How to remove rust stains from a concrete driveway

Rust stains are sometimes inevitable on concrete driveways, but you can get rid of them with acidic products, so white vinegar and lemon juice work really well. You can also try a paste made from baking soda and laundry detergent as an effective way to fight rust stains.

Have you ever stored metal furniture or tools on your driveway? They may have left some brownish-orange and unsightly stains behind. Remember, when you leave these metal items over time, they will rust and spread onto your concrete surfaces – especially on the driveway.

Follow along to learn how to keep a clean concrete driveway.

Make a baking soda and laundry detergent paste

Your concrete driveway attracts notorious stains from oil, mud, and unfortunately, rust. Learning how to remove rust stains is not actually too difficult. A great way to fight off these stubborn stains is by creating a paste using baking soda and laundry detergent.

This method will help you get rid of rust stains with little effort and time. Follow these steps to remove rust stains from your concrete driveway using baking soda paste.

1. Remove excess dirt and debris from the surface of your concrete driveway before removing the stains.
2. Make a paste out of baking soda and laundry detergent. Make sure that both ingredients have the same amount to maintain balance.
3. Apply the paste on the stained areas, and make sure that you cover all the rust. Let it sit for one hour, and keep it wet to avoid the paste hardening.
4. Using a stiff brush, scrub the stained area.
5. If there’s still stain residue, repeat the process
6. If you don’t see stains anymore, rinse it well using clean cold water.

Use a vinegar solution to dissolve the rust

Cleaning and removing rust stains doesn’t have to be hard. Take it easy on yourself by using acids to dissolve iron oxides. This chemical present on your furniture or metalwork causes rust stains. A safe and common acid that you can use to remove these stubborn stains is vinegar.

Follow these simple steps to remove rust stains from your concrete driveway.

1. In a bucket, prepare a solution using equal parts distilled water and distilled white vinegar. 
2. Put the solution on the stained area and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. Let the acid dissolve and penetrate the rust.
3. When the stains are no longer visible. Use a pressure washer to remove the rust residue on your driveway.
4. If there are still stains, re-treat the remaining stained areas with the solution and repeat the process.

Lemon juice is incredibly effective in removing rust stains

Rust stains on your concrete are a common problem. But you can treat it fast, in a natural way and you can also find it easily in your home. A lemon’s naturally acidic nature can eliminate these stains quickly and with ease.

Follow this procedure to get rid of your driveway’s rust stains.

1. Grab two to three lemons and cut them in half. The number of lemons you use will depend on the severity and number of rust stains present on your concrete driveway.
2. Squeeze the lemon juice into a container.
3. Pour the lemon juice directly onto the stained area and let it sit for ten minutes or longer. The acid from the lemon will dissolve and penetrate the rust.
4. Use a scrub brush to remove the remaining rust stains.
5. Rinse the stained area with clean cold water.

Common questions about rust stains

What is the best commercial rust cleaner in treating my concrete driveway?

If you are looking for a commercial rust cleaner, consider a product with oxalic acid. Oxalic acid is a chemical that you can use to treat the rust.

The other property that can help you is trisodium phosphate. If you mix it with water and let it sit on the rust stains for 10 minutes, your rust will go away.

Always be careful when using harsh chemicals like these, as they can be harmful to your skin and health when mishandled.

Will rust remover damage the painted concrete in my driveway?

Yes. Acid, which is part of the property of commercial rust removers, can damage paint, leaving you with more problems to deal with. But there are alternative rust removers that you can use to remove rust stains while ensuring your concrete driveway’s paint is intact.

Look for rust removers that have less acidic properties. The pH determines how acidic the solution is. Try to examine the pH level of the rust remover that you will use and if it is seven or neutral, it won’t damage your painted surfaces.

What causes rust stains?

You could be suffering from rust stains on your concrete driveway because of the iron or metal objects that you put on your driveway. These objects can degrade and produce rust that can spread throughout your concrete driveways.

The most common cause of these objects producing rust is water, making your driveway vulnerable during rainy seasons. Don’t put too much metalwork on your driveway. Store these things in your storage room to avoid getting rust stains on your driveway.

Can I pressure wash my driveway to remove the rust on my concrete driveway?

No. You can pressure wash your concrete driveway, but using water alone will not help if you want to remove rust stains. It would be best if you used a concrete rust remover, lemon juice, baking soda paste, or vinegar as a solution for dissolving the rust stains.

If you use these ingredients and follow the methods above, and then follow up with your pressure washer, the rust stains will disappear.

The bottom line

Spotting rust on your concrete driveway can be dreadful. It’s a common problem for every homeowner, but you don’t need to continue suffering from rust anymore. Using the typical ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and commercial rust remover, you can easily remove any kind of stains that bother your concrete driveway. Whatever option you choose, you will end up in the same outcome – and that is getting rid of rust stains.