Concrete floors are easy to clean, unlike other flooring materials. For example, if you have a laminated or wooden surface, it is not advisable to use a wet mop. It would also cause the materials to swell. Concrete floors are not just durable, but undemanding as well. If you treat it properly, it can last a long time.
Undemanding doesn’t mean maintenance-free. The benefit of concrete is that it does not require maintenance and cleaning because there are no grout joints or lines. Unlike carpets, concrete floor coatings do not have fibers that can trap dirt. When the floor is properly sealed, it can resist abrasion, stains, and water. It is easy to deal with pet accidents and muddy paws.
For years, concrete is useful outdoors, like garages, driveways, and patios. These days, it has become a popular material for indoor flooring and tabletops. Cleaning outdoor concrete flooring is different when you work with indoor concrete floors.
Here is a guide on how you can properly clean concrete floors:
1. Wear gloves and goggles
If you plan for a thorough cleaning, you must wear proper gear. You could inhale some particles, or they could irritate your eyes. Gloves also protect your hands if you need to handle some cleaning solutions.
2. Sweep the floor
You must ensure that the surface is free from dirt. Outdoor floors are usually grimier than indoor floors. You may also require a hard brush to get rid of any surface dirt. The other options include a dust mop and vacuum. Sweeping doesn’t clean the surface but also helps to prevent any scratches that can appear due to grit and dirt.
Make sure that you do not use a metal-bristle brush. It has metallic fibers that can get trapped on the concrete surface.
3. Look for stains
Concrete is resistant to most stains, but some blemishes can stick. Concrete is porous, which means it can soak up dirt and spills. The step is crucial if the area is large. Unless you want to start scrubbing the entire space, it is better to look for floor stains to save effort and time.
4. Use of appropriate cleaning solution
Remember that before using any cleaner, you must know the type of concrete finish you have. This way, you can know what to avoid and use. For example, if you have sealed concrete, it is usually coated with acrylic, urethanes, or silicates resins. Therefore, it is nonporous compared to unsealed concrete, which is not recommended for driveways and garages.
You can remove the stains from concrete coatings with the use of specific products like commercial solutions, pH-neutral cleaner, natural solutions, Trisodium phosphate (TSP), and Muriatic acid.
If you are dealing with the toughest stains, muriatic acid works the best. It can help to remove rust or dried grout. However, you must be careful while you use the product. It is highly potent and toxic, so be sure to protect your hands and eyes.
5. Start Scrubbing
In most cases, you only need to use a brush to get rid of the dirt and stain. If you opt for TSP with water, you can use a nylon bristle brush. The combination also helps to remove the tough stains.
6. Once the stains are gone, blast the grime away
You can use a pressure washer or hose to remove the products applied for the cleaning process. You may want to do this step in the afternoon so that the sun can dry up the floor faster.
7. Let the surface dry
The waiting time depends on the cleaning method. Some cleaning products may require you to leave them on the surface overnight. It means that you won’t be able to use the space until then. It is why, you must plan the cleaning process, including the schedule.
8. Sweep the floor again
Once the floor is dry, you must do a final sweep. You can also skip the step if you are confident enough about the dust on the floor.
With the above steps, it will become easy for you to prolong the ability of your concrete floor to get stains.
Conclusion
If you have a polished concrete floor, you have to dust mop it regularly. Follow the above steps to clean concrete floorings well.
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