Concrete, the hard surface commonly found on sidewalks, driveways, and garages, is susceptible to stains because of its porous nature. Frequent concrete stains include oil, grease, sap from leaves and trees, bird droppings, and other chemicals. Removing some stains from concrete can be easy with water and simple household products. However, cleaning stains from concrete may require a little elbow grease if they set deep on the surface. All of these things needed to clean concrete can be stored in the garage for easy accessibility.
What to Store in Garage
• WD-40
• Kitty liter
• Baking soda, dry detergents
• Tri-sodium phosphate
• Rags that can be disposed
• Hose or pressure washer
• Masks and protective gear
WD-40
For immediate oil stain cleaning from concrete, spray a large amount of WD-40 on the area. Use a rag to wipe the stain. Repeat until stain becomes less visible. Put soiled rags in a Zip-loc bag and dispose.
Kitty Litter removes fresh oil stains from concrete. It cleans the stain by absorbing the oil when poured over the area and sitting overnight. If litter is not place on the entire stain, the process has to be repeated. The next morning, kitty litter should be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner. It would be inappropriate to sweep fresh oil into the street or drainages.
Baking Soda and Dry Laundry and Dishwashing Detergent
Dry products like baking soda and laundry or dishwashing detergent remove stains from concrete. To clean concrete stains, sprinkle area with water. Then, dump one of the above-mentioned products on the area. Boil water while baking soda or detergent sits on stain for several minutes. Pour boiling hot water on the area, making sure not to burn yourself. As an additional precaution, keep small children away so that they don’t hurt themselves. When water cools down, use a scrubbing brush with stiff bristles to clean stained concrete. Repeat as many times as necessary to clean concrete.
Tri-sodium Phosphate (TSP)
Tri-sodium phosphate is a strong chemical found in many industrial cleaning solvents. This all-purpose cleaner removes all kinds of stains from concrete, including dirt, grease, and other surface stains. To clean concrete, dilute one cup of tri-sodium phosphate in a gallon of hot water. After you pour this chemical on the stained area, let stand for 15 to 20 minutes. Once time has elapsed, use a stiff brush to scrub area and rinse with a hose.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine says tri-sodium phosphate poisoning occurs when people accidently swallow, breathe in, or spill this chemical on the skin, so wear a mask, gloves and clothing to protect the skin when using it. If tri-sodium phosphate poisoning happens, you should head to the hospital or call poison control. Despite the risk of poisoning if this substance enters the body, tri-sodium phosphate, a mixture of soda ash and phosphoric acid, is an environmentally-friendly product.
Pressure Washer
You can clean concrete stains like bird droppings or tree sap with a pressure washer.
The items needed to remove stains from concrete can be found at department stores and hardware stores. An additional benefit to these products is that they can be used to clean other areas of the home other than cleaning concrete.
Sources:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/oilstainsconcrete
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p;=Improve/ConcreteStains.html
http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm
