination is still present.
Questions About Omnixol FX100
How is FX100 mixed?
For heavy or deep-seated contamination, we recommend approximately 1 : 10 with water. For normal to lighter contamination, it can be diluted up to approximately 1 : 20.
Warm water is recommended where possible.
How much FX100 do I need per square meter?
As a general guideline, 1 liter of FX100 Concentrate is sufficient for approximately 10 m² for a single treatment.
Actual consumption may be higher on highly absorbent or deeply contaminated substrates.
How long should FX100 be left to act?
After application, FX100 should be allowed to act for approximately 24 hours.
Does FX100 only need to be sprayed on?
No. The important factor is that the contaminated substrate is sufficiently saturated with the working solution. Light surface wetting is not sufficient for deep-seated contamination.
Depending on the surface, FX100 can be applied using a scrubbing brush, masonry brush or pressure sprayer, for example.
Do old paints or coatings need to be removed first?
Dense, water-repellent or oil-resistant coatings should be removed from the contaminated area if they prevent the FX100 working solution from penetrating into the underlying building material.
This includes, for example, tank room coatings, oil-resistant barrier coatings and other sealing coatings.
Can FX100 also help with old heating oil contamination?
Yes. Particularly in older cases, heating oil may have penetrated deep into concrete, screed or masonry.
In such cases, the treatment must reach sufficiently deep into the contaminated building material. For very deep contamination, additional measures such as removing contaminated plaster or using targeted drill holes may be advisable.
Why do milky or oily residues appear after treatment?
During FX100 treatment, oil components are mobilized and dispersed within the aqueous cleaning solution. As a result, milky-white, damp or oily residues may become visible on the surface.
What should I do with the residues after FX100 treatment?
First collect the residues that have emerged. The treated surface should then be thoroughly rinsed with clean water and the rinse water completely vacuumed or otherwise removed.
Does FX100 need to be applied more than once?
One thorough treatment is often sufficient. For very heavy or deep-seated contamination, a second application may be necessary after complete drying and assessment of the result.
Can I use FX100 on damp masonry?
The substrate should be as dry as possible before treatment. Heavily damp material can impair absorption and the deep-cleaning action of the working solution.
Before application, the cause of the moisture should therefore be identified and the substrate dried as far as possible.
Why do you recommend a room temperature of approximately 20 °C before treatment?
For older heating oil contamination, a sufficiently warm and dry room supports both the application and subsequent drying process.
As a guideline, we recommend at least approximately 20 °C and a relative humidity ideally below 50 %.
Questions About Omnixol CX80
How is CX80 mixed?
For cleaning suitable textiles and upholstery, CX80 is mixed with water at a ratio of 1 : 10. Warm water is recommended where possible.
How long should CX80 be left to act?
After working the solution into the material, CX80 should be allowed to act for approximately 4 to 5 hours.
Does CX80 need to be worked into the textile?
Yes. The working solution should reach the fibers that are actually contaminated. Surface wetting alone is often not sufficient if diesel or oil has penetrated deeper into the material.
Do I need a wet vacuum or extraction cleaner after using CX80?
A wet vacuum or extraction cleaner is highly recommended for thorough treatment. It removes the cleaning solution and mobilized residues from the fibers and upholstery after the contact time.
Can CX80 be used in a car?
Yes. CX80 is particularly suitable for appropriate vehicle seats, carpets, textile floor mats and trunk linings.
If diesel has spilled, however, it should also be checked whether fuel has reached areas beneath carpets, insulation material or behind trim panels.
Should I test material compatibility first?
Yes. On textiles, upholstery and unknown materials, CX80 should first be tested in an inconspicuous area for colorfastness and material compatibility.
Questions About Omnixol BX Odor Neutralizer
Is BX only suitable for heating oil and diesel odors?
No. BX can generally be used to neutralize unpleasant organic odors in rooms as well as on suitable surfaces and textiles.
Do I always need to clean with FX100 or CX80 before using BX?
No. Prior deep cleaning is only necessary if actual oil or diesel contamination is still present.
For general odor problems, BX can be used independently.
How is BX applied?
BX is sprayed finely and evenly onto suitable surfaces or into the affected area. Heavy saturation is not necessary.
Can BX be diluted?
Yes. Depending on the application, BX can be used concentrated or diluted with water. Dilution is possible up to approximately 1 : 2 with water.
Is BX rinsed off after application?
No. After fine application, BX remains on the treated surface and is not immediately rinsed off.
Allow the treated areas to dry completely and only assess the odor again afterwards.
Can the BX treatment be repeated?
Yes. If necessary, the treatment can be repeated after complete drying.
In the case of oil or diesel damage, however, a persistent strong odor should be taken as a reason to check whether untreated contamination is still present.
Typical Practical Questions
Does the plaster need to be removed before FX100 treatment?
Not necessarily. If the plaster is only lightly contaminated and sufficiently absorbent, direct treatment may be possible.
If the plaster is heavily or deeply contaminated with heating oil, removing it is often the more effective solution. This provides direct access to the underlying masonry and allows FX100 to reach the contaminated area more effectively.
Can I use FX100 if the wall has already been replastered?
This depends on where the original oil contamination is located. If contaminated old plaster or masonry remains behind a new layer of plaster, the FX100 working solution must be able to reach that area.
Depending on the construction, removing plaster or using targeted deep treatment may therefore be necessary.
Can I leave emulsion paint on the contaminated surface?
If the coating prevents the FX100 working solution from penetrating, it should be removed from the contaminated area.
This applies in particular to dense, water-repellent or sealing coatings. FX100 must be able to reach the contaminated building material underneath.
Is BX alone sufficient for a former heating oil tank room?
If only a general odor problem remains in the tank room and no relevant oil contamination remains in the building material, BX can be used for odor neutralization.
If heating oil is still present in concrete, screed, plaster or masonry, the actual contamination must first be treated, for example with FX100.
Does the ceiling also need to be treated in a tank room?
Not automatically. Treatment should primarily focus on the surfaces that are actually contaminated.
In the event of a heating oil or mineral oil spill, floors and adjacent wall areas are often more heavily affected. Whether the ceiling also needs treatment depends on the specific odor and damage situation.
The apartment above the tank room smells of heating oil. Where should treatment be carried out?
The key factor is where the actual odor source or oil contamination is located.
If the cause is in the tank room or heating room, treatment should be carried out there wherever possible. Odor in an adjacent room or room above does not automatically mean that the original oil contamination is also located there.
How do I calculate the surface area to be treated in a tank room?
The required product quantity is not calculated from the floor area alone. Depending on the damage, wall surfaces and possibly other contaminated areas must also be included.
For a single FX100 treatment, the general guideline is: 1 liter of concentrate for approximately 10 m² of surface to be treated.
Are 5 liters of FX100 enough for 50 m²?
Based on our guideline of approximately 1 liter of concentrate per 10 m², 5 liters of FX100 are sufficient for approximately 50 m² for a single treatment.
This does not include any reserve for highly absorbent areas or a possible second treatment.
Can I treat only the wall on the heating-room side?
If the odor or oil contamination has entered an adjoining wall from the heating room, treatment should preferably be carried out from the side where the source of the damage is located or where access is best.
The aim is always to reach the actually contaminated area of the building component rather than merely treating the odor on the opposite side of the wall.
Why does the odor suddenly become stronger after heating?
Heat can increase the release of volatile components from older heating oil contamination within the building material. As a result, an odor that was previously only faintly noticeable may temporarily become significantly stronger.
This effect can also help identify contaminated areas more clearly. Adequate ventilation and suitable protective measures should be ensured during this process.
When can I seal or paint again after cleaning?
Only after complete drying and once the surface is free from odor.
If painting, plastering or sealing is carried out too early, moisture and remaining odor-causing substances may become trapped in the building material.
Remediation, Drying and Final Steps
When can the surface be painted or replastered after FX100 treatment?
Only once the treated substrate is completely dry and free from odor.
Applying new finishes too early may trap remaining moisture or odor-causing substances within the building material.
Can I simply seal the tank room so that the heating oil odor disappears?
A sealer should not simply trap existing oil or odor contamination within the substrate.
The contamination must first be treated. Sealing should only take place after successful cleaning, complete drying and once the surface is free from odor.
Why does the heating oil odor initially become stronger when the room is heated?
Heating can increase the release of volatile components stored within the building material. As a result, the odor may temporarily become more noticeable.
In cases of heavy contamination, adequate ventilation and appropriate personal protective measures should therefore be ensured.
No heating oil was ever visibly spilled. Where can the odor still come from?
Even without a visible leak, small amounts of heating oil components may have entered the surrounding environment over a long period of time, for example around old tanks, pipes or adjoining building materials.
The decisive factor is therefore the actual source of the odor or contamination, rather than whether a single major oil spill was ever observed.
When should a professional remediation company be called?
For large-scale damage, flooding involving heating oil, difficult-to-access contamination, unknown building construction or very deep contamination, using a professional remediation company is advisable.
Professional planning is also recommended where drilling, extensive removal work or larger quantities of contaminated material are involved.
Where can I find detailed step-by-step instructions?
All detailed instructions for use and technical background pages can be found in our Application & Know-How section.