How to Remove Red Clay Stains from Concrete and Siding
Middle Tennessee's iron-rich clay soil turns concrete and the bottom of siding orange-red, especially on new construction in Franklin, Spring Hill and Thompson's Station, where the yard is bare for months.
Why clay is different from dirt
Red clay gets its color from iron oxide, the same compound as rust. Once it dries into porous concrete, water alone moves the loose dirt but leaves the iron stain behind. It needs a cleaner that dissolves iron.
Common spots
The bottom two feet of siding and brick where rain splashes off bare soil, driveway aprons where construction trucks tracked mud, and walkways next to mulch-free beds.
Keep it from returning
Once the yard is sodded or mulched, splash-back stops. Until then, a gravel strip or mulch along the foundation keeps rain from throwing clay onto the house.
What you can try yourself
- Rinse off loose mud before it dries.
- On concrete, apply a rust or clay stain remover per the label, scrub and rinse.
- On vinyl siding, use a siding cleaner and soft brush. Test first.
What to avoid
- Scrubbing dry clay into the surface.
- Acidic cleaners on natural stone or colored concrete without testing.
When to call a professional
Builders, HOAs and homeowners moving into new construction often have us clean the whole driveway, walks and lower siding in one visit once landscaping is in. See our driveway & concrete cleaning service.
What customers say
"I used First Class Pressure Cleaning to seal my aggregate driveway and they did a fantastic job. It was in rough shape as we had never sealed it before. Lots of salt damage as well from trying to de-ice the last winter storm. It looks so much better now. They even came back the next day for touch-ups on some areas where the winter salts had worn through to the concrete. Very happy with this company and the work they’ve done!"
Dan · Google Review
"Driveway looks amazing. Very surprised at the results. Team was very easy to work with. Excellent communication. Fair price. Let’s hope it holds up for a few years."
Mothball K. · Google Review
"I completed a quote sheet online for an estimate to pressure wash my house. First- Clean Pressure Washing responded quickly. Chris called me to discussed what service I need. He looked at my house on the Internet so he was able to see clearly the size of the house. I also added my driveway to the cleaning process. I was given a quote, verbally and written, which I signed on a DocuSign. They communicated with me via text and were right on time based on the schedule provided. They had a truck that had the solution in it for cleaning my house, which I was really happy about because they didn’t use my water. My driveway was really messy and they did a very good job on my house and driveway. I felt the quote was fair and competitive. They got all of the mildew off the house. It looks great so I shouldn’t have any problem with my HOA for a couple years. Thanks so much, Chris. I really appreciate the service you provided!!!"
Karla J. · Google Review
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Related guides
- Red Clay Splash on Siding and Concrete After Tennessee Storms
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- How to Remove Rust Stains from Concrete
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