Cleaning paint from concrete

[nvrenuf]

Any suggestions for cleaning spray paint off of smooth concrete? The floor is not coate, painted or sealed simply a smooth finish.

My daughter was painting a design on a sheet (school project) and the paint bled thru to the floor.

 

[tRustyK5]

Pressure washer...

 

[ryoken]

lacquer thinner and a scrub brush if it's relatively fresh... worst case, pick up a qrt of paint stripper from the hardware store.... it's cheap...

 

[nvrenuf]

Sorry, I should have stated that a pressure washer isn't a good option for me as the area is in the back corner of (cluttered) the shop.

Will the lacquer thinner have any ill effects on the concrete other than possible stain?

 

[ryoken]

it shouldn't other than the thinned down paint "staining" the area... but if you do it a couple times, it should get pretty clear... depending on how porous the crete is, a shop vac sometimes is the best option for removing all the fluid, as opposed to wiping with a rag, etc..

 

[nvrenuf]

Great info - thank you!

 

[CGT80]

If you use the lacquer thinner and shop vac at the same time, be sure to get a video

 

[ryoken]

it's a very small amount of thinner, nothing generally even makes it out of the hose...

 

[diesel4me]

I used brake fluid to remove spray paint off my slab once,it seemed to work well..just poured it on and spread it around and let it sit awhile,then used some speedi-dri and a block of wood to grind it into the surface...shop vac'ed the speedi-dry dust up and 99% of it was gone...

I would think thinner might let the paint bleed into the surface deeper,maybe not?..I read using kitty litter or speedi-dri on oil spills will wick it up better if you pour some type of solvent on the litter,as it evaporates it'll wick up the spill better...

My concrete slab was treated with some type of clear sealer after they poured it,so spills dont seem to soak in it that deeply..untreated stuff can suck stuff in like a sponge though!...(especially urine!--my friends dad is a mason,he tells me that is why anyone caught taking a leak inside a building they are working in that has a concrete floor gets fired instantly!--he said this winter 4 guys got canned because it was "too cold to pee outside" and they decided to use a dark corner of the building as a urinal!--he said the smell "lingers forever",no matter what they use on it!..)..

 

[MrSchaeferPants]

Yup I'd say some type of paint stripper/mineral spirits/paint thinner, etc. Do it enough it'll mostly disappear, to the point where only you'll notice where it was.