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Some concrete stain removal tips

by Erica Norwood

You should understand that each stain has it's own problems when you're trying to remove it from concrete. The success of removal will depend on the severity of the stain and you may have to do it a few times before you get any results. If possible, it's best to try and remove the stain as soon as it occurs. It's always best to look for cleaners specially formulated for concrete cleaning. Or you can try pressure washing if you have access to such a machine. But if you can't find one there are a few tricks you can try.

Bleach. To use this, dilute the bleach according to directions on the bottle for cleaning. let the solution sit for a little while and then scrub and rinse.

Baking Soda or Dishwashing soap. - Sprinkle dry detergent over the area and let it stand. Then scrub with hot water.

For blood stains, wet the stain first and then cover with sodium peroxide powder. Let it stand for a few minutes and then rinse with water. Scrub the area vigorously. You must follow this procedure with a solution of 5 percent vinegar to nuetralize any remaining peroxide powder.

You can also try sandblasting, grinding, scabbing and scouring. But if you're using steel wire brushes be advised they can leave metal particles behind that will rust and stain the concrete again.

Remember for fresh oil spills you can prevent the staining by putting kitty litter on it. Let that sit overnight and in the morning you should be able to sweep it away. If the stain remains try one of the above tricks to remove anything that remains.