Earthquake retrofitting - Tips to get rid of the stains from Concrete

Home foundation repair: Concrete surfaces are easily stained because of their porous nature. While most stains can be got rid of easily, some stains may leave traces even after cleaning. As on any other surface, spills on concrete should be cleaned up immediately. Removing stains as soon as possible can prevent them from setting deeper into concrete's porous surface. The first step to eliminating a stain is to identify the stain and choose the appropriate chemicals to clean it. If the stain is unidentifiable, test your cleaning agents in an inconspicuous area to see if they work. Start off with plain water, then test oxidizing bleaches, reducing bleaches, and finally, acids.

Rust Stains:

If the stain is light, mop the concrete surface with a solution of oxalic acid and water. Wait for a few hours, and scrub the surface with a stiff (non-metal) brush and rinse with clear water. If the stain is very hard, use a poultice of sodium citrate (available in hardware stores) and lukewarm water. Add a little glycerol to make a hard paste with talc. Spread this over the stain and leave for a couple of days.

Oil Stains:

If the oil is freshly spilled, soak it up—should not wipe it—with absorbent paper. Cover the stain with a dry powdered material such as hydrated lime or cornmeal. Wait twenty-four hours to and sweep it up. If there is any remaining stain, just scrub it with scouring powder or a strong soap solution. For older stains, cover with flannel drenched in a solution of acetone and amyl acetate and apply a light weight on the flannel to press it down. Rinse the concrete when the cleaning process is complete.

Grease Stains:

First, scrape the grease off of the concrete. Then, scrub it with the scouring powder, strong soap, or detergent. If the stain remains, prepare a stiff poultice with a chlorinated solvent and rinse the residue.

Dirt Stains:

Dirt stains are perhaps the easiest to remove from concrete. Most dirt stains can be got rid of by spraying with plain water or by scrubbing with a soft brush and a weak soap solution. If soap and water doesn't work, use a combination of water and hydrochloric acid. Also, steam cleaning is generally effective for getting rid of dirt stains. If the dirt is clay, scrape off the enured bits and scrub the stain with hot water containing sodium orthophosphate.

Mildew Stains:

Mix powdered detergent, sodium orthophosphate, small amount of commercial sodium hypochlorite solution, and water to make a hard paste. Be cautious with the sodium hypochlorite solution because it bleaches colored clothing and may corrode metal. Apply the mixture, wait for a few days, and then scrub the area with a stiff brush. Once scrubbing is done, rinse the concrete with clear water and the job is done.

As you can see, getting rid of the stains from concrete is not the tough job it appears to be. These stains can be got rid of within several minutes with a little effort or within days by soaking.

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