Asked on Dec 09, 2015

Tips for removing wood stain from concrete?

Barbara
by Barbara
I had ordered a quart of red mahogany Minwax stain from Amazon. The box was damaged during shipment (rare!) and the can ruptured inside the box. Now I have this horrible red mahogany stain on my concrete front porch and part of the walk way. Any ideas what I should use to get rid of this that is earth friendly and won't kill plants in the adjacent flower bed?
  6 answers
  • Nat rostad Nat rostad on Dec 09, 2015
    get ahold of the shipper and ask for enough to fix the mess that was made, go red! or any color that would cover it.
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Dec 09, 2015
    There is a product called Simple green concrete and driveway cleaner generally used in a power washer but can manually use this. Try Home Depot stores or Home depot.com.
  • Barbara Barbara on Dec 09, 2015
    I want the mess cleaned up and not have hassle with UPS/FEDEX or the USPS. I don't know who shipped the box and Amazon has already replaced the ruptured can of stain. I don't want this mess tracked into my home to stain my carpeting. Thanks for your reply,
  • Barbara Barbara on Dec 09, 2015
    Thanks! I will give that a try! Appreciate your help
  • Lori Johansen Lori Johansen on Dec 10, 2015
    Staining wood is a common home improvement project and as such, cleaning up the stain is also a common problem. Here are some methods that can be used to remove the stain from the concrete. Muriatic Acid MethodYou Will Need:Muriatic Acid (aka Hydrochloric acid)Rubber glovesProtective eyewearWaterBucketConcrete sealantSteps to Remove the Stain:Begin by taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself against the harmful acids. Wear old clothing,rubber gloves and protective eyewear.Mix one part muriatic acid with 20 parts water in a bucket.Clean the stain off with the mixture.If the stain is not removed, strengthen the mixture by one part (1 part acid with 19 parts water). Continue making the solution stronger until the stains are removed.Once removed, rinse the area thoroughly with clean water.There will be a powdery residue from the acid that can be washed away with water.The cement will now be stripped. To prevent future staining, apply a concrete sealant following the manufacturer’s instructions.Bleaching MethodYou Will Need:Oxalic Acid (aka wood bleach)Rubber glovesProtective eyewearWaterBucketLong handled scrub brushSteps to Remove the Stain:Though this method uses bleach, it does not utilize household bleach. Oxalic acid is a wood bleaching agent that can be used to remove the stain. Household bleach will not.Begin by taking the necessary precautions to protect yourself against the harmful acids. Wear old clothing, rubber gloves and protective eyewear. Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid harmful effects from the fumes.Mix the bleach with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions.Apply the mixture to the stained concrete with the scrub brush and allow it to set for 15 minutes.Rinse the acid away completely with water.
  • Glenda Robinson Glenda Robinson on Dec 10, 2015
    astone or finger nail polish