How to remove concrete driveway staining?

[abburns]

I cleaned a section of my driveway with a 18" surface cleaner with a 3500 psi, 4 gpm pressure washer. I also pre and post treated with a 3% solution of sodium hypochlorite. Any suggestions on removing the brown staining in the attached picture?

 

[rayra]

I'd say your expectations are unreasonable. That looks very 'clean' to me. About as good as it gets. More caustic or intensive pressure washing will result in real damage to your concrete finish and then you REALLY won't like it.

 

[Mike65]

X2 on above. Looks very clean to me too.

 

[Youngandfree]

I cleaned a section of my driveway with a 18" surface cleaner with a 3500 psi, 4 gpm pressure washer. I also pre and post treated with a 3% solution of sodium hypochlorite. Any suggestions on removing the brown staining in the attached picture?

SH doesn't remove brown. I'd try a degreaser or diluted aluminum brightener. Acid removes dirt staining.

 

[Mike S.]

Diluted muriatic acid works very well at brightening concrete. I used it for spot cleaning my driveway a couple of years ago when I moved into my house. It's bad for the environment, so I wouldn't suggest using it for large areas unless you can capture the runoff and dispose of it safely.

 

[duneslider]

I have a brown spot like that in my driveway and it has been there since it was poured. I noticed it a couple days after it was poured. I am not sure what happened but I do know all my concrete from that pour is garbage...

 

[Montauket]

CLR , let it sit for a bit hit it with a stiff brush the rinse. If it’s not to embedded it may lift some of it out. Iron is hard to get out of concrete.

 

[Mr.N]

Do you know what caused the staining?

 

[hans109h]

Diluted muriatic acid works very well at brightening concrete. I used it for spot cleaning my driveway a couple of years ago when I moved into my house. It's bad for the environment, so I wouldn't suggest using it for large areas unless you can capture the runoff and dispose of it safely.

Mike, besides potentially lowering the pH of a water body what are the risks to the environment?

Hans

 

[yhprum]

Maybe sulfamic acid?

TileLab® Sulfamic Acid Cleaner - CUSTOM Building Products

Concentrated crystals that mix with water to make a mild, safe to use, acid cleaner. Removes dried Portland cement, grout haze and mortar residue from tile, concrete and masonry. Safe for use on colored grouts. Removes hard water deposits, efflorescence and also etches concrete.

www.custombuildingproducts.com

 

[CombatNinja]

Just stain the driveway a light gray maybe? Would probably make it virtually disappear.

 

[dcg9381]

Just stain the driveway a light gray maybe? Would probably make it virtually disappear.

I was thinking that too, it kinda looks like my driveway that I water based stained. I use HD-6600MMA on top of it (it's slick when wet) but you don't have to worry about some vehicle dropping oil all over it.

 

[ybnormal]

minerals from water runoff? this is how my driveway looks. those minerals are slick when wet. even power washing doesn't really help.

 

[zak77]

I am not suggesting you use this however i was very surprised how well it cleaned up a small area of my garage slab when i accidently spilled some Ospho on it. It was only down for maybe 30 seconds but it removed so much staining i was surprised. I rinsed the area with water to make sure it didnt cause any damage.

 

[nadogail]

I was advised to use a Hydrogen Peroxide solution to remove the brown stains from a bathtub.

To my great surprise the stain immediately disappeared.