How to Clean Concrete Floors?
If you are thinking of cleaning your concrete floor- you have decided to do a daunting task by yourself!
Now you’re searching for How to clean concrete floors? No worries, we are listing and describing the steps for you to follow. There is no type of flooring that is truly maintenance-free. Though, in comparison to another flooring, concrete floors are relatively easy to clean. If you are going to clean indoor or outdoor concrete floors the steps are almost the same. Let’s check out the steps-
List of Page Contents
The basic steps for cleaning concrete floors are:
Preparation:
- Please move away all the movable things or tools, and furniture from the floor.
- Please take some protective measures by yourself, i.e. wear protective eyewear, gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and safety shoes.
- If you have an electrical outlet near the floor, put tape on it to save from water drops.
- Keep the children and pets away.
- Prepare a solution using equal percent of water and vinegar. If you wish you could use pH-neutral cleaner or dish soap. Of course, you could use a commercial cleaning solution appropriate for your concrete floor type!
Step 1: Use a dry mop
Step 2: Damp mop
Step 3: Soak the concrete floor with a cleaning solution
Step 4: Scrubbing
Step 5: Rinse the floor
Step 6: Dry the Concrete
Now let the concrete dry. Don’t allow foot traffic in the period. When the floor is completely dry, you will have a very clean concrete floor. Now you can further inspect if there are any areas that may need spot cleaning.
How to clean a concrete floor in the basement?
When it comes to cleaning basement concrete floors, there are several effective options. Ammonia and detergents, bleach, TSP, and any commercial cleaners appropriate for your floor are the best choices. Also, depending on the condition of the floor, using a power washer can also be a way. However, whichever method you choose, they all start with the same first step: sweeping.
Step 1: You need to clean the concrete floor of dust and debris with a broom, blower, or garden hose.
Step 2: Sprinkle the solution, you selected, on it. Try to spray it evenly across the basement floor or use a damp mop for applying the solution.
Step 3: Let the solution sit a bit on the concrete floor. So it will be easier to scrub. If you are using a commercial cleaning solution, please read the instructions on the printed label.
Step 4: Use water and a soft-bristle brush to scrub the floor.
Step 5: For rinsing, you could use a high-pressure nozzle on the hose. You may use a mop and water to rinse the concrete floor.
Step 6: Allow some time to completely dry the concrete basement floor. If possible create ventilation to dry it quickly.
If you are pleased with the cleaning, you can replace the things you have removed from the basement.
Warning: Using hash chemicals in non-ventilated areas may be harmful, so before using create airflow in the cleaning area.
How to clean Concrete garage floors?
Above we have described how to clean concrete floors in general. Now we are going to see how to clean our concrete garage floor.
For this, we also follow the “Preparation” section discussed above. But, now your floor is “concrete garage floor”.
Preparation:
- Now your cleaning solution preparation will be a bit different. Garage floors may have some deep stains, grease/oil laid in the concrete floor, or some other hard dust and debris on them.
Steps for Cleaning Concrete Garage Floors:
The steps required to clean your garage floor are very simple. However, depending on how dirty the concrete garage floor is, you may need a different scrubbing method or a specific cleaning fluid.
Consequently, these steps are discussed in detail to achieve maximum success.
Step 1: Use a dry mop for primary cleaning
After removing everything removable from the floor, next, sweep up all the heavy dirt and debris using a dry mop from your concrete garage floor.
Step 2: Damp mop for applying the cleaning solution or degreaser
If you have a sprayer use it to spray the solution across the garage floor evenly. Or you can use a damp mop, or sponge mop-like equipment to apply the solution on the concrete. But keep in mind to concentrate on the spots that are deeply stained, oily, and greasy. Use the solution twice if needed. Change the mop water as often as you need.
Step 3: Soak the concrete floor with a cleaning solution
Let the applied solution soak the concrete garage floor. As the garage floors will need more time to soak, leave it for 15 minutes to allow the solution to reach the concrete’s pores and cracks and allow the oxygen-activated foaming solution to remove the old stain, oil, and grease.
Step 4: Scrubbing
If the cleaning solution is absorbed, add a little more solution and start to scrub the concrete. For scrubbing use, a short bristled brush. It helps remove dirt and oil and grease from concrete.
Also, scrubbing helps to remove contaminants before rinsing. The garage concrete floor cleaning mostly depends on how well the scrubbing you have done.
Step 5: Rinse the floor
For rinsing, you could use a high-pressure nozzle on the hose. Hot water is very effective for cleaning heavy dirt and debris. Higher pressures are effective at blasting away dirt and debris that may re-accumulate in the pores of the concrete.
Note: Generally, Indoor concrete floor cleaning doesn’t need a high-pressure machine
Step 6: Let the Concrete garage floor dry
Now let the concrete dry. Don’t allow foot traffic in the period. When the floor is completely dry, you will have a very clean concrete garage floor. If necessary you may go for any spot cleaning that needs to be cleaned twice.
That’s it you have cleaned your garage by yourself.
How to clean concrete floors indoors?
indoor concrete floors are generally polished. So you don’t need to use any chemical-based cleaner. Just follow the above preparation and protective measures to start cleaning. Use Castile soap, liquid dish detergent, stone cleaners, and mild floor cleaners to prepare the cleaning solution.
Now follow the steps below:
Steps for cleaning indoor concrete floors.
After the above “Preparation” goes for the followings:
- Dust mop, vacuum, or sweep to remove dirt and debris from the floor.
- Damp mop with the prepared cleaning solution and clean water.
- Rinse the floor, as you don’t need to wait for the cleaner to soak due to a polished indoor floor. Use a sponge mop and water. Wait till the floor gets fully dry.
- If you wish and need, reapply the sealer or floor wax as needed for a protective coating.
That’s all! there is no wonder how to clean indoor concrete floors. You have cleaned the indoor concrete floor!
How do you clean Stained Concrete floors?
Residential stained concrete floors receive little foot traffic and this simple cleaning process will keep them looking like new:
- Dry dust mop or damp mop regularly to keep away dirt and grime, cutting down on abrasion.
- Use a damp mop or sponge mop-like equipment to apply the solution to the concrete. But keep in mind to concentrate on the spots that are deeply stained, oily, and greasy. Use the solution twice if needed. Change the mop water as often as you need.
- Rinse the floor, as you don’t need to wait for the cleaner to soak due to a polished indoor concrete floor. Use a sponge mop and water. Wait till the floor gets fully dry.
- Use a good film-forming sealer and a coat of wax or floor finish.
If you have any Commercial building you can also use this method of cleaning, but clean more regularly. Depending on how many people walk on your indoor concrete floor each day, you can schedule your floor cleaning time each day. If you need to clean the floor more deeply to remove stains, you can use a stronger soap for mopping.
Even stained floors can lose their luster over time. When this happens, you can revive your concrete floor by sealing it. You can also reapply the sealer if the floor is in a high-traffic area.
How do you clean Polished Concrete floors?
Now, if you have a question- how to clean polished concrete floors? Yes, you think it is right, follow earlier methods and steps. Generally, polished concrete floors are very easy to clean. Just doing some regular mopping will keep polished concrete floors. But if you need a deep cleaning
follow the steps:
- Dry dust mop to remove dust, dirt, and grit.
- Damp mop with a pH-neutral cleaner or special cleaners and conditioners designed for polished concrete.
- Rinse and let the floor dry.
- If your floor seems to be losing shine, use a commercial polish.
How do you clean painted concrete floors?
Now we are going to consider, if we need to clean a painted concrete floor, then what do we need to do? The procedure is the same as above. However, painted concrete floors present unique maintenance challenges.
So you need to make sure to use a type of concrete floor cleaner that will not damage your floor paint or sealant. Go to the “preparation” above and get yourself ready.
And now you could follow the steps discussed earlier:
- Sweep the surface of the Painted concrete floors with a soft-bristle broom. Now you could use a microfiber mop to clean further to catch the missing.
- Damp mop with the prepared cleaning solution and clean water. These cleaners will clean the surface and leave a dirt-resistant film on your floor.
- Rinse with clean water and allow it to thoroughly dry.
Before drying does not use the floor, keep children and pets away! Use airflow for quick dying.
Note: be cautious when using commercial cleaning solutions because some of the chemicals used for the product may be very harsh for your and your floor color.
How to clean oil off the concrete garage floor?
Oh! Do you need to oil off the concrete garage floor? You just need to decide what cleaning solution you are going to use. It depends on how much dirt and oil is on the floor.
If the floor is too greasy/oily you may need a commercial solution and your own solution.
Now prepare a solution for cleaning:
½ teaspoon baking soda,
2 tablespoons of white vinegar
¼ teaspoon dish soap, and
2 cups of water.
Now get the preparation as above and follow the steps:
Step 1: Dry mop for primary cleaning
Remove everything removable from the floor, next, sweep up all the heavy dirt and debris using a dry mop from your concrete garage floor.
Step 2: Apply the cleaning solution or degreaser
Spray the solution across the garage floor evenly. Or you can use a damp mop, or sponge mop-like equipment to apply the solution on the concrete.
Step 3: Soak the concrete floor with a cleaning solution
Now you need to allow some time to soak the applied solution into the concrete garage floor. As the garage floors will need more time to soak, leave it for 15-25 minutes to allow the solution to reach the concrete’s pores and cracks and allow the oxygen-activated foaming solution to remove the old stain, oil, and grease.
Step 4: Scrubbing
If the cleaning solution is absorbed, use the solution twice for old oil and grease and start to scrub the concrete. For scrubbing use, a short bristled brush.
Step 5: Rinse the floor
If possible use a high-pressure nozzle on the hose. Hot water is very effective for cleaning heavy dirt and debris. Higher pressures are effective at blasting away dirt and debris that may re-accumulate in the pores of the concrete.
Step 6: Let the Concrete garage floor dry
Now let the concrete garage floor dry. Don’t allow foot traffic in the period. When the floor is completely dry, you will have a very clean concrete garage floor.
Check it carefully,
if still some spots are oily- use the solution spot by spot. Leave it for 15 minutes and repeat the steps.
We have discussed many types of concrete floors used for different purposes that need to be cleaned. Actually learning how to clean a concrete floor is something that really takes time and patience for a new concrete floor owner. Sometimes regular mopping and sweeping help to maintain the concrete indoor floors.