How can I clean maple leaf stains off of new concrete if the sealer was stained? I am worried about removing the sealer before winter (Northern ILL) and not being able to reseal it in time. What will happen if I don’t have the sealer?
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Muriatic Acid?
Call around to janitorial supply stores and find some phosphoric acid and use that and a pressure washer. It'll make it all look like new. If you can't find it easily pick up some Ospho rust remover and spot clean the stains.
Is there any danger of damaging the sealer or concrete and will it need to be resealed. Have you actually used this before? Thanks
I didn't realize you had sealer down already. The acid won't be effective on the stains that are on sealer, only on raw concrete. Any acid can damage concrete but phosphoric acid is fairly slow and mild. I've used it for 30 years, sometimes weekly on dirty concrete without problems. Muriatic acid will pit your concrete in no time. If the leaf stains are on existing sealer I'd try some trisodium phosphate(TSP) and vigorous brushing. Spic an Span has TSP if you can't find the real thing.
my front porch gets stain bad! after the leaves go away, about a month ,it's all wore off naturally.the older i get ,
the more people tick me off
THAT is called PATINA <G>
Let it be is my suggestion.
It's free concrete stain!
they always wear off at my house.
A rust remover like oxalic acid will probably do the job. (Keep it away from anything aluminum.)
Oxalic does rust? I didn't know that. I've got a few projects that will now commence.Thanks,Scott.
It's not as strong as some other rust removers, but it does the job.
A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity. --Jimmy Carter
I live in the Chicago area. The leaves, especially oak, leave big stains on the concrete. About a month later they are gone. Yours should disappear also.
How about cholrine (bleach)? Should work on an organic stain like leaves.
Works in my plaster pool like a charm.
Good luck
matt
don't let your new concrete go through it's first winter without sealer. the first year is the most critical in our climate. if you're not sure you can't reseal it, wait until the spring. what kind of sealer did you use?
PANIC CHAOS DISORDER.........my work is done here.