Cleaning Concrete Flooring

Lots of homeowners have a concrete floor somewhere on their property. Often the garage floor, driveway, or porch/patio is made of concrete. And while concrete is a sturdy material that can last for many years, it still requires some maintenance, and one of the best simple maintenance tips is to keep the concrete clean. Thankfully even if your concrete is caked in grim or suffering from deep stains, there are simple steps you can take to clean it up.

The first step in cleaning concrete is to remove any loose dirt and debris. This is easily accomplished by sweeping, vacuuming, or dust mopping the concrete. Once all the loose dirt has been removed, the next step is to perform a deeper cleaning by using a mop and cleaning fluid. Alternatively, if you are cleaning an unsealed or outdoor concrete floor (which are usually one and the same), you can use a pressure washer. Once the concrete has been washed, rinsed, and dried, the primary cleaning is complete, and we can tackle any severe stains. For many common stains, such as grease, oil, dyed fluids, etc., you can cover the stained area with backing soda which will absorb much of the fluid. Repeating this a second time while also scrubbing with a brush and some water will take care of many stains. Finally, for the strongest stains, when nothing else works, one final tool you can use to remove stains is hydrochloric acid. Just make sure to use proper precautions when using hydrochloric acid as it is hazardous and can cause severe damage to people if mishandled.
One final thing to be aware of is that there is a different method for cleaning concrete of mold and mildew. Do not sweep an area with mold/mildew, as that can cause the spores to spread and make the problem even worse. Instead, spray the infected area with a mold-killing solution and thoroughly scrub it with a brush, then finish by rinsing it and allowing it to dry. Repeat this process until all signs of mold/mildew are gone. Additionally it is important to make sure that if the concrete you are cleaning is indoors you must open any doors and windows you can to allow proper air circulation, as most mold-killing sprays contain some degree of noxious chemicals that will fill the room if not properly circulated.

Some people may think of concrete as being rather bland, but it can be quite aesthetically pleasing if appropriately maintained. Cleaning concrete is not a difficult or complicated process either.