How to Remove Wood Stain From Concrete
Removing wood stain from concrete is about as hard as it gets when it comes to home cleanup. Depending on whether the conrete was sealed after it was poured and allowed to set, the wood stain may seep into the porous concrete, making the job that much more difficult. Sandblasting is dangerous and potentially damaging to the concrete---you might be better off throwing a weather-resistant area rug over the stain on your patio. But if you don't mind applying some elbow grease and determination, follow these steps and you may be able to remove that annoying stain. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Trisodium phosphate (TSP), sold in powdered form in hardware stores. Nylon bristle brush Chlorine bleach or mineral spirits Safety goggles Rubber or heavy cotton work gloves Bucket Garden hose Cat litter
Instructions
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1
Try to absorb the wood stain spill as quickly as possible by pouring cat litter on the spot. Let it set for several minutes, then sweep it away. Resist the temptation to spray off wood stain with a garden hose. Most stains are oil-based and the water will simply smear it all over the concrete.
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2
Mix 1/2 cup of TSP into a gallon of warm water and mix thoroughly.
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Pour the TSP mixture slowly on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes.
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4
Scrub the stain with a nylon brush while wearing safety goggles and work gloves, adding more TSP solution as necessary.
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5
Rinse and repeat pouring and scrubbing until you are satisfied with the stain removal.
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6
Pour bleach or mineral spirits on the stain spot and let sit to remove any faint, residual staining. Use the nylon brush to scrub the spot with bleach or mineral spirits, then rinse.
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Tips & Warnings
Trisodium phosphate, when mixed with water, can cause a chemical burn on the skin. Always wear safety goggles, work gloves and a long-sleeved shirt and pants when working with TSP. Keep TSP and other cleaning products away from children and pets. TSP can discolor wood furniture, paint and metal. Remove all patio furniture, planters and other decorations from the patio before attempting to scrub concrete with TSP.
