How to Remove Paint From Cement Sidewalks
Even a painter that is careful and skilled can have drops of paint that accidentally makes its way to the cement sidewalk pavement. When paint dries on cement it is not very pleasant to look at, but many assume that once the paint is there, there is no way to remove it. Fortunately, you can remove paint on sidewalks.
- Use a pressure washer, which will
give you a lot of power to help loosen the paint from the cement
sidewalks. Always begin on the lowest possible setting, some
pressure washers are so powerful they can actually cause damage to
your sidewalk. Test a small area to see how the sidewalk withstands
the washer. You can always use a higher setting if it is handling
the sidewalk is handling the pressure. - Buy mineral spirits and a wire
brush at a home improvement store. Put a small amount directly on
the dried paint. Using your wire brush to scrub off the paint from
the cement sidewalk. Keep in mind that mineral spirits tend to
evaporate fast, so use your wire brush to scrub off the paint as
soon as you put mineral spirits on the paint. - Pressured water and the mineral
spirits both have a tendency to lighten the cement sidewalk. To help
combat this problem, take some regular dirt and place it on the
areas that look lighter. Use a push broom to get the dirt rubbed
into the cement. Continue doing so until the it appears that the
cement sidewalk is blended. The next day you can rinse the dirt off
the sidewalk and have a consistent looking color with no paint.