Remove Concrete Leaf Stains!

This week, Jason Geiser shows you a simple formula for removing leaf stains on concrete.
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[@Widgeonwatcher]

Jason, I am a decorative concrete contractor in colorado. We had a patio media blasted to remove paint and we were going to seal immediately following. Unfortunately we had a few days of rain and wind and when we showed up to pressure wash there were leave stains everywhere. Used your method and the results were nothing short of magical! Game changer man! We owe ya one!

[@mrsj5773]

Worked for me. Old leaf and vegetative stains, the nothing else worked, this did and amazing results, thanks

[@stephaniepamin2136]

Hi, your solution worked amazing for us!! We used a pressure washer even with the red nozzle and that wouldn’t even lift the leaf stains! Amazing and thank you!

[@chrisj7499]

Wife bought a placemat and it got wet and stained our concrete like this. Power washer wouldn’t touch it!! This stuff worked in seconds!! Thanks so much!

[@DecoCreteTV]

That's great to hear!!! Thanks for checking out our channel & letting us know how it worked👍

[@pvtillman]

This solution totally works. I had leaf stains in my new driveway before I could even drive on it. This cleaned it up so quickly, like the video, I didn't even have time to scrub before the stains cleared.

[@DecoCreteTV]

Glad to help Paul, thanks for watching!

[@fuzzylogic218]

I just did this to my huge concrete patio out back. I just had it poured about 2 months ago and had to wait to get it sealed which iis happening this Saturday. IT WORKS PERFECTLY! I didnt even need to wait 5 minutes. I sprayed the whole patio which is a 26x17ft area with a 7x31 walkway connected to the house. Its huge and the leaves and my dog and kids got it so dirty. Now it looks just like it did the day it dried. Im doing this every spring when it comes time to get the backyard ready. THANKS!

[@renjl]

What sealer did u use to prevent future leaf stains?

[@fuzzylogic218]

@@renjl I had the concrete company come back and seal it so I dont know what they used.

[@mackwack1]

I just did it and now have blotches off fade marks all over

[@mackwack1]

It's 1 year old concrete and now I'm crying, will it eventually fade to even out

[@mackwack1]

Followed it perfectly

[@gameplayer1980]

I had a bunch of pine cones drop on my paver patio after just a month of installation. Left a bunch of sap and brown stains everywhere. Thanks to your video, my patio is now cleaned up.

[@DecoCreteTV]

Great to hear!!! Glad it worked out! Thanks for watching👍

[@whoisradu]

Thanks for this. I have a huge area that's stained and I plan to try this when it's nice out. Thanks again.

[@MikeDayConcrete]

Good tip Jason

[@hahahahagrin]

Man, this solved my problem immediately. Wow! thanks for taking the time to video. I had no clue on how to remove these stains, but it was "ezy-peasy"

[@davidcarr5734]

Many thanks! For what it's worth, this mix also worked well in removing the leaf stains from the shade cloth of my pergola.

[@DecoCreteTV]

Great to hear!!! Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV👍

[@HellavaGz]

Hi Jason, I am a concrete contractor in Portland, Oregon. Big fan of the your work and channel!I poured a color stamped patio day before and it rained over night and stained part of it from leaves and a tree. Will this method help get those stains out and not damage the color? It has been a couple of days now and am trying to figure out the best way to clean it before sealing. Any suggestions would help thank you

[@DecoCreteTV]

This mixture should work good for that. It won't hurt the color and usually takes care of the leaf stains with out too much effort. Just follow the mixing instructions in the video, and start with a small spot to make sure. Hopefully this works for you. Let us know if you have other questions. Thanks for watching!!!!

[@MarkP-m7w]

This technique worked for me! Thank you for sharing.

[@DecoCreteTV]

You are welcome! Thanks for watching!!

[@Ste2020-s4p]

Thank you Jason for this video, I tried this formula and it works, it clear all the stains

[@DecoCreteTV]

Great to hear!! Glad it worked well for you. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV!!!

[@mr17moir95]

Amazing Fix!! Excellent results. Thanks for sharing.

[@desdonaghy]

Looks great. Have you a video on best way to seal concrete block which was used to build our raised flower bed. First I’ll get leaf stains off where creepers stained it. Thanks.

[@DecoCreteTV]

Thanks for the comment!!!! We don't have any videos on sealing concrete block, but it would be pretty much the same thing as sealing a concrete slab, just vertical instead of horizontal. I would definitely plan on spraying the sealer and use roller to catch the runs and mop up the excess. The exact sealer would depend on what you are hoping to achieve. D-Shield would be the best product if you're looking to make the blocks water repellent without changing the look. D-One would also make the blocks water repellent, but it would darken the color. I'll leave a link for both of them at the bottom. Thanks for watching and please let us know if you have any other questions 👍 www.deco-cretesupply.com/products/water-based-sealers/d-shield www.deco-cretesupply.com/products/decorative-concrete-sealers-solvent-based-sealer/d-one-5-gallon

[@davidsmith9831]

Very straight forward and it helped a lot. Thank You.

[@fremid]

Thanks a lot. This worked perfect for me.

[@Kanooky_Jones]

WhAt about nearby plants? As that bleaches washes away over time, that’s going into nearby plants, right?

[@Steve-xm5hs]

Many comments alluded to applying the solution and letting it dry. Is this preferred, or is there a recommended wait time after application before rinsing?

[@DecoCreteTV]

Thanks for the comment! The solution usually starts working within a minute or two and there is no need to let it dry. Spray it down, let it sit for 1-2 minutes, scrub with a stiff bristle bush and rinse. You can repeat if necessary, but leaf stains normally come off from the first application. There could also some other organic stains that this solution will not completely remove. Here's a link to another video on the subject of leaf stains. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ3WlamXq92sbNk

[@joecooper8994]

Thank you, I had pavers put all around my house but I did not know about leaf stains or any other stains. All the other videos talked about their secret ingredient which I found out was bleach. With your simple instructions all the stains came off. Thanks.

[@DecoCreteTV]

Glad to help! Thanks for watching Joe

[@slavitsam]

what do you do when Virginia Creepers leaf (when bright red) stains on the patio? how to remove the stains? tried brush and water and didnt work... any idea? thank you

[@Rosen1902]

I tried this and is magic!! 🙏🙏

[@DecoCreteTV]

Great to hear!! Thanks for the comment!

[@isracendejas1317]

Thanks alot I just watch your video and did it thank you so much I had used different chikocals and none of them worked but the one that yiu explain make the desapierd in fron of your eyes I'm second thanks

[@DecoCreteTV]

Great to hear! You are welcome! Thanks for watching!!

[@emc6511]

Looks like you did NOT have to rinse if off, yes? That you just spread it out to dry? My issue is a balcony that mgmt doesn't allow "water" to clean (like excess water that would drain over the side of bldg) ... yet it is stained by bird droppings and bird nest building leaves & twigs that have adhered to the concrete. Thanks!

[@30minpercs]

Thanks I’ll be trying this soon on a property for sure

[@zuuumbaaa]

What type outside broom do you recommend? Also, do you rinse the solution or just let it dry out?

[@DecoCreteTV]

Thanks for the comment! As for the broom, do you mean one for scrubbing the solution around? If so, I would recommend an acid brush or a stiff bristled broom. I'll leave a few links below to the ones we sell on our website. You should definitely rise the cleaning solution off after a few minutes and try not to let is dry on the surface. You can reapply as many times as needed. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV!! www.deco-cretesupply.com/products/brooms-brushes/mason-acid-brush www.deco-cretesupply.com/products/brooms-brushes/coarse-brown-plastic-garage-brush

[@TheSull422]

Worked like a charm!!!!

[@JayIsaacsonMusic]

So this should work on a sealed patio, right? We had a new patio put in summer of 2022.

[@DecoCreteTV]

Yes, this should work even better if the concrete is sealed. Thanks for watching!!!

[@V3LOCITY_YT]

Could I use 1:1 bleach to water too? I assume it would be less effective but it’s kinda urgent and I don’t have liquid laundry detergent

[@DecoCreteTV]

Thanks for the comment! You can certainly give that a try. It won't hurt anything, but it might not be quite as affective. The laundry detergent seems to help the solution work better. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV!!

[@HeidiAnderson-di4qc]

Do you need to power wash the solution away or rinse it with a hose? Our brand new driveway has severe leaf stains

[@DecoCreteTV]

Definitely rinse it off. Power washing is faster, but a garden hose would also work. Here's a link to another video explaining leaf stains. Thanks for watching!!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ3WlamXq92sbNk

[@tomcaflisch7905]

Is this a must before sealing with D Shield?

[@DecoCreteTV]

You would definitely want the surface to be clear and unstained, don't want to seal over stains!

[@sieversmatt]

This worked perfectly, thanks.

[@DecoCreteTV]

Glad we could help! Thanks for watching Matt

[@markiannetta6336]

Better by about 50 % .. Still pretty evident .. maple leaf whirly birds doing the damage - anything else you can suggest ?

[@DecoCreteTV]

Thanks for the comment! The stains from the whirly birds should go away with time, and sunshine will help. Most organic stains will eventually bleach out on their own. You just don't want to seal them in. I'll leave a link to another video that explains this. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZ3WlamXq92sbNk

[@christiankozma454]

Can i use this on my painted pool deck, or will it strip the paint?

[@DecoCreteTV]

We've never tried this on paint or a wooden deck. I don't think it would hurt the paint, but you'd just have to give it try. Start a on a small area first to make sure it's not causing any damage. Thanks for watching!!!

[@heatherjackson681]

We have colored concrete. Do you think a color safe bleach would work to remove the leaf stains and not discolor the concrete?

[@DecoCreteTV]

We've used this solution in the video on colored concrete multiple times and have had no issues with discoloring. The safe thing to do would be to try a small spot and make sure.

[@allanmacdonald1795]

This absolutely works and ended up with all the stains gone

[@DecoCreteTV]

Glad to hear that!! Thanks for the comment!!

[@FixItWithMe]

What’s the post treatment?

[@DecoCreteTV]

Thanks for the comment! There really isn't any post treatment required as far as the leaf stains are concerned. If the concrete needs sealed anyway, then doing so a day or two after the stain removal would be good time. If the concrete is already sealed, then just wash the leaf stain remover off with water and reapply as needed. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV!!!!

[@MH-im9pn]

I have heard that bleach is harmful to unsealed concrete. I have a new slab, curing process complete, some leaf stains I want to remove before sealing. Will this harm the concrete?

[@DecoCreteTV]

Undiluted bleach has the potential to harm the concrete, but I've never seen it hurt anything as long as you mix it as described in this video. If you're nervous about it, start on a small, inconspicuous area to make sure before using it on the whole slab. Thanks for watching!!!!

[@barbarareiner4980]

Haven’t tried it yet, but do you have to rinse it off or can it be let to dry and evaporate away? My problem is that all around my stained area is grass and I don’t want to kill the grass by rinsing bleach and soap onto it. Thanks!

[@DecoCreteTV]

It does need rinsed off after. Best option is to thoroughly soak down all plant life around the slab with water first. This will dilute any solution that hits the grass from the concrete. As you rinse the slab continuously soak down the grass with fresh water. Thanks for watching!

[@barbarareiner4980]

@@DecoCreteTV Thank you!

[@samikshabpatel]

@@barbarareiner4980 did you use this method? Was the grass okay?

[@travisjackson1711]

What if the patio is stained or antiqued??

[@DecoCreteTV]

As long as the concrete is sealed, this solution will not affect concrete stain or antiquing. If it's unsealed, it could remove some of the antiquing, but it would be minor. As always, it's a good idea to do a small test area before treating the entire slab, just to be safe. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV!!!

[@Amanivajra]

Would this work on a painted patio?

[@DecoCreteTV]

We have never tried this on painted concrete. I would give it a try in a small area.

[@andykuipers2033]

Would the bleached areas stand out compared to the rest of the concrete?

[@DecoCreteTV]

Not in our experience, if it does discolor slightly the sealer will make it less noticeable. Thanks for watching!

[@HealthyHomes-n1d]

I cleaned a stained concrete with stains from berries that did not come out so I used an outdoor bleach that completely removed them

[@DecoCreteTV]

Thanks for sharing!! Glad it worked out for you!

[@MaddyHorner-ti5ce]

Is This tanned concrete safe?

[@DecoCreteTV]

Thanks for the comment! Yes, this is safe for colored concrete. Just to be safe However, a small test area is always a good idea before treating the entire slab. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV!!!

[@darryltinney5142]

ugh. It really didn't work for me. Increase bleach concentration?

[@flowinbliss33]

What is 16 parts bleach 16 parts water? That sounds like a 50/50 ratio. 16+16 =32 plus 1 part detergent? Surprised im the first to ask

[@DecoCreteTV]

Yes, the bleach to water ratio 1-1. Another way of looking at formula would be - 1gal of bleach + 1gal of water + 1 cup of laundry detergent. We just broke it down into equal parts so people can make as little or as much as they need without having to do the math on how many cups are in a gallon, lol. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV!!!

[@kirans966]

Can we use this on porcelain tiles?

[@DecoCreteTV]

We have only ever tried this method on concrete. Not sure how it would turn out on porcelain tiles, but please let us know how it works if you decide to give it a try!

[@oiygfdxssfgg]

Does that mixture of bleach, detergent kill the grass.

[@DecoCreteTV]

make sure to soak down all the grass with water first, that way the little that hits it will be diluted

[@oiygfdxssfgg]

@@DecoCreteTV Thanks for the help, cheers from Canada.

[@viandrews4579]

Or this mixture with bleach is good for any concrete color?

[@viandrews4579]

I have new concrete to put in and have grapes and they stained the concrete😢😢

[@DecoCreteTV]

We've never tried this for grape stains, you'd just have to give it try. Thanks for watching and let us know if it works

[@GloriaSauerwein]

Does it remove grass stains

[@DecoCreteTV]

Thanks for the comment! We've never tried this on grass stains, so I don't know if it would remove them or not. It's definitely worth a try, though. Let us know if works! Thanks for watching!!

[@nyba23]

will it work on colored concrete>?

[@DecoCreteTV]

Yes, this will work on colored concrete. We've never seen it cause any discolorations, but as always, just start on a small area to make sure. Thanks for watching!!!!

[@ryanf932]

In my experience with bleach on concrete it gets super slippery. Does this not happen for you?

[@DecoCreteTV]

Has not been an issue for us, thanks for watching Ryan!

[@kevinpoveromo6324]

tried it ,it dosen't work

[@sfgirl76m32]

It only removed 90% of the stain. Even after 2 applications and scrubbing the area. Maybe over time it will fade more. Definitely better than it was.

[@DecoCreteTV]

It's definitely not an exact science and sometimes 90% is the best outcome you can hope for. The thing about leaf stains is that most of them will go away over time. Sunlight also seems to help fade them out quicker. The hang-up is when it's time to seal the concrete (usually in the fall) and you have leaf stains that need to come off immediately so you don't seal them in. This little mixture is the best thing we've found, but it's understandable if it wasn't able to get rid of 100% of them. Thanks for watching Deco-Crete TV and leaving us a comment👍

[@markhall3434]

MURIATIC Acid.. Concrete Etchant and rust remover.

[@robertogonzalez7444]

Awesome 😎

[@francoisdesjardins4410]

Tried and unless it is new leaf stain, doesn’t work what so ever….. and I scrub and scrub and did it three time……..save your time

[@DecoCreteTV]

You may be dealing with something other than a leaf stain, or possibly the stain is underneath sealer. Sorry this solution didn't work for you.

[@francoisdesjardins4410]

@@DecoCreteTV actually it is brand new cement from the fall and it is only leaf stains and cement is not seal, it did clean some what but need something stronger and need to seal it before next fall , but thanks for taking the time to answer. I do think if my cement was sealed it would of work great

[@blhblh4770]

@@francoisdesjardins4410 non-fuming muriatic acid is your next stop.

[@justfor8550]

bro couldnt be arsed to move the cap🥴

[@DecoCreteTV]

😆😆