How to Remove Spray Paint from Concrete

Concrete is probably the least expensive and lowest maintenance flooring option nowadays. However, such a porous material absorbs liquids such as paint like a sponge. If your spray-painting project led to some overspray or accidental splatters, and you don’t notice them immediately, removing them after they’ve dried can be quite difficult.

But it’s not an impossible task! There are actually several methods you can try, from mild, non-toxic ones to those that involve chemicals and require extra equipment:

• Soap and water solution
• Hot vinegar
• Graffiti remover
• Paint stripper or paint thinner
• TSP
• Power washer
• Sandblaster
• Angle grinder

In most cases, all you have to do to remove spray paint from concrete is to apply the product to the stained area, let it sit for a few minutes, scrub the paint off, and rinse the surface thoroughly.

In this guide, we’ll teach you how to use all these methods step by step and how to do it safely.

Assessing the Damage

Concrete is a porous material that absorbs finishes, which makes it very difficult to remove them. There are many factors that will decide which removal method you should use, so you need to assess the damage first.

Are you trying to lift just a few paint splatters here and there? Do you need to eradicate a wall of graffiti? Are you working inside or out? You probably already know that paint removal might involve the application of solvents that can only be used in areas with good ventilation.

You should also consider whether you have the necessary supplies at home, if you’re willing to buy those you don’t have and whether you’d prefer using natural methods rather than chemicals.

How to Remove Spray Paint With Soap and Water

The first spray paint removal method is a classic: soapy water. It’s always a good idea to start with this one if the splattered area is small because it’s the easiest, safest, and most economical solution.

Supplies You’re Going to Need

• Scrub brush with stiff bristles
• Two 1-gallon buckets (if indoors) or one bucket and a garden hose (if outdoors)
• Warm water
• Mild dish soap
• Clean cloth or absorbent paper towels

Step-by-Step Instructions

The process to remove spray paint from concrete surfaces using soap and water is very straightforward:

1. Sweep off the dust or dirt from the area.
2. Mix warm water with a few squirts of dish soap to get a sudsy solution.
3. Pour a bit of the solution over the affected area.
4. Let the water sit on the paint for approximately 5 minutes to soften and loosen it.
5. Dip the brush in the soapy water and brush the stain with circular movements.
6. Take a clean cloth or an absorbent paper towel, and wipe away any remaining paint and excess water.
7. Rinse with clean water, or simply use a hose if you’re working outside.

You might need to repeat this process a few times to remove all the paint. If you’re indoors, remember to mop the area thoroughly when you are finished.

This method uses the mildest solution, and it works best on fresh spray paint stains. However, it’s still worth a try before bringing in the chemicals.

How to Remove Spray Paint with Vinegar

Another non-toxic, environmentally-friendly way of removing spray paint from concrete surfaces such as patios, driveways, floors, and walls is using vinegar.

Supplies You’re Going to Need

• White distilled vinegar
• Cleaning sponge or paintbrush
• Scrub brush with stiff bristles
• Clean cloth or rag
• Pot or microwave-safe bowl

Step-by-Step Instructions

This method, while highly effective, can damage the concrete and eat away at it if diluted incorrectly or left to sit for too long. We suggest testing the vinegar on an inconspicuous or small area to see how the material reacts.

This is how you should prepare and apply the vinegar:

1. Pour half a cup of white distilled vinegar into a small pot and heat it on your kitchen stove. Don’t let it boil. You can also do it in the microwave using a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Sweep off the dust or dirt from the concrete surface.
3. Dip a cleaning sponge or a paintbrush in the hot vinegar and use it to wet the spray-painted area. Make sure to saturate the surface.
4. Let the vinegar sit for 10 to 15 minutes. You should see some bubbling as soon as the vinegar starts breaking the bond and loosening the paint from the concrete.
5. If you haven’t seen any bubbling after 15 minutes, apply hot vinegar again because it means the process hasn’t worked yet.
6. Scrub the stain gently with a stiff-bristled brush.
7. Take a clean cloth or rag, and wipe away any remaining paint and excess vinegar.
8. Rinse with clean water, or simply use a hose if you’re working outside.

Using hot vinegar is a very efficient way to remove small spray paint stains and splatters that doesn’t require any fancy materials or equipment, as you can find most of them in your own kitchen.

How to Remove Spray Paint With Graffiti Remover

For larger stained areas, you might want to consider using a graffiti remover. Although there are chemicals involved with this method, graffiti removers are not expensive, and they come in many forms, from typical aerosol cans and trigger sprayers to liquid solutions, pastes, sponges, and even wipes.

Whichever you choose, it’s always best to read the manufacturer’s instructions on the label to ensure proper application. However, here you’ll find some general instructions on how to remove spray paint with graffiti remover.

Supplies You’re Going to Need

• Graffiti remover
• Scrub brush with stiff bristles
• 1-gallon bucket
• Clean cloth or absorbent paper towels
• Mop and bucket (if indoors) or garden hose (if outdoors)
• Protective gear (safety goggles, gloves, and respirator)

Step-by-Step Instructions

The fumes from the graffiti remover can be harmful, so put your protective gear on before you begin. Once you’re ready, here’s what you should do to remove those stains from your concrete surface:

1. Sweep off the dust or dirt from the area.
2. Apply the graffiti remover following the instructions on the label. Some products require that you let them sit before you can move on to the next step.
3. Brush the stain with circular movements.
4. Wipe the area with a clean cloth or an absorbent paper towel.
5. Rinse with clean water if you’re working inside, or simply use a hose if you’re outside.

This method might require that you repeat the process a few times for better results, depending on the effectiveness of the product you’ve used.

How to Remove Spray Paint With Paint Stripper or Thinner

Moving on to stronger solutions for spray paint splatters on concrete, we’ve found that using a paint stripper or paint thinner can be quite effective without blowing your budget.

Paint strippers are a chemical product formulated specifically to remove paint by breaking the bond between the paint and the surface. This product can either be solvent-based or a non-caustic gel and liquid formulation.

Paint thinners, on the other hand, are solvents used to dissolve different substances, including oil-based paint, by reducing their viscosity (thickness). Some commonly known solvents for paint removal include acetone (nail polish remover), turpentine, and denatured alcohol.

Supplies You’re Going to Need

• Paint stripper or thinner
• Paintbrush
• Clean, disposable cloth or rag
• Protective gear (safety goggles, heavy-duty gloves, and respirator)

Step-by-Step Instructions

We know that reading about safety measures can be boring, but they’re essential to prevent accidents and injuries. Solvents, in particular, can be extremely dangerous as they can burn the skin upon contact and cause respiratory problems if inhaled.

They’re also flammable, so keep them away from any heat sources, including sunlight, and never smoke or light candles when or after using them.

Work in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside. If you’re working inside your home, make sure to open all the windows and doors to let the airflow.

Lastly, always read the manufacturer’s instructions and safety measures on the product’s label.

Other than that, this is what you should do to remove spray paint from concrete with paint stripper or thinner:

1. Sweep off the dust or dirt from the area.
2. Using a clean paintbrush, apply paint stripper or thinner to the stained area, following the instructions on the product’s label.
3. You might need to let the product sit for approximately 15 minutes.
4. If you’re using paint thinner, keep in mind that it tends to evaporate quickly, so you might need to re-apply it whenever you notice it going dry.
5. Wipe the area after application.
6. Use warm soapy water to clean any greasy residues from the paint stripper or thinner.

Using a paint stripper or thinner is a cheap and highly effective method to remove spray paint from your concrete floor, patio, or driveway.

If the spray paint is on a vertical surface, however, you have to bear in mind that using paint thinner may smear the paint. To protect the area directly under the stained spot, we recommend using concrete tape and drop cloths or plastic sheeting to catch any runoff.

How to Remove Spray Paint With TSP

TSP (trisodium phosphate), a tough, grease-dissolving detergent, typically comes in powder or liquid form and can be added to hot water to create an effective solution for spray paint removal.

You can use this method for paint-stained concrete both indoors and out, but since it requires intensive scrubbing, we recommend it for outdoor application only if the stain or splatter is small.

TSP is very potent, which is why it’s considered a health hazard. You should be extremely careful when using it and always wear protective gear.

Supplies You’re Going to Need

• Powdered or liquid TSP
• 5-gallon bucket
• Stiff-bristle scrubbing brush
• Mop (if indoors) or garden hose (if outdoors)
• Protective gear (safety goggles, heavy-duty work gloves, and respirator)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Sweep off the dust or dirt from the area.
2. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for diluting TSP in warm water. You’d usually need half-teaspoon per two gallons of water.
3. Dip the stiff-bristle brush into the TSP solution and vigorously scrub the paint off the concrete.
4. If the stain doesn’t come off, let the TSP rest on the surface for about 20 minutes before scrubbing again.
5. Mop away any leftover debris indoors, or use the hose to rinse the concrete if it’s outdoors.

Using a TSP solution is another cheap and effective way of banishing spray paint splatters from exterior or interior concrete surfaces like floors, patios, and driveways. It’s especially powerful in combination with a pressure washer. You can lift the paint with TSP, no matter how old, and the water will wash it away.

How to Remove Spray Paint With a Power Washer

A power washer is a device that runs on gas or electricity and uses a pump to shoot a concentrated, forceful stream of water at variable pressure.

This is an excellent option for outdoor application on concrete driveways, walls, garage floors, and patios.

Supplies You’re Going to Need

• Pressure washer
• 15-degree spray nozzle, so the jet stream won’t damage the concrete
• Plastic sheeting or heavy-duty, waterproof drop cloths
• Protective gear (safety goggles, heavy-duty work gloves, and respirator)

Step-by-Step Instructions

The hardest part of using a power washer is probably assembling it. Do so following the manufacturer’s instructions and check how to use it properly. Most of the time, you just have to do the following:

1. Connect the high-pressure hose to the high-pressure inlet and the garden hose to the water inlet.
2. Attach the 15-degree spray nozzle to the spray wand, then the wand to the spray gun, and lastly, fix the gun to the high-pressure hose.
3. Turn on the water supply and stand at least two feet from the stained area, blast it using back-and-forth sweeping motions.
4. Rinse the area thoroughly when you’re done.
5. If the stain persists, try combining the power washer with the TSP technique.

If you don’t own a power washer already, this might be quite an expensive method for you, and it might require some practice before you can get it right.

How to Remove Spray Paint With a Sandblaster

Removing spray paint with a sandblaster is a tricky method. The equipment is powerful enough to remove layers of concrete, which can definitely damage the surface of your driveway or patio if used incorrectly. However, sandblasting is a very quick, less-laborious way of removing paint from large areas.

If you’ve never used a sandblaster before, we highly suggest you get some training and practice to learn the right technique. Alternatively, you might consider hiring a professional sandblasting service to avoid dealing with the mess and potential dangers yourself.

Supplies You’re Going to Need

• Portable Sandblaster (at least 50 psi)
• Sandblasting media (fine sandblasting sand)
• Wet-dry vacuum (indoors or outdoors) or power washer (outdoors)
• High-quality plastic sheeting or waterproof canvas
• Protective gear (sandblasting suit, mask, and gloves)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Before you start, you should cover everything in the vicinity of the affected area with high-quality plastic sheeting or waterproof canvas to avoid the hassle of dusting everything off later. Another benefit of covering nearby surfaces is that you can collect the sand afterward and reuse it once you pass it through a fine sieve.

Once that’s done and you have your protective gear on, this is what you should do to remove those stubborn spray paint stains:

1. Connect the hose and nozzle to the air compressor.
2. Fill the hopper with fine sandblasting sand.
3. Standing a few feet away from the stained area, turn on the sandblaster and allow it to build up pressure.
4. Hold the nozzle approximately 12” from the affected area, press the trigger to start blasting the spray paint.
5. Use quick back and forth motions and keep your strokes even.
6. Repeat until you’ve removed all the paint.
7. Use the wet/dry vacuum or the pressure washer to remove the resulting concrete dust.

If you want to remove painted parking lines or simply get rid of accidental overspray on your concrete surfaces, sandblasting can be an easy and fast process if you’re an advanced DIYer and know how to properly handle the equipment.

How to Remove Spray Paint With an Angle Grinder

If you’re a woodworker, metalworker, or avid DIYer, then you probably have an angle grinder lying around. These incredibly versatile tools can also be used to quickly remove spray paint from any concrete surface, but you should be careful as it can cause great damage to the concrete surface.

Supplies You’re Going to Need

• Angle grinder
• Paint stripping wheel
• Wet-dry vacuum (indoors or outdoors) or pressure washer (outdoors)
• Protective gear (safety goggles, heavy-duty work gloves, and respirator)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Angle grinders are extremely easy to operate, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful. All power tools can be dangerous if handled incorrectly. Read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow all safety measures.

1. Sweep off the dust or dirt from the area.
2. Turn the grinder on and wait until the wheel reaches full speed.
3. Lightly pressing the tool on the affected area, move the tool carefully in a clockwise, circular motion.
4. Keep repeating this process until the spray-painted surface is clean.
5. Use the wet/dry vacuum or the pressure washer to remove the resulting concrete dust.

If you’re looking to buy an angle grinder, we recommend a cordless grinder that’s between 4.5 inches to 6 inches in size, so you can use it to tackle other DIY projects comfortably.

Sealing a Concrete Surface

Since concrete is such a porous material, you need to seal it after removing spray paint stains and splatters, especially if you’ve used one of the more abrasive methods that could’ve removed any existing sealer. Sealing concrete not only improves its appearance but also protects it from weather exposure, water, grease, and oil stains and makes it easier to clean.

After the surface is clean and completely dry, you should apply an etching solution that will open up the concrete and allow the sealer to adhere better. Following the instructions on the product’s label, apply a thin coat of sealer using a roller or sprayer. Wait for it to fully dry, and apply a second coat.

These general guidelines are meant to give you an idea of how the process is typically done. Make sure you follow the specific instructions recommended by the product manufacturer to ensure proper sealing.

Conclusion

Removing spray paint from concrete driveways, patios, floors, or any other kind of surface isn’t impossible. If the overspray or spill is fresh, wipe it off immediately with warm water and soap.

For older stains, you can use any of the eight tested methods we’ve provided in this guide. We always recommend starting from the mildest and going up to the strongest options for stubborn or large stains.

Whichever removal method you choose, remember to be patient and follow safety measures!