Recipe to remove rust or container stains from concrete?

17 years ago

I have a concrete area that has a few rust stains and also some stains left by pots I overwintered there. I have a few circles showing now and would love to find a homemade way to remove them.

Do you have any homemade recipes that have actually worked well for both rust and container stains?

What would you use?

Thank you!

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Comments (11)

bearcat_va
17 years ago
I'm so glad you asked this. I need help getting rust off of ceramic tile in my kitchen. I tried the rust removers (Like CLR) and it didn't work. Maybe someone out there has a good one?
Marilyn Sue
17 years ago
I need a solution too for my front porch where some half whiskey barrels sat. I have been thinking trying some Bar Keepers Friend and then pressure wash it. I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Hope someone has a good solution. I am not putting the barrels back on there.

Sue
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Hi Brian! I know I have mentioned this product years ago. It is called whink. I did spell it right as I am looking at it. You should be able to find it in your laundry section at you local food store. It is a brown, 6 oz. bottle. You may need several if this is a large area. You can always use them for your launrdy if you purchase too much. Just soak an old face cloth and give it a wipe and see what happens. This stuff works like Tarnex on silver, the reaction is instant! I had a friend use this years ago on her blue siding. The directions tell you that this should be used on white sinks only, etc. It worked for her and all she needed was to replace the rubber gasket in her garden hose. Don't hose this off but use a bucket of water with Dawn and wash it 2 or 3 times and your plantings should be fine. Just don't let it run into the soil. Use WV to rinse it followed with clean water. Let us know your out come. Graywings did give you 2 great suggestions but the Rust Out does not work any longer. The EPA poked their nose in and they had to change the formulation. Let's save the world! I don't clean Green and don't care! Rust Out used to work when it contained Hydrofluoric Acid. I have an old, empty bottle and 6 new ones and it does not work as the EPA poked their noses in to clean up the world. whink still contains it so it works. Good luck and let us know!
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Cat litter is an excellent first choice. I've used it on motor oil spills on concrete that were fresh but essentially soaked in. It will actually draw it out. The finer the better. Cheap clay litter tends to have more powdery sized particles which is good. Then detergent and do limit the amount of water at first - it is not your friend here. The paste sounds good, or pure liquid detergent (Dawn is good, about anything will work). I would scrub then let it sit for an hour then wipe it with rags. Finally, a floor or carpet cleaning machine (rental or if you have or can borrow a Hoover steam vac or equivalent). Dishwasher deterg paste probably best as Dawn etc. will be very sudsy for the machine and you'll have foam everywhere. If the machine has brushes do turn those on. Once no soap is coming out in the waste tank, let the floor dry and see how it is. If it's still greasy, repeat the detergent treatment. I bet it will be good after this. Another option at this point if you need it cleaner, is solvent rinsing, but two problems I see: flammability, and concrete is porous, so it may carry it farther IN rather than drawing it OUT. You could use a low flammability solvent like kerosene or mineral spirits (not naptha or gasoline), or the citrus based stuff that smells nice. Ventilation! No flame sources! - where's your furnace and water heater and do they have pilot lights? Do a small area at a time - 3x3 ft. Saturate, scrub the entire area a bit then wipe off with rags. Rags immediately go outside spread out to dry (NOT in a pile or in a container). And don't blame me if you burn down your house. At least the concrete will be clean. LOL
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Talk to your concrete installer and see if they have any recommendations. You can also try using a very dilute mixture of oxalic acid. Make sure you take every precaution. Rubber gloves, goggles, a respirator (not just the surgical style mask) and a long handled scrub brush. Wet the concrete down a bit to prevent it from drying out and then apply the oxalic acid/water mixture and scrub, scrub, scrub. Keep dunking the brush into the mixture. Let it soak, but don't let it dry. And then rinse it well. You can up the concentration of oxalic acid if you need to speed up the process, but no more than the recommended amount. Oxalic acid is the bitter substance in Rhubarb and that is why you should never cook rhubarb in anything but a stainless steel pan. It is also the active ingredient in ZUD cleanser. Good look, and have fun. I am an experienced DIYer and managed the paint desk at several of the orange big box stores so I do have knowledge in this area. But, as I suggested, ask your concrete install what they suggest as they should know of what they talk about.
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The "rusty" looking material appears to be iron ore that is leeching through the cement. Probably not going to get rid of that totally. Maybe try some CLR on it? Do you have a full photo of the table?
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iowagirl2006
17 years ago
I use toilet bowl cleaner to get rust stains off - but I don't know if you want to squirt that directly on your sidewalk. You might have some really clean squirt marks!

I think muriatic acid will clean it..use it with caution though. Gloves and safety glasses! Make sure you have a hose handy to wash it off.
nodakgal
17 years ago
Whink! It works!

Here is a link that might be useful: Whink
izzie
17 years ago
I have a good way to remove rust from fabric, maybe it would work on cement also. Wet area with lemon juice, I just use the bottled stuff (remember this is for fabric) rub some table salt in and sit in sun. may have to do a few times. (I never set in sun but it still works.

If you try this let me know if this works on cement.
dilly_dally
17 years ago
Any cleaner with oxylic acid will work. the oxylic acid reacts with the composition of the rust. There is no scrubbing needed but with concrete you may want o 'scrub' to work it into the porous material.

Zud is a good brand for rust removal.
jaybird
17 years ago
Zud is GREAT...it will even take the stains off concrete that a shedding begonia makes!
lattefairy
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you for the tips, everyone! :)

I just looked up Whink and Zud and it looks like Ace Hardware sells it. I'll have to go get some of that then.

Is this the same Zud?

Here is a link that might be useful: This Zud?
Marcia Thornley
17 years ago
Be careful with these products. Whink is Hydrofluoric acid. It can cause severe burns and do not inhale any vapours. Wear a mask, goggles and gloves when using it.
The suggestion of using a toilet bowl cleaner is a good one. I would try that first. Take the time to read the labels and check the MSDS before using any of these cleaners.
kayjones
17 years ago
They also make concrete paint and dye - you might look in to that.
sharon_fl
17 years ago
Saturate/soak the area with a can of Coke. Let stand several hours, rinse. You may need to repeat.
My deceased Grandma used Coke to de-rust the blades of her old ice cream maker...amazing!

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Recipe to remove rust or container stains from concrete?

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bearcat_va

Marilyn Sue

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Recipe to remove rust or container stains from concrete?

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