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Random Quote: You can sleep on your boat, but you can't fish in your living room.
I boat mostly in a tidal salt water environment, one that leaves a brown scum on the hull occasionally. When I get home (boat's trailered) I wash the boat and trailer and flush the engine and trailer brakes. Flushing the engine has caused a brown stain on the concrete driveway much like a rust stain. Soap or detergent won't remove it, neither will deck cleaner (oxalic acid). Any suggestions for something to remove the stain?
Any suggestions for sealing the surface once the stain is removed so it won't return?
I just read a store. I know it sounds foolish but try useing WD 40. They claim it removes all kinds of stains.
It does, but to the best of my knowledge they are usually referring petroleum based stains only.. A cheaper and nice smeller alternative is baby oil.. Used it to get tar stains off my feet in the gulf for 30 years!
__________________
- Chris
Guess What?? I got a Fever.. And the only prescription is.. MORE COWBELL!
2003 Sea Fox 195 Bayfisher - Mercury 125 Saltwater Classic
The stains are from tannins, organic chemicals released by decaying leaves. Nothing breaks down organic molecules better than bleach (but as Chris said, keep it off the lawn, kids and dogs as it is hazardous to all). Try 50% bleach solution, let it set for an hour and then power wash it.
Muriatic acid will work, but it will also roughen up the surface.
The stains are iron stains. When you flush the cooling system of for engine, made out of iron, the metal fragments stain concrete. Same thing happens when you fertilize the yard and you get some on the sidewalk.
A product called "rust rid" will get rid of those stains in an instant. I picked it up from a store that sells parts for inground sprinklers (Lawn&Turf type store). My inground system ran off a well with a high mineral (iron) content and left similar stains over a year on my concrete driveway. That stuff washed it off in the blink of an eye. I'll see if I have any left to give you the manufacturer.
A product called "rust rid" will get rid of those stains in an instant. I picked it up from a store that sells parts for inground sprinklers (Lawn&Turf type store). My inground system ran off a well with a high mineral (iron) content and left similar stains over a year on my concrete driveway. That stuff washed it off in the blink of an eye. I'll see if I have any left to give you the manufacturer.
Do you guys think the On-Off would do as well on the oil stains from my old truck? It's muriatic acid right? I happen to already have some.
I already tried oxalic acid (the ingredient in many hull cleaners). It didn't help. Of course, it was diluted as it would be for cleaning the boat, I didn't try it at a higher strength.
Stains on Concrete
