How to Get Spray Paint Off Concrete Surfaces 

How to Get Spray Paint Off Concrete Surfaces 

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Brenda Nyawara

Brenda Nyawara is an editor at Archute. She is a graduate architect with a passion for edge-cutting ideas in design, fashion, art and modern world interests.
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Staining concrete surfaces you don't want to paint with spray paint is very easy. Using a paint sprayer is easy, and it spreads the paint in several layers at a go. Additionally, the paint dries up quickly, leaving little time to correct a painting mistake. So, if you need to restore your concrete surfaces to their clean state, you will want to know which products and methods you can use that don't damage the concrete or affect your health. So, here is how to get spray paint off concrete surfaces.

How to Remove Spray Paint from Concrete

These are the best methods to follow when cleaning painted concrete surfaces for any reason.

  1. You can use a power washer
  2. You can wash the concrete surface with a stiff bristle brush and soapy water
  3. You can use a paint stripper or paint thinner
  4. You can use Trisodium Phosphate
  5. You can use a graffiti remover
  6. You can use an angle grinder

Before discussing these methods, here are a few things to remember.

Firstly, you will want to guarantee you do not damage your concrete walls. So, it is better to use the best products that will not eat into the concrete. You will also want to clean chemical removers soon after applying them to stop the bleaching process.

When choosing the best spray paint removal process, you must avoid bleaching products like formulas with vinegar and bleach. While some of these will remove the spray paint quite fast, they also have the potential to bleach the concrete. Also, while we included the angle grinder method, we'd advise you to use the method as a last resort as it can also damage the surfaces.

Finally, you need to understand how the spray paint is formulated so you can pick the best removal products. For example, spray paint can be water-based or oil-based, with the latter a bit harder to remove.

Concrete is a porous surface that will absorb a lot of spray paint at a go. Unfortunately, the paint goes on in layers and dries up quickly, which is why we recommend some of the easiest methods for removing spray paint below.

a) How to remove spray paint from a concrete surface with a power washer

Image source: highqualitycleaning.com

Compared to several other methods we will recommend in this article, using a power washer is the safest. Most spray paints contain toxic fumes that can harm your health with continued exposure. And it is not only the paint fumes that are bad; physical exposure to paints has also been suspected to increase the risk of multiple sclerosis.

So, when you want to remove spray paint from a concrete surface, a pressure washer leads to the least exposure to the formula and its fumes. Unfortunately, this method is most helpful when you know how to use the machine, and it might be quite expensive if you have to buy a power washer. That said, it is very effective when removing paint from a large surface.

To use this method, you will need:

  • An electric or gas-powered power washer
  • Waterproof dropcloths
  • Protective gear

Here is to remove unwanted spray paint from a concrete floor or wall with a power washer:

Step 1: Wear safety goggles, gloves, respirators, or any other protective gear you have.

Step 2: Affix the best power washer nozzle to use.

Step 3: Stand about 10 feet from the defaced concrete surface, and point the power washer nozzle towards the edge of the affected area.

Step 4: Start your power washer and move the sprayer back and forth on the affected area until you get all the paint off.

Using a power washer is the best method for removing paint from a large concrete surface. Luckily, it s also ideal for removing wet or dry paint, and it saves water compared to when you follow the handwashing method below.

b) How to remove spray paint from a concrete surface with soapy water

Image source: resin-expert.com

When you need the cheapest method to remove spray paint, it is best to use the supplies you have in your home. Though not the safest method, using a brush with soapy water will not cost you a lot of money. However, it is most effective when you want to remove wet paint and might require more elbow grease to get the color off.

Here is what you need for this method:

  • A stiff bristle brush
  • Warm water
  • Mild dish soap
  • A mop and bucket if removing paint indoors and a garden hose if removing paint outdoors
  • Two buckets
  • Paper towels
  • Protective clothing

Here is how to get spray paint off concrete using warm, soapy water.

Step 1: Put on your protective clothing, including goggles and gloves, and sweep the affected area to remove concrete dust.

Step 2: In a bucket, pour a few drops of dish soap and add warm water to create a sudsy solution. Then, pour clean, warm water into the other bucket.

Step 3: Wet the painted area with suds-free water. Then, dip the brush into the sudsy water and brush the painted area. When you start noticing colored water on the surface, use paper towels to soak it off the surface to prevent spreading the color further. When satisfied with the removal process, rinse the area with suds-free water, then use a mop or garden hose to clean the floors.

While this method is easy and affordable, understand you may need to repeat the steps several times before removing the entire paint stain off your concrete surface. In addition, you will need to be quite gentle when brushing the concrete to avoid leaving scruff marks when the stain is gone. As such, you can avoid using a wire brush for the process.

c) How to remove spray paint from a concrete surface with a graffiti remover

Image source: homedepot.com

If our soapy water method does not remove the paint stains, you can use a graffiti remover to complete the work. A graffiti remover loosens the paint, so you can simply rinse or wipe it off the surface. It is also much stronger than the nail polish remover, which you can also try before using this method.

The remover is quite safe to use when you have the following supplies.

  • The graffiti remover
  • A stiff bristled brush
  • Wipe cloths
  • Mop or pressure washer
  • Warm water in a bucket
  • Protective wear

Here is how you can use the graffiti remover to remove spray paint from concrete.

Step 1: Wear protective gear and sweep or wipe the affected area.

Step 2: Apply the graffiti remover to the stain. Depending on the instruction manual, you can let it sit or proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Apply your stiff bristled or wire brush to the affected area in circular motions.

Step 4: Use a cloth to bolt or wipe off the loosened paint.

Step 5: Use clean water to rinse the affected area, then use a mop to dry the surrounding area completely. If outdoors, use a garden hose to clean the area.

Removing spray paint from concrete with this method is inexpensive since the remover is affordable. In addition, the graffiti remover is relatively safe to use, although you will still need to wear protective gear. That said, you may have to reapply the remover several times until the stain is gone.

d) How to remove spray paint from your concrete surface with a paint stripper or paint thinner

Image source: check4lead.com

Paint strippers and thinners, though formulated differently, are designed to break down wet or dried paints for easier removal. You can use these two products to remove spray paint from concrete indoors or outdoors.

However, unlike the two methods above, you will need to observe better safety in your work area since these two products are formulated with chemicals like Toluene that can cause various health risks. It is best to use a paint stripper or thinner in a well-ventilated area to prevent too much exposure.

Here are the supplies you need for this method:

  • Your best paint stripper or paint thinner
  • Clean disposable cloths
  • Protective gear, including gloves, goggles, and respirator

When you have the necessary supplies, here are the steps you can follow to remove spray paint from concrete.

Step 1: Make sure the stained concrete surface is in a well-ventilated area, then wear your protective gear.

Step 2: Sweep or wipe down the stained surface to remove concrete dust.

Step 3: Read the instructions on your paint stripper or thinner, then apply the formula to the stained area as advised.

Step 4: Use the disposable cloth to wipe down the formula after application.

Step 5: Reapply and wipe the paint thinner or stripper as necessary until you get all the paint off.

These paint removal techniques will not cost much since they are quite affordable. In addition, the process is easy to follow since you only need to apply the formula and wipe it off until the color is gone.

However, most thinners and strippers are made with flammable chemicals that you need to be careful where you apply them and store the bottles. For the best safety, you can avoid using the products near heat sources and use them in ventilated areas so the vapors can clear quickly after application.

e) How to remove the spray paint from concrete using Trisodium Phosphate

Image source: thespruce.com

Trisodium phosphate is a very effective paint remover and one we recommend you use to remove unwanted spray paint from concrete. The product, also known as TSP, comes in powder or liquid forms. When buying, it is more likely you will find it in powder form, meaning you will need to mix it with water for use and rinse it from the surface after the appliance.

Even though TSP offers the best paint removal guarantee, it is one of the most toxic products to use. So, you need to wear the most protective gear when using it and also ensure to rinse the leftover solution to mitigate direct contact. In addition, you will also need to ensure the rinsing water does not flow to a garden or water source. Finally, since this product is toxic and needs careful handling, some municipalities have banned its use, so ensure you check if you can use it in your area.

Here are the supplies you need to use TSP to remove spray paint from concrete.

  • The Trisodium phosphate in powder form. You can also get TSP in liquid form.
  • A 5-gallon and a 1-gallon bucket
  • Mop or hose (to clean indoors and outdoors, respectively).
  • Warm water
  • A stiff bristle scrub brush
  • Protective clothing

Here is how to use TSP to remove spray paint.

Step 1: Wear protective gear, including gloves, safety goggles, and a respirator.

Step 2: Wipe the stained area to remove concrete dust.

Step 3: Read the manual for diluting the TSP with water, and pour a mixture of the cleaner into the 1-gallon bucket.

Step 4: Dip a stiff-bristled brush into the mixture and scrub the paint off the concrete surface.

Step 5: Rinse the loosened paint with warm water, then use the mop to wipe off the excess water.

You might need to repeat the scrubbing process until you remove the entire paint stain. Also, the mixture is very strong; thus, you need to prevent direct contact with your skin. If using a brush is too risky for you, especially when you don't have the best protective gear, you can also spray the TSP with a pressure washer.

f) How to remove spray paint from your concrete surface with an angle grinder

Image source: Youtube

An angle grinder is a tool you can use to remove spray paint, but you should be careful not to damage your concrete surface during the process. So, you can only use this process if you know how to use the tool, and even then, use it when all the methods above have failed.

That said, the angle grinder is a fairly safe tool because you will not use chemicals. Unfortunately, though it works more effectively than a paint scraper, it needs the right technique to prevent injuries, plus you might need to buy or hire the tool, making using it an expensive option.

Here are the supplies you need for this method:

When you gather the supplies, here are the steps to follow when removing the spray paint from concrete.

Step 1: Wear protective gear like gloves and safety glasses and clean the stained area to remove dust.

Step 2: Attach the sandblaster to the angle grinder wheel, turn on the grinder and start scrapping the paint from the affected area. Remember to gently press the tool onto the surface and work it in clockwise motions to avoid damaging the concrete surface.

Step 3: When you have removed all the paint, you can use a wet/dry vacuum to collect the paint and dust particles. Alternatively, you can use a pressure washer to clean the entire area if removing paint outdoors.

Using an angle grinder is an effective and non-toxic way to remove water or oil-based spray paint from concrete surfaces. However, it would be best to use the right technique only to remove the spray paint stains as it is fairly easy to damage the surfaces.

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About the author

Brenda Nyawara

Brenda Nyawara is an editor at Archute. She is a graduate architect with a passion for edge-cutting ideas in design, fashion, art and modern world interests.
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