When dealing with rust on concrete, the first step is to remove the rust. Next deal with the stain the rust left behind. Rust and its stains can be dealt with with some common household items. If you have lemon juice, vinegar, and a brush, you’re all set.
Soap and Water
If the strain left behind is small and not too deep, a simple soap and water solution should do the trick. Scrub away with dish soap until all dirt and dust are removed.
Lemon Juice
With a more stubborn stain, lemon juice may be the solution. You can also buy rust-removing cleaning solutions, but most of these solutions use acid to lift and scrub away rust. Lemon juice has an extremely high concentration of citric acid, which makes it a powerful cleaning option. Try pouring lemon juice on your stain and letting it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before scrubbing away.
Vinegar
Another great cleaning option you likely have in your kitchen—vinegar. The high amount of acid also makes vinegar a viable cleaning option. Pour or spray vinegar on your rust stain and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes (or longer for more difficult stains) and scrub.
Scrub
Scrubbing away rust and stains off your concrete is best done with a stiff-bristled brush. Because of the tough nature of concrete, a stiff brush will be the most effective. However, avoid using a metal brush as they can aggregate the surface of the concrete. If your stain is particularly stubborn, try repeating the washing steps.
