how to clean acid spiil mark on the cement floor? (flooring, colors)

[jlee9911]

I have been over watering my golf cart and it spilled over acid water few times.
I use the baking soda to neutralized but it left a yellowish and brownish marks on the cement floor in my garage.
How can I clean the marks? What do I need to use to remove the marks?
Please advise me.
Thanks.

Jean

[K'ledgeBldr]

Those are permanent- the acid etched the concrete.

[petsandgardens]

Do it over the rest of the garage floor. It could look really cool.

[sunsprit]

the "acid stain" is a permanent discoloration of the concrete ... unintentionally the same process as "acid stain" floor coloring is done for cosmetic effect.

You might be able to grind or shot blast the surface of the floor to uncolored concrete, but for uniformity you'll need to grind the entire floor. An EDCO diamond grinding machine or Steel Shot Blasting (BlastTrak machine) is the common equipment for this, typically used for concrete floor prep for coatings such as epoxies, urethanes, or polyaspartics.

Perhaps you could prep the floor and then coat it with an epoxy/urethane system so that it's got a uniform surface appearance?

Alternatively, you could acid stain the entire floor and clear coat it as is done for decorative systems. You'd use commercial flooring acid stain solutions which can give you control of the colors of the floor.

[Moby Hick]

Or just go "Meh, it's only a garage" and ignore it.

[petsandgardens]

You could have that thing looking like polished burled wood.

[Coldjensens]

It might bleach out somewhat if you used some Chlorine/bleach on it. I have gotten the brown coloring reduced using chlorine (HCL) There is still a discoloration, but much less pronounced. Otherwise, you can paint over the entire floor. ignore it. Grind it out and cap it. Tear out the whole floor and put in a new one.

The last two are not very practical.

[karlsch]

Get some hydrochloric acid at the hardware store. Often called muriatic acid. It's what is normally used to etch concrete before sealing or painting.

Mix 1 part acid to 10 parts water to start with. Pour it on the damaged concrete. If that doesn't work use a stronger solution.

To even out the floor you might then have to etch the whole thing. It will clean it up. Then think about applying a clear concrete sealer.

Hydrochloric acid is not super dangerous but you should have very good ventilation and avoid breathing the fumes or splashing it on yourself. It's also good for removing lime from coffee makers, toilets, etc.

[jlee9911]

Thank you all.
I will leave it as it is, it's only the garage. No sweat...
I added the heavy cardboard on top of the mat so it will soak whatever spills over.
It seems working.

Jean