How To Get Rid Of Rust Stains On Concrete Using A Favorite Household Product

An unattractive rust stain on your home's concrete patios, pool areas, garage floors, and foundation walls is a surefire way to bring down the aesthetic of your exterior. When iron (and iron alloys like various types of steel) meet water and oxygen, an oxidation process takes place that leaves you with that signature ugly orange corrosive effect. These stains are notoriously challenging to get out, often tackled by scrubbing them endlessly to dissolve rust with ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda, as well as unusual contenders such as potatoes or Coca Cola– we've really tried it all, huh? But these methods are time consuming, laborious (rough or textured concrete has a lot of nooks and crannies for scrubbing!), and often not very effective at actually breaking down the stain. So what can you do to get these unattractive corrosion stains out of your concrete surfaces?

Enter WD-40, the unsung cleaning hero you never knew you needed until you absolutely did, time and again. From grill cleaning and snow removal assistance to power and gardening tool maintenance, removing rust stains from your home's surface is just one of many handy ways to use a can of WD-40 around your home's exterior. This incredible little can of degreaser can do it all! Simply spray it on your stubborn rust stain, let it soak to break down the bonds in the stain, and gently scrub away the ugly orange eyesore so that your concrete patio, garage, foundation, and more are back to looking their best with minimal effort. Let's dive into the surprisingly simple process of getting stubborn rust stains out of concrete with multi-use WD-40.

To effectively remove rust stains from your concrete floors or walls, begin by grabbing that trusty can of WD-40 designed for multiple uses or purposes. Spray the rust stain with the product, ensuring that the entirety is covered in a thin coat., though it may require a little longer for stubborn, old stains.  Allow the WD-40 to sit on the stain and work its magic for about five minutes, though it may require up to 10 minutes for stubborn, old stains. During this essential soaking time, the WD-40 penetrates deep into the rust stain to loosen and break it up for easy and swift removal.

Once the product has done its thing, grab a sturdy scrub or wire brush to help remove the deteriorated rust stain from the surface, ensuring you are using a gentle enough scrubbing technique so as not to damage the concrete surface. The soaking period should have allowed the WD-40 to dissolve the rust stain enough for easy removal, but if there are still areas of the stain that need more attention after you have scrubbed, repeat the process with more product and soaking time until the stain has surrendered. Once the rust stain is fully gone, thoroughly rinse the concrete with clean water (and a mild soap as needed) to remove any remaining WD-40 residue.

And there you have it. The painless way to effectively remove rust from concrete surfaces uses everyone's favorite cleaning superstar, WD-40, to do all the heavy lifting. That way, the surfaces of your home's exterior can look stain-free without the hassle.