How to Get Rid of Skid Marks?

Let’s look at this subject in two distinct pieces. We will focus first on the residue left by car tires on concrete driveways and garage floors. There are a number of remedies for marks already there, just as there are a few ways to prevent such skid marks in the future. After this we will focus on the stains in underwear that have become known by the slang term “skid marks.” This is a laundry issue that must be dealt with in an entirely different way.

On the Concrete
First of all, if you are going to work on cleaning skid marks from the driveway you should cover and protect plants, grass and personal property. Why? Because you will need to use pressure-washing equipment to do the job right. You’ll need some waterproof boots, eye protection and gloves too. The washer should use hot water and plenty of pressure, as much as 3,000 pounds per square inch.

The initial step involves spraying the tire marks for a couple of minutes with high-pressure hot water. After that step, it’s time to use commercial-grade degreasing products that can be poured onto the marks. Soak the areas well and let this stand untouched for 10 to 15 minutes.

Now you can apply a little “elbow grease.” Using a broom or large brush with stiff bristles, scrub the tire skid marks to get the rubber residue to come off. You can use the pressure washer with cooler water to rinse the concrete surface of rubber residue and any cleaner/detergents left behind. You may want to use a large, commercial floor squeegee to clean the surface as well. When the concrete is clean and completely dry, seal it with a commercial sealing product.

Laundry Skid Marks
As we mentioned, there is another type of skid mark that might come to mind when some people look for solutions to cleaning problems. These marks are left in our underwear as a natural part of human life. One way to eliminate the embarrassment of this type of stain is to wear only dark-colored underwear. It’s also possible to reduce the appearance of this type of stain with more careful personal hygiene.

If this type of skid mark continues to be a problem, you can remove most traces with warm water and baking soda. There are also a number of retail products available for this type of stain. Follow the simple directions for applying the spray or lotion directly to the stain before washing the garment. In most cases, it’s not necessary to use strong bleach or “industrial strength” cleansers for this type of “skid mark.”

 Print This Page