HOW TO REMOVE FIREWORK STAINS

Firework Night can cause a number of issues when it comes to surface staining. There are the usual culprits, like food, drink, wax and grease, but there are others that can cause particular issues, especially on natural stone paving.

Black soot stains from gunpowder are a major bug-bear at this time of year, as are rust-type stains caused by iron filings used to create gold sparks. The residue from some fireworks also contains salt which create a powdery efflorescence. And, there’s a whole spectrum of marks that can be caused by the mineral elements of the fireworks: Barium produces bright greens; strontium creates deep reds; copper produces blues; and sodium yields yellow. These elements can also be mixed to create bright orange, silver and purple.

What not to do

Unsurprisingly, most website searches throw up the usual advice to use bleach-based or acidic cleaner to tackle these stains and, as always, this is not recommended, especially on acid sensitive stone. Natural materials like travertine and limestone are sensitive to strong acids and corrosive alkaline solutions like bleach. Both can erode or ‘eat away’ the surface and damage any protective sealer that’s been applied.

How to remove stains safely

When applying an ECOPROTEC cleaner or stain removing solution always wear gloves and follow the instructions. Children and animals should be kept away from the area during treatment and until pavers have dried. Any run-off onto grass or plants can be diluted with water.

Black soot & most coloured stains

ECOPROTEC Intensive Cleaner will safely and effectively remove most stains from stone and porcelain, including organic residue, wax, grease, soot and marks left by minerals.

For mild stains, use a 1:10 dilution, apply the cleaner with a cloth or mop and then rinse with clean water.

For more severe staining, use a 1:3 dilution, agitate the tiles with a scrubbing brush, leave the solution for 5-10 minutes – keeping tiles wet with additional solution – and agitate again, before rinsing with clean water. ECOPROTEC Intensive Cleaner can also be applied neat in severe cases.

Rust stains from iron fillings

For these stains, we recommend ECOPROTEC Rust Stain Remover – a non-caustic solution that’s also safe to use on all surfaces.

First, wash the area with a 1:10 diluted solution of ECOPROTEC Intensive Cleaner. Then, cover the stain with undiluted ECOPROTEC Rust Stain Remover and leave it to act for 15 minutes. The product colour will change to a deep purple as it reacts with the rust. Then, remove the residue and rinse with clean water. Repeat application until the stain is completely removed.

Salt marks and efflorescence

To safely remove white stains for unpolished natural stone, we recommend ECOPROTEC Cement, Grout & Salt Residue Remover . Once again, the treatment is applied neat and should be agitated immediately with an ECOPROTEC Black Emulsifying Pad. Then, rinse with clean water and remove the released deposits with a sponge, before rinsing again. Repeat application until the stain is completely removed.

Stubborn wax residue

For severe wax residue and paint stains, we recommend ECOPROTEC Joint Residue Remover – a non-caustic remover suitable for all surfaces. Here, use the solution neat, once again, and generously dab onto stains with a cloth or brush. Work the solution in manageable areas – as far as you can reach without treading into the cleaner. Leave it to react for up to 30 minutes, applying more solution if it starts to dry out. Using a coarse, stiff brush or an ECOPROTEC Black Emulsifying Pad, lift the softened residue from the surface. Repeat if any staining remains. Lastly, rinse tiles with ECOPROTEC Intensive Cleaner, using a 1:3 dilution applied with a cloth, mop or brush, and then give the surface a final rinse.

Topping up protection

If the surface sealer on your tiles is worn or quite old, it’s worth applying a new coat after removing stains, to top up the protection. This can be carried out once the surface is sufficiently dry; this may take a minimum of 24 hours. We recommend ECOPROTEC Ultimate Sealer for natural stone and barrier treatment, ECOPROTEC Pre Grout Protection for matt porcelain pavers.