Homeowners often use baking soda and a stiff brush to remove their driveway stains; pour a generous amount of baking soda over the stain and scrub it well with the brush. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes so that the baking soda has time to remove stain particles, then rise off with a hose.
'Due to moisture and shaded areas, black spots on patio slabs are often caused by mold, mildew, or lichen growth,' explains Amber Noyes, Horticulturist and Editor, Gardening Chores.
Black algae (Gloeocaspa Magma) appears on your driveway as dark grey or black streaks and smears. Black algae is a type of fungus that thrives in moist areas, in both the sun and shade. From a distance, it looks like ordinary garden dirt, but you can't wash it away with the hose.
If your concrete has ugly charcoal-gray or black streaks or splotches, black algae is probably the culprit. Black algae can grow on many outdoor surfaces such as concrete or roof shingles and will thrive as long as there is moisture and sunlight.
As the water evaporates to the surface and soaks into the cement that is an ingredient of concrete, it leaves behind darker spots where the cement contains more moisture. These will fade over time as the water eventually soaks into or evaporates out of the slab.
Apply a cleaning product such as SunSpot, a concrete degreaser, Natural Orange (or other citrus cleaner), Simple Green, or automotive brake cleaner to the affected area. Allow the cleaner to sit on the surface for a few minutes. Scrub the spot with a brush with stiff bristles.
Remove those ugly green and black mold stains on your deck with Wet & Forget Xtreme Reach™ Hose End. Spray your wood or composite deck with Wet & Forget no-rinse cleaner. Allow the surface to dry (4-5 hours). Let Mother Nature do the rest of the work for you!
Best for Driveways: Zep Driveway and Concrete Cleaner
Zep Driveway and Concrete cleaner is suitable for removing concrete stains, dirt, and oil marks. It's a budget-friendly choice coming in a four-pack of 1-gallon jugs. To use Zep Driveway and Concrete cleaner, mix the solution per the package directions.
Combine 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of milk in a glass bowl. Dip cotton pad or Q-tip in the bowl and apply to dark spots. Leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and finish off with your favorite serum and moisturizer.
While researching how to remove patio black spots you may have come across “Sodium Hypochlorite” which is a very strong bleach and while it may remove black spots, it will also damage the surface of anything it comes into contact with.
If you have greenish-black stuff on your concrete patio, it's probably mold, mildew, or moss. Damp or moist conditions from rain or humidity can encourage mold and mildew to grow in those nooks and cracks of concrete pavers or bricks.
Choose a highly concentrated, oil busting dish soap, such as Dawn. Squirt it over the stain and spread it around to cover the entire affected area. Let it sit for about an hour, then mop up the dish soap and oil with a paper towel.
In fact, vinegar removes mold from concrete better than bleach. Bleach will only remove the top layer of mold, causing the mold to return.
You already know that bleach is a trusty household product for brightening up stains on garments. But that's not all; chlorine bleach can also be used for cleaning the concrete driveway. Of course, you should dilute it with equal parts of water or a 1:1 ratio.
Use a mild grease-cutting detergent such as Dawn or Ajax dishwashing liquid mixed with water and a natural or synthetic bristle scrub brush to help brighten the patio surface. NOTE: Never use a wire brush as it can leave rust stains and scratch the concrete surface.
Grab Hydrogen Peroxide
For a natural, stronger solution to tackle stubborn stains on concrete surfaces, mix flour and hydrogen peroxide into a paste the consistency of peanut butter. Spread it over the stained area, and then scrub it with a nonmetallic brush.
As a gentler cleaner, bleach can't harm concrete's durable material.
Dark spots from acne benefit the most from using Salicylic Acid. It gently exfoliates the upper layers of dead skin and speeds up the formation of new skin cells. This reduces the appearance of dark spots. Salicylic Acid is the best treatment for dark spots on the face.
Another method to remove discoloration is the application of diammonium citrate which is used for severe discoloration. Diammonium citrate is a salt compound utilized for a buff. The substance is prepared with water and left on a concrete surface for around 15 minutes, then brushed thoroughly and rinsed.
Yes, vinegar is an excellent concrete cleaner. This solution can strip surface-level messes from concrete. Due to its acidic properties, vinegar can be a powerful tool for breaking down offensive materials such as dirt, stains, and bacteria.