# How to remove spraypaint from concrete? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094 "2010-04-14T18:16:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/1 "2010-04-14T18:16:58Z")
During a recent hobby project I got lazy about protecting the garage and driveway floor; as a result, I have some spots where blue and white spraypaint has stained the concrete. It’s not a solid/thick layer of paint, but it’s annoyingly visible, and the driveway looks terrible from the street. What’s the best way to remove this stuff? ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/2 "2010-04-14T18:36:26Z")
Paint remover? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/3 "2010-04-14T18:40:48Z")
Spray Paint Graffiti Remover seems to work reasonably well on walls that were defaced. Should work on your driveway too. [http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100197013&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci\_src=14110944&ci\_sku=100197013&cm\_mmc=shopping-\_-googlebase-\_-D24X-\_-100197013&locStoreNum=6833&marketID=16](http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100197013&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100197013&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D24X-_-100197013&locStoreNum=6833&marketID=16) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/4 "2010-04-14T21:28:57Z")
Paint your floor. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/5 "2010-04-14T22:46:27Z")
There are some pretty good concrete paint removers. Use lots, give it time to work and it will probably lift it all off. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/6 "2010-04-15T13:23:20Z")
Sand blasting ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/7 "2010-04-15T19:28:34Z")
Any good paint stripper will likely work. As **FluffyBob** said, “use lots, give it time to work…” Alternatively, rent/buy/borrow a pressure washer. I just got one, and it started stripping paint off my concrete cellarway when I went to clean the walls. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/8 "2010-04-15T20:25:19Z")
You might try oven cleaner. I have used it to get over spray off when I was giving the Krylon touch to things on my sidewalk. YMMV on it though, its pretty stout stuff and you might not want to be spraying it about. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/9 "2010-04-15T23:23:29Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > You might try oven cleaner. I have used it to get over spray off when I was giving the Krylon touch to things on my sidewalk. > > YMMV on it though, its pretty stout stuff and you might not want to be spraying it about. Of COURSE you want to be spraying it about. Just make sure the children who’s faces you’re spraying it in are hidden in your basement (or other places the neighbors won’t see)…[btw, same goes for cats and dogs, don’t let the neighbors see! Pigeons, on the other hand, neighbors cheer…] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-remove-spraypaint-from-concrete/536094/10 "2010-04-17T06:10:25Z")
Gray spray paint?