Cleaning rough concrete floor isn’t the easiest task; they lack a smooth canvas, so dust and debris can become caught up in the crevices and require intensive cleaning to remove.
If your floor is covered with oil or grease stains or shows signs of mildew or mold, here’s how to clean rough concrete floor.
But you might want to brace yourself for the job, as rough-textured concrete is the most difficult type of concrete to clean, adequate preparation is paramount.
Read: How to clean garage floor without pressure washer
How to Clean Rough Concrete Floor
Table of Contents
Gather Cleaning Supplies
To clean your rough concrete floor and remove stains, you will need some cleaning equipment and supplies, like:
- A broom or a vacuum
- A nylon-bristled brush
- Dish soap
- Cleaning agents such as Trisodium phosphate, laundry bleach, and detergent for mildew
- Absorbents such as kitty litter or cornstarch for grease stains
- Degreaser
- Abrasive cleaners such as bleach, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide for stubborn stains
Clear the Floor
Move any furniture, decorations, rugs or mats, shoes, and any item on the floor. Clear everything out of the room, so you do not expose your furniture to moisture as you clean or having to constantly move the furniture around.
Sweep and Dust the Floor
Use a broom to remove large dirt and debris on the floor surface before going over the surface again with a duster to remove fine particles and dust. Your floor needs to be dusted daily and swept or vacuumed on a weekly basis.
Read: Best vacuum for concrete floor
Clean the Floor
Food and beverage stains on the floor can be lifted by scrubbing the area with hot, soapy water. Dilute one to two tablespoons of mild dish soap or castile soap in a half-gallon of hot water.
If you are dealing with oil or oil-based stains, first wet the area with water before covering the stain with dish soap.
Use a brush dipped in warm water and scrub the area till you work up a lather. Then use a rag or towel to blot up the suds and rinse it down with clean water.
If there’s mildew on your floor, it can be eliminated with a mixture of laundry detergent, trisodium phosphate, laundry bleach and water. Go in with a soft brush and buff in the cleaner before rinsing with clean water.
If the rough concrete floor is located in the garage and has tire marks, it can be removed by spraying the area with water and applying a degreaser. Let it sit for three to four hours before scrubbing with a brush, and then rinse with clean water.
Spread kitty litter or cornstarch over an area and let it sit for about three days if there are grease stains.
Allow it to sit, then vacuum or sweep up the kitty litter and dispose of it properly in accordance with the type of grease you are dealing with; this could be in the garbage or through a proper recycling facility.
You can also make use of strong cleaners like bleach, ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide for tough stains if you have a plain rough concrete floor.
When a concrete floor is plain, you don’t have to worry about its finish when you use harsh cleaners to remove stubborn stains.
You can create a tough stain remover by diluting one part of the cleaner of your choice in three parts water and apply it to the affected area.
Allow it to sit for about 20 minutes before scrubbing the area with a brush and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Before handling harsh chemicals like bleach and hydrogen peroxide, ensure to wear gloves and proper protective gear, also make sure the room is well-ventilated.
Read: How to remove rust stains from concrete floors
How to Clean Stamped or Polished Rough Concrete Floor
If your rough concrete has a layer of finish, the method of cleaning takes a slightly different turn from when cleaning plain concrete. To clean polished rough concrete floor, you will need;
- Mop
- Large bucket
- Warm water
- A mild, pH-neutral cleaner.
If your concrete floor is polished, you should not use ammonia, bleach, or any other highly acidic or alkaline cleaner on it, as it may damage the concrete finish. You need neutral cleaners such as:
- Mild dish soaps
- Castile soap
- Neutral stone cleaner
- pH neutral floor cleaners or detergents
Step 1
Fill a large bucket with water and stir in some mild soap or pH neutral cleaner following the amount recommended on the packaging instructions.
Step 2
Saturate a clean mop in the cleaning solution and wring out excess water thoroughly. You need the mop to be only slightly damp before cleaning the floor with it as it enables the water to dry quickly, and excess water isn’t sitting on the concrete.
Step 3
Begin cleaning the floor starting in the corner farthest from the door and make your way towards the exit, working in small sections at a time.
As you clean, frequently re-dip the mop in the cleaning solution and wring it out thoroughly. Placing an oscillating fan in the room will increase ventilation in the room and help the floor dry quicker.
Step 4
When you have cleaned the entire floor, dispose of the cleaning water, which should be dirty by now, rinse the mop and bucket, and refill the bucket with clean, warm water.
Run through the floor again with the mop in a similar manner as you did with the cleaning solution. Allow the floor to dry thoroughly, and it should be good as new.
Read: How to clean up grease spill on floor
Conclusion
Cleaning rough concrete floor isn’t much of a difficult task, but you might want to be mindful of the cleaning products you use when cleaning stamped or polished rough concrete floor as certain products can damage the floor’s finish.