How to Remove Ash, Tire Marks and Graffiti Paint from Concrete or Cement

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By Kristie Raburn
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Beautiful Driveways make a statement about YOU.

Although water alone can remove dirt from driveways, patios and cement walk ways, cleaning chemicals often are needed to remove paint, fire ash or soot and bicycle tire marks. Always use rubber gloves, goggles and keep a hose or bucket handy to rinse it off skin quickly when cleaning with any chemicals.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Hot Water
Gloves
Goggles
Cleaning Agent
Nylon Scrub Brush
Garden Hose with Nozzle

Step 1

The most commonly used concrete cleaning products are: kitty litter to absorb liquids, water mixed with laundry detergent powder, household bleach, or ammonia to release and brake up oil and grease, and for everything else, there are brand name cleaners such as CLR® bathroom cleaner, Gunk®, STP brake cleaner, Castrol Super Clean ®, Purple Stuff ®, and ZUD ®.
Step 2

Soot/Ash from Fires:
Though soot may not be a problem in all areas, where wild fires leave soot and ash behind, alkaline cleaners and hot water are the preferred method for cleaning soot from concrete. Borax detergent and Dawn dish soap will remove soot that is fresh on concreter. Use a high pressure nozzle on your garden hose to help release the soot and ash.
Step 3

Graffiti:
Depending on the paint used, graffiti can be very difficult to remove from any surface. Several citrus-based solvents, methylene chloride, or potassium hydroxide graffiti cleaners are available from the hardware store. Citrus-based solvents are the least aggressive and may not work on certain paints, but they are the safest to use and often have less-stringent disposal requirements. For best results, allow products containing potassium hydroxide to soak into the concrete surface for several hours before power washing. These products also require a subsequent application of an acid neutralizer. Graffiti also can be removed by a special attachment that includes a tungsten-carbide nozzle that meters sand into the water stream before it exits the nozzle. This type of cleaning should only be done by a professional as the sand will etch the concrete, which may not be desirable and can leave you with a bigger mess than you started with. If you have access to a power washer, it's probably the first thing to try on a stubborn stain (other than fresh oil).
Step 4

Bicycle tire marks:
Find Brake Cleaner at any auto parts store in many brand names. Spray the brake cleaner on the tire marks. The dark rubber streaks will dissolve and be gone within seconds without even scrubbing! This can be used on a painted concrete sidewalk; with no damage to the finish. You can also try this as a cleaning agent around the house; it works on wall marks and finger prints too.
Step 5

For really difficult stains, tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) can be purchased a home improvement store or auto parts stores. Dilute one cup of TSP in one gallon of hot water. Pour it on the stain and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Scrub with a stiff nylon brush. Rinse off with hose and repeat if needed. TSP is also available in a phosphate-free version (which is better for the environment). Always wear eye and skin protection when using cleaning chemicals and have a garden hose ready to immediately flood any splash areas.

Comments

wltw said

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on 12/18/2009 Great advice to remove ash, tire marks and graffiti paint from concrete or cement. I worked with a crew removing graffiti this summer and I wish I'd known all this then. Since the people 'applying' the graffiti don't want it removed, I'm glad to find this out! Thanks!