How to Remove Stains From Concrete
Concrete and carpet have something in common, they can stain very easily. Making sure that you remove stains and spills from concrete is very important if you don’t want it to be permanent. It’s also very important to make sure you keep the stain contained by not letting it spread and becoming larger.
There are a few things you can use to soak up fluids which may cause a stain. Kitty litter, cloths, and paper towels are good things to use to soak up stains before they have a chance to soak into the surface. You should always pat the fluid instead of wiping it because wiping it can cause the stain to spread.
Things to know
If the concrete surface isn’t sealed, the stain can easily soak very deep into the concrete. By sealing the surface with a high quality film or topical sealer, a barrier will be formed on the surface which will make it much harder for anything to soak into the concrete. If you’re planning on applying a sealer make sure you clean or grind the concrete first.
Before you begin to apply cleaning or stripping chemicals to the concrete you should be aware of these two things:
You should first test a hidden area with the chemical to make sure it doesn’t cause any unsightly damage.
When you use a chemical cleaner it can sometimes stain the area you cleaned causing it to look different than the rest of the area. So, you may have to clean the entire surface to make it blend together.
How to use paint strippers and solvents
Acetone, mentholated spirits, and de-greasers are great for removing fats, oils, silicone, and even chewing gum. Here’s the steps you should follow when using once of these types of cleaning agents.
Remove as much of the spill as you can by using a towel. Remember not to rub the fluid, pat it to minimize spreading.
Cover the stain with your cleaning solution and let it sit for 20 minutes.
Use a pressure washer to spray the stain.
How to use acid cleaners
Acid cleaners work very well but there are more precautions you must be aware of when using such chemicals. Hydrochloric and phosphoric acid can be dangerous if not handled properly so make sure you read the manufacturers MSDS.
A cleaning solution that’s acid based is good for removing salt and calcium build up , rust, brick or clay mortar from concrete. The acids may etch the surface so you should test a hidden area first to see what kind of damage it may cause.
For some applications you may need to dilute the solution. To do this, use 1 part ammonia to 8 parts water and this will help neutralize the acid.
How to use liquid chlorine cleaners
The first thing I would like to mention about liquid chlorine cleaners is that you should avoid using them during the heat of the day because they will evaporate very quickly and become useless.
Using a mixture of 1 part liquid chlorine and 5 parts water is great for removing stains from dirt, mold, and fungi. You should first pressure wash the surface and then apply the cleaning solution. Then, use a stiff bristled broom to scrub the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Pressure wash the surface again and the stain should be gone.
Stains on concrete can be very unsightly. Using the tips from this article will definitely help you remove all kinds of different stains and make your concrete look new again.
