How to Clean Stains From Concrete

Concrete stains can be unsightly, and cleaning them can pose a challenge. Because it's a porous material, concrete can be particularly difficult to clean of oily stains or stains of any type that set into the concrete. To help minimize stains, absorb any spills or excess grease immediately, using a commercial absorbent or clay cat litter. By taking the initiative to absorb any spills as soon as they occur, you can reduce the size of the stain and decrease the amount of work involved in cleaning these types of stains from your concrete.

Things You'll Need

• Stiff brush
• Concentrated detergent
• Rubber gloves
• Boiling water
• Hose

Instructions

1. Apply your choice of concentrated detergent to the stain. The detergent of choice can include commercial cement cleaning products, a dishwasher detergent or a laundry soap.

2. Pour boiling water over the area. Scrub the area with a stiff brush and allow the suds to stand on the area for 15 minutes or more.

3. Scrub the area again with the stiff brush. Using the hose, rinse the area thoroughly. In cases of deep or severe staining, cleanup may require one or more treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• Using rubber gloves will protect your hands from excessive dryness caused by the concentrated detergent. If grease caused the stain, pretreatment with a grease solvent will work effectively to eliminate the stain.

• Use of solvents such as gasoline or kerosene cause damage to the environment, and you should avoid their use.

References

• Michigan State University Extension: Concrete, Cement - Grease Stains
• Manatee County, Fla., Environmental Management Division: How Do You Clean Your Concrete Driveway?

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish