If you have concrete flooring indoors, chances are it is stained, and the way to clean stained concrete floors indoors differs from how you would outdoor plain concrete.
What is the best way to clean stained concrete floors? Various ways to clean stained concrete floors include wet mopping with a cleaning agent of neutral pH. For more details on how to clean your stained concrete floor, read on.
Read: How to clean rough concrete floors
Best Way To Clean Stained Concrete Floors
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Cleaning stained concrete floors is actually very easy; you will need to dry mop and occasionally wet mop the floor using a pH-neutral cleaner.
This singular maintenance routine is usually enough to keep your floor in pristine condition, especially if the area receives low foot traffic.
If it’s a commercial building or an area that receives a high amount of foot traffic, this cleaning method is also enough to maintain the floor, but you might need to do it more regularly.
If you have a handful of people walking across your indoor concrete floors every day, you may want to clean the floor daily. If there are stubborn stains on your floor that require deeper cleaning, you can use a stronger soap to wet mop the floor.
Stained floors tend to lose their luster over time which can be revived by sealing your concrete floor. You may also need to reapply the sealer frequently if the floor is in a high-traffic area.
Read: How to remove rust stains from concrete floor
How to Remove Tough Stains From Stained Concrete Floors
If there are stubborn stains on your indoor concrete floors, you can apply a natural solution to get rid of them.
Create a paste with peanut butter consistency by mixing hydrogen peroxide with flour.
Apply the paste over the stained areas of the concrete floor and allow it to sit overnight. The next day, use a plastic-edged scraper to scrape off the mixture. And the stain should be lifted.
If you are dealing with grease stains, you can sprinkle some baking soda on the stained area and allow the baking soda to soak up the grease.
After a few minutes, vacuum up the baking soda and use a cleaner designed to clean up grease to clean up any stain that might persist.
For tougher stains, a mixture of water and trisodium phosphate can be buffed into the stains using a nylon brush. Scrub the stain until it is lifted. You can purchase trisodium phosphate at any home improvement store.
Although an abrasive cleaner can be used to remove a stain from concrete, it is not recommended. These products, rather than dissolve and wash away a stain, removes the outer portion of the floor that contains the stain.
If you do decide to use an abrasive cleaner, you must use protective equipment and exercise caution when using abrasive cleaners, as some abrasive blasting materials can pose a health hazard.
Keep in mind that the use of abrasive cleaners may impact the appearance and durability of your floor. To reduce this risk, you can opt for products like crushed slag instead of silica sand; airborne silica dust also presents a health hazard.
Read: Best vacuum for concrete floors
How to Clean Unstained Outdoor Concrete Floors
To clean unstained concrete surfaces, you’ll need the following:
- Broom
- Leaf blower
- Hose
- Power washer
- Detergent
- Stiff brush with non-metal bristles
For daily upkeep, remove debris from your concrete floor with a broom or a leaf blower. You can also use a hose to rinse off the concrete.
One of the easiest ways to clean concrete floor outside is by using a power washer. A power washer pulls off mildew, grime and dirt from the concrete but before handling a power washer yourself, be sure to read the instructions thoroughly if it’s your first time handling one.
Before pulling out the power washer, you would need to give your floor a good scrub with a cleaner. Apply the detergent on the surface of the concrete, and then use a stiff brush to scrub the detergent into the concrete.
Avoid using a brush with metal bristles, as the metallic fibers can become trapped in the concrete’s porous surface, which causes rust in the long run.
Remember to wear all appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) before working with cleaning chemicals and equipment.
Ensure to put on your safety gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes before turning on the pressure washer. When the pressure washer is running, move the wand from side to side as if you’re mopping the floor.
Power washing is a great cleaning option for semi-exterior concrete surfaces like garages.
Read: How to clean garage floor without a pressure washer
Conclusion
There is no best way to clean stained concrete floors; you only need to ensure you do not use an unsuitable cleaner or expose your floor to the wrong cleaning techniques. Avoiding this will ensure your floor stays in pristine condition for the longest of time.