A Painless Approach to Removing Rust from Your Concrete Surfaces?

Answer 1

Many people have experienced unsightly rust stains on their concrete surfaces. This can include driveways, patio areas, sidewalks or even basement floors. The most common culprit is metal or steel furniture, planters or paint cans that rust from rain, snow and other climate conditions, resulting in moisture build-up. These ugly orange stains can be removed from your concrete surfaces with just a little effort on your part. Using common household products, you can remove these stains in a very short period of time. If the rust stains on your concrete surfaces have been around for a long period of time, these stains may need to be cleaned using commercial strength products.

Gathering Your Supplies for Rust Stain Removal

Since one of your goals is to complete your task of removing rust stains in a timely manner, you will want to gather the supplies and equipment necessary for this project prior to starting it. This will help save you time from searching for these items after you begin this task.

You will need a gallon of white vinegar that has acidic rating of five percent. If cleaning cement based surfaces, you will need a large bottle of lemon juice. Using a scrub brush and sponges is a necessity for this project. Oxalic acid is also recommended for cleaning your rust stained areas.

Preparing Your Concrete Surface for Rust Removal

Prior to removing rust stains on your concrete surfaces, you will need to prepare the area. To do this, you will need to completely sweep any dirt and debris from the surface. If the concrete area is heavily soiled, you can simply wash it with plain water to clear the area.

Treating Rust Stains on Concrete Surfaces

To treat rust stains on your concrete surfaces, you can directly pour your vinegar onto the stain. The acid in the vinegar will help to loosen the rust, making it easier to clean the concrete surface of your driveway, patio and basement floor. Allow the vinegar to absorb into the rust stain for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. Using your scrub brush, scour the area until the rust stain disappears. Rinse the area with clean water. If you are dealing with a tough stain, repeat this process as needed.

If you are working on a cement based surface, use lemon juice in place of the vinegar. The lemon juice works better on this type of material for removing rust debris and stains. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to completely wash away the lemon juice from the surface.

Removing Set-In Rust Stains

Set in rust stains are harder to remove than stains that are newly formed. To clean stubborn, hard-to-remove rust stains, you will need a commercial cleaning product that contains oxalic acid. This should only be used as a last resort, and only after using the vinegar and lemon juice methods, as the oxalic acid is highly toxic and dangerous to deal with. Packaged mainly in a crystallized form, this type of cleaning product is often times mixed with water to form your cleaning solution. It is extremely important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions that are specific for the cleaner you purchase. Make sure that you avoid contact with animals, children and vegetation around your home when you rinse the solution from the concrete surface.