Over time, vinegar erodes the concrete itself, so be careful. Take extra care with polished concrete, as a chemical reaction might take place between the vinegar and cement, causing salt and erosion to form. This eats away at your cement and, in turn, your concrete.
Stone Surfaces
Follow these steps to remove mild acid stains from Bluestone, Brick, Concrete, Flagstone, Granite, Limestone, Sandstone, Slate, Terrazzo: Mix a solution of washing soda or detergent (not soap) and warm water. Scrub with a soft-bristled brush or cloth.
White vinegar will not damage your concrete. However, leaving this solution for an extended period will damage the cement that binds the concrete together. Hence, you should be careful when using vinegar on your concrete, especially if you will use this solution on polished concrete.
Cleaning concrete with vinegar or baking soda is a good option if you are looking for a natural cleaner. While cleaning concrete with bleach or detergent can be effective, it can also be toxic to plants.
Never use vinegar on any kind of paver, brick, flagstone or concrete; it WILL damage the surface.
"Avoid repeat applications on concrete, since this product, as all other acids may result in etching of cement. In case Harris 30% Vinegar comes into contact, rinse the sprayed or treated surfaces with water." Harris 30% Vinegar may not be used with other household cleaners.
Etching – Vinegar's ability to dissolve CaCO3 will dull your marble, travertine, concrete and terrazzo surfaces. It may “clean” the surface but it is also dissolving pits into the finish and effectively dulling it.
If you need to get rid of rust from concrete, your best bet is to use some WD-40 Multi-Use Product, and some elbow grease. WD-40 is specially formulated to be a penetrant, so when you spray it on a rusted surface, it gets to work right away by getting under the rust.
The inorganic compounds which are useful as concrete dissolvers generally include inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, phosphoric, hypochlorous and carbonic acid. Salts of these acids and alkalies such as sodium-hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate and ammoniumsulfate are also eifective.
Mix a solution of oxygen-based bleach (such as OxiClean, Nellie's All Natural Oxygen Brightener, or OXO Brite) and tepid water. Submerge the entire garment. Allow it to soak for at least four hours or overnight, and then launder as usual.
Vinegar is a mild acid that won't cause much damage to the concrete surfaces in your home, but it can spoil a polished finish. On the other hand, you can use vinegar safely to remove small unwanted amounts of cement from other surfaces, but it may not be strong enough to do the job.
⇒ If you want to remove vinegar stains from the natural stone surface, then make a paste of baking soda and acetone. Apply it to the stain and leave it for 24 hours. Now, rinse it with clean water. ⇒ To remove natural stone stains, use granite cleaner on it.
White vinegar is the safest type of vinegar to use when washing clothes because it will not bleach your outfits in a bad way. In fact, it may actually help to enhance the colours of your clothes.
Liquid detergent acts as an air-entraining admixture. During mixing, the detergent forms tiny air bubbles that are distributed throughout the mortar. These air bubbles lubricate the mortar, making it workable for long periods, even as the water evaporates.
Vinegar or baking soda: These natural cleaners work well to clean cement patios with stubborn charcoal or rust spots. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, scrub the patio with the mixture, then give it a good rinse. If stains don't dissolve, try undiluted vinegar.
It is very important to never use bleach or fruit acid cleaner, such as lemon juice or vinegar, on your polished concrete floor. This is because anything that is too alkaline or too acidic can dry out the grout in your polished concrete floor resulting in white patches.
White vinegar is good for cleaning pavers, though it's also acidic enough to erode the stones' surface. Diluted vinegar can be used safely to clean paving stones, though it should be used sparingly and infrequently to protect your paving from damage.
If a strong enough vinegar solution is applied to a concrete surface it will become dull and slightly pitted. Just because vinegar won't remove concrete sealer does not mean that concrete sealer cannot be removed.
To remove efflorescence from your concrete basement floor, apply a mix of 50/50 white vinegar and water, scrub with a soft nylon brush, and rinse away.
Pressure washing is one of the fastest, most effective ways to get your concrete white again. Concrete can change color over time due to pollen, algae, or dirt buildup, but a good pressure wash can easily remove dirt and stains and make your concrete look new again.
What chemical will clean concrete? If you have mildew stains, the best chemical to clean concrete is trisodium phosphate. Combine two tablespoons of the chemical with two tablespoons of powdered laundry detergent and one-quart water. Then, apply it to the stained area and scrub using a stiff brush.