Beware of Firework Stains!
Nothing caps off a summer night like a backyard fireworks show. The morning after is a different matter. Sparklers, fountains, and smoke bombs leave behind black soot, sulfur residue, and bright dye marks on driveways, sidewalks, and clothing. Most of it will come out, though, as long as you move fast and go at it the right way. Here is how to deal with firework stains before they settle in for good.
Start with prevention
The best way to handle a stain is to keep it from happening in the first place. Set off ground fireworks on a sheet of wet plywood, a piece of metal, or a tarp instead of right on the concrete. That one barrier catches the residue, protects the surface underneath, and spares you most of the scrubbing the next day.
Cleaning concrete and sidewalks
Black powder soaks into porous concrete fast, so deal with the marks as soon as the area cools off. Mix three parts water to one part bleach, then pour it over the stain and let it soak for about five minutes. Scrub hard with a stiff-bristle brush, then rinse with clean water. Tough marks might take a second pass to come up all the way.
When a stain won’t budge
Sun and rain are natural bleaching agents. If a faint mark is still there after you scrub, the weather will usually fade it over the next few weeks with no effort on your part. Sometimes waiting it out is the cheapest fix, although it can be tough to live with it for that period of time.
Rescuing stained clothing
Treat clothing right away, before the stain has a chance to set. Coat the spot with liquid detergent or a prewash stain spray, then let it sit for up to 2 hours. Wash the item in the hottest water the fabric can safely withstand, then hang it to air-dry. Heat from the dryer can lock in whatever is left, so check the garment before it goes in and rewash if needed. For dye marks from smoke bombs, white vinegar or oxygen bleach can pull out color that regular detergent leaves behind.
For the best tips on cleaning just about anything, or to bring in professional help, call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!
Nothing caps off a summer night like a backyard fireworks show. The morning after is a different matter. Sparklers, fountains, and smoke bombs leave behind black soot, sulfur residue, and bright dye marks on driveways, sidewalks, and clothing. Most of it will come out, though, as long as you move fast and go at it the right way. Here is how to deal with firework stains before they settle in for good.
Start with prevention
The best way to handle a stain is to keep it from happening in the first place. Set off ground fireworks on a sheet of wet plywood, a piece of metal, or a tarp instead of right on the concrete. That one barrier catches the residue, protects the surface underneath, and spares you most of the scrubbing the next day.
Cleaning concrete and sidewalks
Black powder soaks into porous concrete fast, so deal with the marks as soon as the area cools off. Mix three parts water to one part bleach, then pour it over the stain and let it soak for about five minutes. Scrub hard with a stiff-bristle brush, then rinse with clean water. Tough marks might take a second pass to come up all the way.
When a stain won’t budge
Sun and rain are natural bleaching agents. If a faint mark is still there after you scrub, the weather will usually fade it over the next few weeks with no effort on your part. Sometimes waiting it out is the cheapest fix, although it can be tough to live with it for that period of time.
Rescuing stained clothing
Treat clothing right away, before the stain has a chance to set. Coat the spot with liquid detergent or a prewash stain spray, then let it sit for up to 2 hours. Wash the item in the hottest water the fabric can safely withstand, then hang it to air-dry. Heat from the dryer can lock in whatever is left, so check the garment before it goes in and rewash if needed. For dye marks from smoke bombs, white vinegar or oxygen bleach can pull out color that regular detergent leaves behind.
For the best tips on cleaning just about anything, or to bring in professional help, call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!
RSS Feed
