Stained concrete floor.
Acid-stained concrete can be hard to look at — and even harder to clean.

Removing any type of stain is challenging because most concrete surfaces are not sealed with a masonry sealer, which we highly recommend.

To remove an acid stain from concrete, the first thing to do is to clean the surface with another acid — muriatic acid, specifically. It will need to be diluted before using; a 3:1 dilution with 3 water should do the trick!

Note: this acid is chemically strong and dangerous, so be extremely cautious when using this.

Once you apply the diluted muriatic acid, it should start to bubble in reaction to the acid stain on the concrete surface.

Generally, this should lift the acid stain out, but you may have to repeat this process a couple of times, so have a water hose handy to flush it out.

Another way of removing an acid stain from concrete is to use oxalic acid. This acid, like muriatic acid, will also need to be diluted before use. Brush it onto the stain and then let it sit for about 15-20 minutes — be sure to keep the stain wet; don’t let it dry up!

After keeping the stain wet for the designated time, scrub the acid stain with a nylon bristle brush and rinse the area well. Never use a wire brush on concrete, it can change the texture of the concrete.

Listen to the Today’s Homeowner Podcast to learn more about these topics:

  • Screening in a section of your patio with a complicated roof line
  • What to do when your home has a musty odor from constant moisture
  • What to do when you have damaged particle board countertops
  • Landscape fabric recommendations
  • Tips for fixing incorrectly installed insulation

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Simple Solutions

Rock and Roll — Next time you need to move a heavy rock or stone slab, try this trick: Take a length of 4-inch-diameter Schedule 40 PVC pipe and cut it into 3-foot-long sections. Pry up the stone and slip two pipe sections underneath; one near the middle, the other near the front end.

Set the third pipe about 12 inches or so in front of the stone.

Now, push the stone forward until it rolls onto the third pipe, and the first pipe comes free. Then, move the first pipe to the front and repeat the process until you reach your destination. 

Popcorn Painting — When painting the walls of a room that has a popcorn ceiling, it’s almost impossible not to get paint on the protruding popcorn texture.

Here’s how to neatly and easily paint along the top of the wall:

Run the tip of a slotted screwdriver around the perimeter of the ceiling, scraping off a little bit of the texture. The screwdriver creates a tiny groove in the ceiling, which the tips of the paint bristles fit into.

Now, you can cut in around the ceiling without getting paint on the ceiling. And you’ll never notice the narrow groove.


Question of the Week

Q: Do I need to remove the old epoxy covering before applying a new coat on my garage floor?

A: If there’s no problem with it — like peeling or other damage — some light sanding and a well-cleaned surface are all you need to do for prep.

However, if your epoxy-covered floor is peeling or has noticeable wear, do not apply new epoxy — this will cause the epoxy to fail. In this case, you would need to grind the surface back down to the concrete.

Moreover, if the epoxy is in good condition, you can apply a new epoxy coating over the old one.

Note: If the old epoxy has a clear coat finish on top of it, this will need to be removed before applying new epoxy. Check with the manufacturer for the best way to remove the clear coat.



Further Reading


Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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