How to Remove Paint on Cement

Paint stains you accidentally drip onto your driveway or garage floor so the cement car can stay there forever. Although removing paint stains from cement is difficult and time consuming, it can be done with patience and the right product. This guide will also help you remove the most stubborn paint stains from your yard or garage.

Table of Contents

For small paint stains

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Prepare the cement surface. Use a broom or vacuum cleaner to remove all dirt or debris. If possible, use a scraper or brush to remove any soft paint from the cement.

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Apply a chemical paint remover to the cement surface. The paint remover you use will depend on the type of paint to be removed, such as water-based or oil-based paint. If in doubt, use an oil-based paint remover.

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Let the cleaning product do its job. Check the manufacturer’s instructions on the product box. It can take 1-8 hours for the product to take effect. Some products only take a few minutes.

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Rub cement. Use a wire brush or scraper to remove the softened paint. Or you can use a pressure washer to scrub outdoor cement surfaces, such as your driveway or yard.

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Repeat the steps if necessary. In some cases, you may need to apply the paint remover 2-3 times as needed to completely remove the paint from the cement.

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Clean cement surface. Use a pressure washer to remove all traces of paint remover. After removing small paint stains, cleaning the cement surface can help avoid leaving white stains on the surface.

For stubborn paint stains

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Create an absorbent paint remover mixture. Prepare materials. You will need a paint remover. If you’re removing paint in a well-ventilated area (outside your home or in a private, open-door garage), you can use a cleaning product that contains methylene chloride. This substance makes the paint removal process much faster. In addition, a breathing mask should be prepared when handling paint remover products.

It is necessary to prepare absorbent material. Fine clay powder is most effective. If you don’t have a fine clay powder, you can grind cat litter into a powder.
To complete the cleaning job, you need to prepare a stiff brush and scouring powder.

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Mix paint remover with absorbent material. Make a mixture from clay or cat litter. Depending on the consistency of the bleach, you may not need to use too much absorbent material. Absorbent material helps draw paint off the cement making it easier to scrape off.

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Apply the mixture. Apply a thin layer of the paint remover mixture with the absorbent material to the cement. Allow some time for the paint remover to take effect. Depending on the chemical you use, the waiting time can range from about 20 minutes to several hours.

In the meantime, continue to apply more paint thinner to the surface of the first mixture to keep the material active.

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Scrape the mixture. The paint thinner will do the majority of the job of removing the paint. From here, you can use a hard plastic scraper to scrape the paint off the cement. Apply another coat of the mixture if there is still paint on it and repeat the process.

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Scrub paint. Use a stiff brush, scouring powder and water to scrub the de-painted cement surface to remove any remaining paint dust. Rinse off the scouring powder mixture and continue scrubbing with the brush until the paint is gone.

For widespread paint stains

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Consider firing (spraying) sodium carbonate. Determine if the use of a shot gun (injector) is appropriate for the need. If the paint covers a large surface, a spray gun may be a better choice than a paint remover mixture. One type of shot that you can use is sodium carbonate, which is using baking soda as a scouring agent. The sodium carbonate firing method is also much more environmentally friendly than using chemicals and does not cause damage to the underlying cement surface.

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Prepare the sewing machine. To shoot sodium carbonate, you need a shot gun. You can go to a mechanic shop to rent a machine. In addition, you need to prepare special sodium bicarbonate. Grocery store baking powder is too fine to use to shoot sodium carbonate. You can find sodium carbonate powder at a rental store or order it online.

Most standard sandblasters will not work when using sodium carbonate. You need to use a special gun to shoot sodium carbonate.

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Shoot the painted surface. Shoot slowly and hold the nozzle about 0.45 m above the ground. Be sure to wear a breathing mask to avoid inhaling dust. Move the nozzle evenly back and forth over the painted surface to ensure that no paint residue remains.

If sodium carbonate is fired near plants, be sure to avoid any excess particles splashing onto the plants. High pH sodium carbonate can cause flowers and shrubs to turn brown and die.
If you need to remove a lot of paint, you should consider hiring a professional to use a spray gun. You yourself can have a lot of trouble with the amount of shooting material needed and the size of the gun.

Advice

Some bleaching products can lighten the area where the cement is being treated. Therefore, you need to test first on a small surface and continue when you are satisfied with the results.
Paint remover should be applied to cement surfaces no warmer than room temperature.
If all else fails, you should buy paint in a color of your choice and suitable for the cement surface to paint over the entire surface.
If removing paint on a large surface, you should divide it into small areas to make it easier to remove.
Wear rubber boots and gloves, and wear goggles or glasses to protect your eyes.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the package when preparing and using the paint remover product. Some chemicals may need to be mixed or diluted.
Contact the paint manufacturer (if known) for recommendations on the best paint remover.
Apply paint remover to the cement surface and rub vigorously.

Warning

Apply paint remover to the cement surface and rub vigorously.
Use caution if using an acid or acetone based paint remover. Wear protective clothing and wash immediately after applying paint remover. *Products containing methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) are highly flammable, emit smoke and are toxic.
Use paint remover in a well-ventilated area. If you’re removing paint in a garage or basement floor, you’ll need to open all the windows. Some paint removal products may be recommended for outdoor use only.

Things you need

Paint removal products
Shove
Scraper or brush
Pressure washer
Stir stick
Rubber gloves and boots
Safety glasses or eyewear

Steps