How to get rust out of cement?

Shirley
by Shirley

Metal buckets left rust stains on our cement entrance. Does anyone know how to get rid of them?

  4 answers
  • Darlene Williman Darlene Williman on Mar 20, 2019

    They sell cement cleaner for garages that takes out grease and such maybe that will work for you.

  • William William on Mar 20, 2019

    Something should work.


    WD-40. Did a leaky oil pan leave a big ugly spot in the middle of your concrete driveway? To get rid of an unsightly oil spot, just spray it with a generous amount of WD-40 and then hose it down with water.


    Soda (Coca Cola). Here’s how to remove oil stains from concrete drive-ways and garage floors: Gather up a small bag of cat litter, a few cans of cola, a stiff bristle broom, bucket, laundry detergent, bleach, eye protection, and rubber gloves. Cover the stain with a thin layer of cat litter and brush it in. Sweep up the litter and pour cola to cover the area. Work the cola in with a bristle broom, and leave the cola for about twenty minutes. Mix 1/4 cup laundry detergent with 1/4 cup bleach in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) warm water and use it to mop up the mess.


    Oven Cleaner. Get those unsightly grease, oil, and transmission fluid stains off your concrete driveway or garage floor. Spray them with Easy Off No Fume Oven Cleaner in the BLUE can. Let it settle for 5-10 minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush and rinse it off with your garden hose at its highest pressure. Severe stains may require a second application.


    Kool-Aid. Nasty rust stains on your concrete? Mix unsweetened lemonade Kool-Aid with hot water. Scrub and the rust stain should come right out.


    Baking Soda. Salt and commercial ice-melt formulations can stain — or actually eat away — the concrete around your house. For an effective, but completely innocuous, way to melt the ice on your steps and walkways during those cold winter months, try sprinkling them with generous amounts of baking soda. Add some sand for improved traction.


    Ammonia. Tired of those annoying discolorations on your concrete work? To get rid of them, scrub with 1 cup ammonia diluted in 1 gallon (3.7 liters) water. Hose it down well when you’re done.

  • Brookie Brookie on Mar 20, 2019

    Try WD-40 and a scrub brush. Then use saw dust or cat sand to soak up the WD-40.

  • Hi Shirley! A household cleaner, such as Bar Keeper's Friend, contains oxalic acid which breaks down rust. Be sure to wear gloves when using it. Make a paste using 2 parts Bar Keeper's Friend and one part water. Put it on the stain and cover with saran wrap. That will prevent the paste from drying up before it has time to do its job. Let it sit for an hour and then give it a scrub then rinse.


    For really tough rust stains on concrete, you may have to use muriatic acid. You have to be extremely careful using it and protect your skin, eyes, and don't breath in the fumes. There is a safer form of muriatic acid called Acid Magic sold at pool supply shops.