First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot up wet spit with an absorbent cloth. Don't rub it.
- Rinse the spot with cool or lukewarm water.
- Treat it before it dries, and keep hot water away from it.
- Test any treatment on a hidden spot first.
Saliva on concrete leaves a mark because its protein residue soaks into the pores of the slab as it dries, and the longer it sits, the more it grips. A fresh spot often lifts with water and a bit of scrubbing, but a dried one may take several rounds before it fades. Expect a faint shadow at best if the spit has been there for days.
Scrub the spot with plain water first, then check whether a shadow is left before you reach for anything stronger. If a shadow survives, repeat the scrub with a mild cleanser and let the slab dry fully before you judge it. Wide spatter on a slab needs the same treatment on every splash, so work across the whole area rather than one spot.
Before you start
What concrete, brick & driveways can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Hot water
- Soaking
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
4 items
What you'll need
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- Absorbent clothLifts the wet spit without spreading it.
- Cool or lukewarm waterRinses the spot and wets the concrete before cleaning.
- Mild detergent or kitchen cleanserThe cleaner for the scrub. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff, non-metal bristle brushDry-brushes and scrubs the spot without scratching the concrete. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Blot up the wet spit
Press an absorbent cloth onto the wet spit to lift as much as you can. Blot rather than rub, because rubbing pushes the residue deeper into the concrete.
Tip. Work from the edge of the spot toward the middle so you don't spread it.
Step 2 of 7
Rinse with cool water
Sponge or pour cool or lukewarm water over the spot to loosen what is left. Then test a hidden area before you use anything else.
Careful. Hot water cooks the protein in saliva and can set the stain.
Step 3 of 7
Test a hidden spot first
Pick the gentlest method that could work and try it on a small patch that stays out of view. Let it dry and check that the color and texture match the concrete around it.
Tip. The back edge of a slab or a corner by the wall is a good test spot.
Step 4 of 7
Dry-brush the spot
Brush the dried or crusted spit with a stiff fiber brush and water, using steady strokes. This loosens the surface residue before any cleaner goes on.
Step 5 of 7
Wet the area before cleaning
Saturate the spot and the concrete below and around it with water first, so the cleaner doesn't soak in. Keep the area wet while you work.
Step 6 of 7
Scrub and rinse thoroughly
Scrub the spot with a mild detergent or kitchen cleanser and a stiff non-metal bristle brush, working the lather into the stain. Then rinse the whole area thoroughly with water until no cleaner is left on it. If you use a pressure washer, stay at or below 400 psi with a 25 to 50 degree fan tip held at least 12 inches from the surface.
Step 7 of 7
Check the spot once dry
Let the concrete dry, then look at the spot in daylight. If a mark remains, repeat the scrub and rinse rather than skipping ahead to the stronger options below.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for saliva on concrete, brick & driveways
Homemade mixes are the riskier choice on concrete, so reach for a masonry cleaner made for stains instead.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on concrete, brick & driveways, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The rinse water tells you the most, since it should run clearer after each scrub. Look at the spot only once the slab is fully dry, and if it still reads as a shadow, the residue has settled into the pores and the dried-spit approach is your next step.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your concrete, brick & driveways
Spit on Concrete
Dried spit is harder to shift, so start by dry-brushing the crust off with a stiff fiber brush and water before you scrub. Then wet the concrete around it generously, because a wet surface keeps the cleaner from soaking in.
If the spot still looks dull or darker than the concrete around it after one pass, repeat the scrub and rinse rather than reaching for a stronger cleaner.
Fresh spit
Fresh spit is the easiest case, and most of the work is done by the blotting and the first rinse. Skip the dry-brushing, since there is no crust to loosen yet.
Still wet the concrete before the scrub, so the cleaner stays on the surface instead of soaking in.
Stubborn mark after one scrub
A faint mark that survives one round is normal on concrete, so repeat the scrub and rinse before changing anything else. Each round starts from the same wet surface.
Only after several rounds should you move to the stronger set-in options, and always test them on a hidden spot first.
Wide spatter on a slab
Spit spread across a large area, such as a driveway or patio, needs the wetting step done over the whole area, not just the spot. Work in sections so each one stays wet while you scrub it.
Rinse each section thoroughly before you move on, so cleaner doesn't dry on the surface between sections.
Old, dried or set-in stains
Older spit that has soaked in for a long time usually needs more than one pass. Start with the same steps, and only move to a stronger method if the spot is still there after the rinse.
Dried or old protein stains often need several rounds of treatment before they're fully gone, so repeating the scrub and rinse is normal. For a stubborn spot that stays, try a proprietary masonry cleaner made for that stain, following the label.
If a mark still remains, a poultice is the next option: a thick paste spread at least 1/8 inch thick, covered with plastic for 24 hours, allowed to dry, then scraped or brushed off and repeated as needed. Older stains carry more risk of damage with stronger methods, so test any poultice on a hidden spot first.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on saliva on concrete, brick & driveways?
Most kitchen remedies you'll find online are built for fabric or for other stains. Here's how each one fits concrete, and only the mild detergent or kitchen cleanser makes it into the steps.
Skip6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't sandblast the spot
Blasting removes the concrete surface along with the stain, and it leaves the area rougher and easier to stain again. A gentle scrub with a mild cleaner does the job without that cost.
Don't use stronger chemicals on a stain you can't name
If you're not sure what the mark is, a harsher product can create a new stain that's harder to remove than the spit. Stick to water and the mild scrub, and a testing lab can identify an unknown stain if it persists.
Don't push the wet spit around
Dragging a wet spot with your shoe or a rag spreads the residue over more of the slab and deeper into new pores. Lift it with an absorbent cloth or a paper towel, working from the edges toward the middle.
Don't skip the test patch
Concrete finishes differ, and a cleaner that looks harmless on a smooth slab can lighten or dull a textured one. Try your chosen cleaner on a small, hidden patch, then let it dry before you decide it's safe for the full spot.
Don't attack dried spit with a metal tool
Dried residue tempts people to use a wire brush or a metal scraper, yet both can scratch the finish and shed rust-colored flecks. Work with a stiff non-metal brush, dry-brushing first and adding water only once the residue has loosened.
When to call a professional
Spit that still shows after several scrub-and-rinse rounds, or a slab with a sealed or unknown finish, is a job for a concrete or masonry service. When you call, describe the surface finish and every cleaner you've already used, so they can skip anything you've ruled out.
Questions
Why Does Spit Stain Concrete?
Spit is a body fluid, and its protein residue can soak into the pores of concrete as it dries. Cleaning it while it is still wet keeps it from settling deeper.
Will a dried spot ever fully come out?
Usually, yes, but it can take several rounds of scrubbing and rinsing. A stubborn mark that survives those rounds may need a stronger, localized treatment.
Can I use vinegar on spit stains on concrete?
Skip it. Vinegar is an acid, and acid can make protein stains harder to remove. Cool water and a mild detergent or kitchen cleanser do the job without that risk.
What if the spot won't come out after a few rounds?
Move to the set-in options. A proprietary masonry cleaner made for that stain comes first, and a poultice is the next step if the mark still shows.
Does it matter if I wait a day before cleaning?
Yes, it does. Dried spit is harder to lift, so it can take more rounds than a spot you clean the same day.
Should I buy a masonry cleaner or mix my own?
Buy a product made for stubborn stains when the mark won't lift with scrubbing, since those are preferred over homemade mixes. Follow the label exactly and test it on a hidden patch first, because the same cleaner can behave differently on a different slab.
Can I use kitchen cleanser on spit stains in concrete?
Yes, a kitchen cleanser is one of the accepted choices for this job. Wet the slab first, scrub with a stiff non-metal brush, then rinse thoroughly with water. Test it on a hidden patch before you use it on the mark.
Is a poultice a sensible option for a spit mark that's deep in the slab?
Yes, for a deep, localized mark that scrubbing hasn't touched. Mix a powder such as whiting or fuller's earth with a suitable solvent into a paste, spread it at least an eighth of an inch thick, cover it with plastic for 24 hours, then scrape or brush it off and repeat if needed.
Saliva on other materials
Other stains on concrete, brick & driveways
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.