Removing blood stains from concrete seems to be a daunting task. Cement is porous and the stain would tend to be absorbed upon contact. For this reason, the removal of concrete stains is very difficult and requires specific treatments.
To efficiently remove stains from concrete, chemical means should be used. The solvents dissolve the stain so it can be removed from the concrete. This article shows the steps used in chemical removal.
Steps
Step 1. Put on chemical protective gloves, a mouth mask, and safety goggles
Wear clothes that protect your skin from contact with solvents.
Step 2. Cover the stained surface with clean cold water
Step 3. Coat the surface with a thin layer of sodium peroxide powder
Do this very carefully and make sure you are not breathing in the peroxide or letting it come into contact with your skin. Sodium peroxide is highly toxic.
Step 4. Wet the layer of poor sodium peroxide
There are two ways of doing this.
- Spray the layer with a water spray. You can use a spray bottle for this. Remember to be careful. Sodium peroxide is highly toxic.
- Apply a water-soaked bandage to the layer.
Step 5. Let it sit for a few minutes and then rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water
It is very important to rinse thoroughly. Otherwise, the acid used to remove the blood stain may continue to corrode the concrete if it remains on the surface.
Step 6. Scrub the surface vigorously using a stiff bristle brush
Step 7. Scrub the surface with vinegar to neutralize any residual sodium peroxide
Step 8. Rinse again with clean water
Advice
- Deal with the scrub right away.
- Since you will be dealing with chemicals, it is advisable to keep antidotes and accident treatment substances close at hand.
- Instead of sodium peroxide, you can use hydrogen peroxide or sodium phosphate. But they may not be as effective as sodium peroxide. If you use hydrogen peroxide, neutralization with vinegar is not necessary.
Warnings
- Do not store chemicals in unlabeled containers.
- Do not store unused portions of the stain removers.
- There should be sufficient ventilation whenever you work.
