How Do I Clean Concrete Driveway Stains?

Keep the driveway clean and stain-free for a welcoming appearance.

When there's a lot of activity on or near a concrete driveway, stains are bound to occur on occasion. Though concrete is a strong, sturdy surface, it absorbs stains and they can become permanent when left unattended. The most effective way to remove stains from concrete driveways is to draw the stains out using supplies commonly found around the home. Since many stains, such as oil stains, become dirt magnets, it's best to remove the stain as promptly as possible.

Things You'll Need

• Cat litter
• Broom
• Dust pan
• Powdered laundry detergent
• Wooden or plastic scraper
• Scrub brush
• Bucket

Instructions

1. Soak up any excess stain substance by pouring cat litter over it. Sweep up and discard the saturated cat litter and apply another layer of litter to soak up any remaining stain substance.

2. Remove the cat litter from the concrete driveway and cover the stain with a one-inch-thick layer of powdered laundry detergent. Drizzle water over the detergent until it forms a thick paste to make a poultice. Allow the detergent-and-water poultice to sit and draw out the stain until the poultice is completely dry.

3. 

   A wooden or plastic scraper will not harm the concrete surface.

   Scrape the dried detergent poultice off of the concrete driveway using a wooden or plastic scraper. Put the poultice materials in the garbage.

4. Wet a scrub brush and scrub the stain on the concrete driveway. Fill a bucket with warm water and rinse the concrete with the water to remove any remaining poultice or cleansing agents.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep cat litter or talcum powder on hand in the garage as a quick way to absorb and remove fresh stain-causing materials.

• Avoid the use of acids or other harsh chemical cleaners on your concrete driveway unless you are able to supervise the area from start to finish. These harsh chemicals, such as muriatic acid, are harmful to both humans and animals.

References

• Ask the Builder: Cleaning Concrete Oil Spots
• Concrete: Removing Stains From Concrete: Poultices