Concrete Stain Removal

Concrete is susceptible to various types of stains due to its porous nature. If the concrete is painted or sealed, then concrete stains can be easily avoided. Removing stains from concrete is easy if you identify the stain and use the proper chemical or method for the particular concrete stain. Most concrete stains can be removed with help of items available at home, while for difficult stains, you may need to buy some equipment from a nearby store or consult a professional cleaning service. Concrete stains are easy to remove when they are treated quickly. Common concrete stains include rust stains, oil stains and algae stains. There are basically two major methods used for concrete stain removal, they are the dry and wet method. Dry methods are mechanical methods that do not use any chemicals, while wet methods are methods that use different chemicals. Let us take a look at the removal methods for different types of concrete stains.

Oil Stain Removal

Oil stains or grease stains are the most common types of stains formed on garage floors or on the driveway due to leakages in the vehicle. Fresh oil stains are easy to remove, hence it is necessary to remove the stain before the oil penetrates into the concrete through the pores. Blot the oil from the surface and see that you use some absorbent material for this. Do not wipe the spilled oil or grease, else this will make the oil set deeper into the concrete and make removal more laborious. You will need a liquid dishwashing detergent, scrubbing brush and blotting material. See that you do not use any metal scrubbing brush as this may increase your work. Metal wires of the brush may fall on the concrete and rust due to water. So use a nylon brush and an old towel as blotting material. Put the liquid dishwashing detergent on the oil/grease stain and scrub the area with the help of a brush until a thick lather of foam is formed. Scrub until the oil/grease stain is removed from the surface properly. Then use the towel and remove the lather formed. Generally the liquid dishwashing detergent technique is enough for concrete oil stain removal. But if this does not remove the stain, then check a nearby store to select a commercial oil/grease stain remover for concrete.

Rust Stain Removal

Rust gets easily accumulated on concrete sidewalks and patios, due to many reasons. One of the home remedies for concrete rust stain removal is the use of lemon juice. Squeeze a lemon on the stained area or spray lemon juice on the affected area. Let the lemon extract remain on the concrete for at least 5 minutes. Then rinse the stained area with water. If this method does not remove the rust stain, then use vinegar and follow the same procedure as with lemon juice. If these do not remove the concrete stain then use commercial products that contain oxalic acid. Ensure that you take proper safety measures (eye and hand protection) and read the instructions on the label before using these commercial products. Use a scrubber to remove the stains with these oxalic content chemicals.

Algae Stain Removal

Algae form common concrete stains and are easy to remove. All you need is an oxygenated bleach and some hot water. Prepare a mixture of bleach and water in a proportion of 1:2. Spray the mixture on the stained concrete with the help of a power washer and the stain will disappear. You can prepare and spray this mixture at fixed intervals of days and treat the algae stains on concrete.

The aforementioned home remedies are effective for concrete stain removal. Painting, insulating or sealing the concrete surface can prevent it from getting stained. Cleaning the concrete stain largely depends on the type and the intensity of the stain. If the concrete stain is too hard to remove with the DIY home remedies, see that you consult an expert for the same.