Battery Acid on driveway

[Coys1882]

So the battery on the tent trailer 'blew up' and leaked acid all over the driveway. I've done some research on it but I'd rather get some CP advice.
I know the stain is now part of the concrete and not many cleaners actually work.

Has anyone had any luck getting this stuff out? It looks awful!!

[Kybosh]

You're going to have to get some Battery Base.

[Coys1882]

That's a type of cleaner I assume? Home Depot?

[Kybosh]

I tried to make a chemistry funny only to determine that there is no such thing.

I would probably guess that CLR would work even though it contains various acids itself.

[Street Pharmacist]

One would assume neutralization would be the first step? Baking soda?

[Coys1882]

I've done all that - the corrosion has been stopped but the 'burn' remains. It looks like rust - horrible. From what I've read it seems maybe staining the whole driveway with a base colour may be the best idea.

[RedMileDJ]

Just out of curiosity, can you post a pic of the mess?

[Coys1882]

Not my driveway but exactly like this:

[drhu22]

10 pounds of dynamite (not the Wile E Coyote brand)

[Sr. Mints]

Wow, when you said "all over the driveway," I thought you were exaggerating like a senior would say when dialing 911 that "a gang is hanging out on the corner," when in fact it's only four 11-year-olds hosting a lemonaid stand. Anyway . . .

I know there's a product available at Canadian Tire for when you spill oil on the concrete. I forget the name, but it might work. Just ask them at the store, they'll [hopefully] know.

[Dion]

Pour chlorine bleach on the rust stains. Let it soak in for baout 20 miuntes then hose off. It won't remove the rust but will lighten the color.

[Regular_John]

CP you disappoint me. Yes something like Battery Base or CLR is the right answer. But we all know better answer... as always... is fire.

[Huntingwhale]

Lick it.

[Keselke]

This is gonna sound crazy, but have you tried putting more battery acid on it?

[krynski]

Well, regardless of what you do, this will be bad for environment and possibly you. Mixing Chlorine and car battery acid could produce chlorine gas, under the right circumstances. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.

[zamler]

Acid is about the worst thing you can put on concrete, because concrete is alkaline in nature. Concrete contains calcium hydroxide which is what was probably attacked and caused the discolouration. I doubt there is much you can do short of putting a topcoat to hide the damage.

There are products to colour concrete that are in fact an acid, you might want to consider doing an acid etch it might make the stains you have blend in.

[Flames_Gimp]

vinegar

[billybob123]

Originally Posted by zamler

Acid is about the worst thing you can put on concrete because it is alkaline in nature.

Should this be in green text?

Please tell me it was meant to be in green text.

[zamler]

You could try a product like this, but it is designed to prepare the concrete for a sealer of some type so I don't know if it is wise to just clean and then do nothing.

Originally Posted by billybob123

Should this be in green text?

Please tell me it was meant to be in green text.

Not everyone might realize it or remember, ya know?

[NuclearFart]

Originally Posted by billybob123

Should this be in green text?

Please tell me it was meant to be in green text.

I think what he meant to say is that the concrete is alkaline, although his sentence structure says otherwise.