create an outdoor living space from concrete

Posted on: 29 October 2015

Concrete is a fairly durable and affordable material, which makes it popular in home garages. However, it's also becoming increasingly popular inside homes. If you have concrete inside—or outside—of your home and it has become discolored due to stains, have no fear. You can easily remove most stains from your concrete. Here are some helpful tips for removing the four most common types of concrete stains:

1. Gasoline and Oil

One of the more common types of stains on concrete is gasoline. If your garage floor is looking a bit discolored due to gasoline or oil, have no fear. Although an eyesore, these stains are relatively easy to remove. All you need is some powdered dish detergent and some time.

To remove gasoline stains from your concrete flooring, liberally apply some powdered dish detergent to the stain. Let it sit until it absorbs most of the gasoline. Once absorbed, scrub the area with a stiff brush and rinse. If excess oil remains, use a dryer sheet to absorb it.

2. Antifreeze

Another common source of concrete stains is antifreeze. Not only is it ugly to look at, it's potentially dangerous for animals and small children. So these stains—and messes—should be cleaned quickly.

If you need to remove antifreeze from your concrete, start by getting it wet. Once wet, apply some powdered laundry or dish detergent. Let the powdered detergent sit on the stain until absorbed. Finally, scrub and rinse the area.

3. Tire Scuffs

If you have tire scuffs on your concrete, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed. Fortunately, they are easy to remove. Simply apply some de-greaser to the scuff and let sit. Scrub with a brush, rinse, and let dry. As a helpful hint, you can prevent tire scruffs by sealing your concrete.

4. Pet Urine

Although unsightly, pet urine stains on concrete can be fixed. To remove pet urine from your concrete, clean the area with a mixture of water and vinegar. Depending on the severity of the stain, you might want to use plain vinegar. The vinegar will help bleach out the stain and neutralize the odor. However, you will also need to use a cleaner designed for pet urine; as these contain special enzymes that break down the urine and prevent pets from re-urinating in the location. So once you have cleaned the floor with the vinegar solution, clean it again with a cleanser designed for pet urine. Rinse and let dry.

If you have concrete anywhere that needs repaired, visit S&W Concrete.

Having well-maintained and clean (stain-free) concrete flooring might seem difficult, but it is fairly easy. By using these tips, you can make sure that stains are taken care of quickly. However, if you have a large stain that doesn't respond to treatment, you may need to have the floor redone or sealed; so consider contacting a concrete contractor.