This Is A Hammer 9/1/11

THIS IS A HAMMER

Cleaning Up “Rusty” Concrete

Q: My concrete driveway has several bright-orange stains that look like rust. How did this happen, and how can I clean it up? — Jane C., Winter Park, Fla.

A: There are several ways that rust finds its way onto concrete to stain it: a metal tool left sitting on the driveway in the rain, rust washing off of a vehicle parked on it, and so on. The good news is that most rust stains can be cleaned off of concrete fairly easily.

Home-improvement stores sell an array of cleaners that specifically address rust-stained concrete. They’re generally not too ex...