Cleaning Irrigation Water Stains From Concrete

[pipestock]

I've tried 30 second cleaner and vinegar. What works? Pool Chlorine?

[villagetinker]

SNO Cap (I purchased at ACE hardware) works great, just mix, spray on wait about 10 minutes and spray water to clean off.

[vintageogauge]

I been here for 7 years and have no staining from irrigation anywhere, do they use different water in different sections?

[Topspinmo]

I been here for 7 years and have no staining from irrigation anywhere, do they use different water in different sections?

Mostly north of 466 potable water and south pond water. If you have two separate water meters you are on reclaimed water. I imagine the reclaimed water leaving the stains?

[Mlr4343]

SNO Cap (I purchased at ACE hardware) works great, just mix, spray on wait about 10 minutes and spray water to clean off.

Thanks for info. I can’t find SNO Cap on their website, can you give me more info on this product?

[unialimon]

It's called snow cap rust remover.

[pipestock]

I will give it a try. Yes it's reclaimed water. It darkens the concrete with the overspray and won't scrub off either. It doesn't appear to be rust because I've tried CLR on it.

[New Englander]

The stains you are seeing is rust. I use this product. No Mixing and works great. Spray it on the stains, wait a few minutes and hose it off. Easy Peazy. Find it at Lowes.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Super-Iron-Out-24-Pack-24-oz-Liquid-Multipurpose-Bathroom-Cleaner/3578096

[Topspinmo]

The stains you are seeing is rust. I use this product. No Mixing and works great. Spray it on the stains, wait a few minutes and hose it off. Easy Peazy. Find it at Lowes.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Super-Iron-Out-24-Pack-24-oz-Liquid-Multipurpose-Bathroom-Cleaner/3578096


When I fertilize my bushes, flowers, and peppers in pots I sometimes accidentally drop some fertilizer which leaves rust stain. I use lemon cut in half rub on stain and comes right up.

[bobeaston]

Be sure to rinse it off fairly quickly. Mixed at recommended strength, and left wet on the wall for more than a couple of minutes, it can bleach the color on some homes.

[birdawg]

I been here for 7 years and have no staining from irrigation anywhere, do they use different water in different sections? most likely it’s from the iron in the fertilizer they used. Orange spots?

[gbs317]

Are all these cleaning products, work and safe on painted driveway.

[Normal]

If it’s a reddish color, it’s actually old construction dirt mixed with water and affixed to your concrete. A pressure washer removes it. Don’t use CLR if the cement is only a couple of years old. The chemicals can actually etch your cement.

Dark colors can be from roof runoff and your shingles. Again, a pressure washer does a good job.

[Vleka]

Can you use this in a power washer?

[Normal]

Can you use this in a power washer?

Just water, no chemicals needed.

[SHIBUMI]

RUSTAIDE worked for me..............



I've tried 30 second cleaner and vinegar. What works? Pool Chlorine?

[johnsi911]

Thanks for info. I can’t find SNO Cap on their website, can you give me more info on this product?

Try SNOWCAP

[Shish]

SNO Cap is the best I found - tried several other products that didn't work well.

[vinnytalk]

Go to Ace h hardware they sell a product that you spray k. And rinse off works well

[Akmoorfamily]

Thanks for info. I can’t find SNO Cap on their website, can you give me more info on this product?

ACE Hardware

[valuemkt]

We recently had our south of 44 driveway power washed by a purportedly reliable company. They made the driveway look worse and then proceeded to blame iron in the water, They then tried to use "different" chemicals and still left the driveway worse than when they started. Licensed insured and years in the business .. was a joke. Maybe they should have looked into this process.

[New Englander]

Are all these cleaning products, work and safe on painted driveway.

My driveway is painted and the product I use did not affect the paint. Don't leave it on more than a few minutes.

[frayedends]

The stains you are seeing is rust. I use this product. No Mixing and works great. Spray it on the stains, wait a few minutes and hose it off. Easy Peazy. Find it at Lowes.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Super-Iron-Out-24-Pack-24-oz-Liquid-Multipurpose-Bathroom-Cleaner/3578096

Close, but a better product is this one that is made for outdoors. One thing I would caution, it is a strong acid. It has hydrofluoric acid, which is some nasty stuff. Wear gloves, spray it on and when the rust is gone rinse it off well.

I use this stuff up here in MA on my siding. My well water has horrible iron and this stuff is amazing. I tried all the other garbage, CLR, vinegar, etc. They are useless.

RustAid Goof Off Outdoor Rust Stain Remover, 1 Gal. - Removes Lime & Calcium, Scrub-Free - Ideal for Outdoor Surfaces in the Rust Removers department at Lowes.com (https://www.lowes.com/pd/RustAid-1-Gallon-Rust-Remover/4558106)

[frayedends]

I've tried 30 second cleaner and vinegar. What works? Pool Chlorine?

See above and also, no pool chlorine will not work, especially for rust/iron. Chlorine oxidizes iron and turns it that rust color. If you fill a pool with well water and add chlorine it quickly gets rusty. Go with the goof off stuff. But if it's painted I'd test it first in an inconspicuous spot.