How to Remove Wood Stain From Concrete

While staining wood is a popular DIY project, accidental stains can be hard to clean – especially if you stained a concrete surface! The porous nature of this material means wood stains can easily penetrate and stain the surface. Even stubborn marks from wood stains can be removed with the right steps and supplies!

10 Steps to Remove Wood Stain From Concrete

Follow these simple steps to remove stubborn stains left behind by wood-staining products!

Step One: Examine Your Stained Concrete

It’s important to examine your stained concrete before cleaning it to determine how old the stain is. While some use mechanical methods to remove stains, chemical methods have proved just as effective. While homemade solutions will work for fresh stains, an industrial cleaning product must be used to properly remove old stains caused by staining your wood.

Step Two: Gather the Necessary Supplies

You’ll need the following supplies to remove wood stain from concrete:

• Cleaning Solution: Chomp Concrete Stain Remover is one of the most powerful stain removal products available today. Homemade cleaning solutions can also be used.
• Eye Goggles: Eye protection is necessary to prevent cleaning liquids from getting into your eyes while scrubbing the stained surface. 
• Protective Gloves: Chemical-resistant gloves must be used when scrubbing stained concrete with cleaning chemicals. 
• Scrub Brush: A cleaning brush with hard bristles is needed to scrub stained surfaces with your chosen cleaning supplies.
• Water Bucket: You’ll need clean water to dampen and rinse your stained surface during the cleaning process. 

Step Three: Clean the Concrete Surface

Now that you’ve gathered your supplies, you must clean the stained surface to remove any debris or dirt. Cleaning the surface beforehand will make it easier for your cleaning solution to penetrate the stain.

Step Four: Dampen the Stained Concrete

It’s important to dampen the stained area before applying your cleaning solution. Wetting concrete, which is highly porous, will prevent your cleaning solution from absorbing or drying too quickly once you’ve applied it to the wood stains.

Step Five: Apply Your Cleaning Solution

If you use a homemade cleaning solution like vinegar, prepare your mixture before applying it to the stained area. Make sure the solution covers the entire stained area. Industrial cleaning products will come with specific instructions to apply the product to stained concrete.

Step Six: Let the Solution Sit

You must let your cleaning solution sit for at least thirty minutes so the solution can penetrate the wood stains to remove them properly. Professional concrete cleaning products will specify how long the solution must be left on the stain.

Step Seven: Thoroughly Scrub the Stain

Once your chosen cleaning product has penetrated the concrete stain, you can start scrubbing the wood stain. Make sure you use your brush to scrub the stained area in circular motions to work the wood stain out of the surface. As you scrub the concrete, you’ll notice the wood stains start to lighten.

Step Eight: Rinse off the Concrete Stain

You can now use your bucket of water (or a hosepipe) to rinse the area you cleaned. It’s important to remove any residue left behind by the cleaning product before you let the concrete dry.

Step Nine: Wait for the Concrete to Dry

Wait for your concrete surface to dry after rinsing it with clean water. You’ll only be able to determine whether the stain has been fully removed once the surface is dry. If the wood stain hasn’t been completely removed, you’ll need to repeat the necessary steps until the stains have been removed.

Step Ten: Repeat Steps 4 to 8 if Necessary

If the stain hasn’t been completely removed, you’ll need to repeat the cleaning process until the stain is gone and you’re satisfied with the condition of your surface. If you’re using a homemade solution, like vinegar and water, you can increase its strength by adding more vinegar before cleaning the stain again.

If you’re dealing with old and stubborn stains caused by wood staining products, you’ll need to repeat these steps a few times to fully remove the stain. It’s also possible to use alternative methods of cleaning your stained surface, like renting a sandblaster to remove the imperfections from the concrete’s surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

While wood stains are great for revamping wooden surfaces, they can be a headache to remove from concrete surfaces. If you accidentally stained a surface with a wood staining product, it’s important to clean the stain as soon as possible. You’ll need a scrub brush, protective gear, water, and an appropriate cleaning solution to remove wood stains from concrete.