How To Clean Wood Stain Off Concrete

woodstainfromconcrete

David asked: How do I remove wood stain from concrete? My next door neighbors sprayed their wooden fence with wood stain, and it has covered the side of my house (roughcast) as well as paving stones and stones all down the side of the fence. Is there anything I can use to remove it? Steam cleaning doesn't work, so I am guessing it will need to be some sort of strong chemical. Thanks for your help.

Staining wood is a common home improvement project and as such, cleaning up the stain is also a common problem. Here are some methods that can be used to remove the stain from the concrete.

Muriatic Acid Method

You Will Need:

Muriatic Acid (aka Hydrochloric acid)
Rubber gloves
Protective eyewear
Water
Bucket
Concrete sealant

Steps to Remove the Stain:

Begin by taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself against the harmful acids. Wear old clothing, rubber gloves and protective eyewear.
Mix one part muriatic acid with 20 parts water in a bucket.
Clean the stain off with the mixture.
If the stain is not removed, strengthen the mixture by one part (1 part acid with 19 parts water). Continue making the solution stronger until the stains are removed.
Once removed, rinse the area thoroughly with clean water.
There will be a powdery residue from the acid that can be washed away with water.
The cement will now be stripped. To prevent future staining, apply a concrete sealant following the manufacturer's instructions.

Bleaching Method

You Will Need:

Oxalic Acid (aka wood bleach)
Rubber gloves
Protective eyewear
Water
Bucket
Long handled scrub brush

Steps to Remove the Stain:

Though this method uses bleach, it does not utilize household bleach. Oxalic acid is a wood bleaching agent that can be used to remove the stain. Household bleach will not.
Begin by taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself against the harmful acids. Wear old clothing, rubber gloves and protective eyewear. Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid harmful effects from the fumes.
Mix the bleach with water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Apply the mixture to the stained concrete with the scrub brush and allow it to set for 15 minutes.
Rinse the acid away completely with water.

Sandblasting Method

You Will Need:

Sand blaster
Protective eyewear/gear
Water

Steps to Remove the Stain:

Sandblasters can be rented at most home improvement or hardware stores.
Once the stain has dried, it can be sandblasted off of the surface of the concrete.
To clean up, sweep up or wash away the sand.

Additional Tips and Advice

When determining the method that is best for your particular situation, consider the space that is stained, and the amount of time and product that will be required to remove it.
If you are unsure about your particular situation, contact the stain's manufacturer for specific cleaning guidelines.
Soaking the lawn and any plants surrounding the area about 30 minutes prior to treating the stain can allow them to drink their fill before the hydrochloric or oxalic acid solution runoff gets onto the lawn. However, according to Clean It Fast, Clean It Righy by Jeff Bredenberg, rinsing the area thoroughly afterward should dilute an oxalic acid solution enough that it will not harm the plants regardless of whether they are thirsty or not. The same should be true for the hydrochloric acid. Some plants are more sensitive to pH than others though, so rinse the area extra thoroughly for any specialty plants.

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