Water
Water is a simple and efficient method for daily cleansing of your concrete surfaces. Use a broom to sweep away any loose dirt or debris. If there are stubborn spots, you can use a stiff bristled push broom to scrub the area clean. Once the surface is as clear as possible, rinse with water and follow up with a squeegee to remove excess liquid. Give the concrete at least 12 hours to dry before continuing with the next cleaning solution (or using your driveway).
Use a power washer
A pressure washer is a great tool for tackling tough stains and marks. It can be rented from your local hardware store or purchased outright if you have the budget for it. Pressure washers are especially good for cleaning driveways, sidewalks and patios, as well as removing stubborn stains from concrete. They can even be used to clean decks and other wood surfaces!
Spray on, hose off
- For minor stains, spray on the cleaner and hose it off.
You will need a garden hose and spray nozzle. Spray your cleaning solution onto the surface of your concrete and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose with a nozzle. Repeat if necessary. This method is not recommended for use on an entire driveway or large area, but it is effective for small stains and spots.
Baking soda
One of the best methods to clean concrete is with baking soda. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a natural cleaning agent that is safe for both people and the environment. It is a mild abrasive that can help you scrub away stubborn stains and clean stuck-on dirt without scratching your concrete floor. This makes it especially useful for cleaning many types of garage floors and other high-traffic areas on your property where persistent dirt tends to accumulate. Baking soda is also a natural deodorizer, so it will absorb bad smells while you are cleaning with it as well. Finally, baking soda is a mild alkali that can help to break down dirt, grease and oil so you don’t have to struggle with getting tough stains out before they go into your washing machine.
Vinegar and baking soda
Another great option is to use vinegar and baking soda, which are both low cost and environmentally friendly. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that offers a gentle cleaning solution for concrete. It can be used as a scrubbing agent on its own or mixed with water. Vinegar is acidic so it will help remove stains from your concrete surface if you let the mixture sit on the stain for about 15 minutes before scrubbing it away with a brush or mop. You can combine baking soda and vinegar to clean your entire concrete surface at once or use them separately depending on how dirty your concrete is.
Use some trisodium phosphate
Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) is a very effective cleaner for concrete. This strong chemical cleanser can be found at most hardware stores, and it’s great for cleaning outdoor furniture, vehicles of many kinds, and houses themselves. If you’re looking to clean tough stains like grease, paint or oil off of your concrete floors or walls, you may want to consider using TSP as the first step in a concrete cleaning routine.
Make a paste with trisodium phosphate and water
Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is a strong cleaner and can cause damage to plants, so if you are using this method around any plants, cover them up. If you do want to use TSP, wear gloves and a mask because it is an irritant. The best way to use trisodium phosphate is by making a paste with water. Apply the paste to your concrete and scrub it in with a stiff nylon brush until the stain is gone. It’s especially good for oil stains.
Coal tar sealers are great for protecting against oil stains.
If you have oil stains on your concrete, coal tar sealers are the way to go. These sealers are black, but can also be red, brown and green. They’re applied by spray or roller. You’ll want to re-apply them once a year as they’re porous and not long-lasting.
Coal tar sealers can be applied via spray or roll.
- Do not use a pump sprayer – these do not have fine enough settings to apply coal tar sealers correctly.
- Don’t skimp on the sealer. You will not save money by applying a thin coat of sealer, as it will wear off prematurely, leaving you with the same problem you were trying to fix in the first place but now with a layer of partially worn away sealant on top.
- Apply the sealer in a thin coat using circular strokes rather than straight strokes. This helps ensure even coverage across the concrete surface.
- Apply enough to completely saturate the concrete and let it dry for 24 hours before walking on it or allowing anyone (or anything) else onto your freshly sealed driveway or patio area
For daily cleaning, use water and for deeper stains, use TSP.
For daily cleaning, simply use water or a mild detergent. For deeper stains, try TSP (trisodium phosphate) and baking soda. Baking soda is an effective treatment for oil stains. Simply make a paste (mix with water), apply the paste to the stain and let it dry overnight. Scrub clean with a broom or brush in the morning and rinse with water. Power washers are one of the best ways to quickly clean dirt and debris from concrete surfaces. However, power washers can cause damage to older concrete, so make sure you know what you’re doing before washing your concrete driveway or any other surface that has been there for a while!Water
Water is a simple and efficient method for daily cleansing of your concrete surfaces. Use a broom to sweep away any loose dirt or debris. If there are stubborn spots, you can use a stiff bristled push broom to scrub the area clean. Once the surface is as clear as possible, rinse with water and follow up with a squeegee to remove excess liquid. Give the concrete at least 12 hours to dry before continuing with the next cleaning solution (or using your driveway).
Use a power washer
A pressure washer is a great tool for tackling tough stains and marks. It can be rented from your local hardware store or purchased outright if you have the budget for it. Pressure washers are especially good for cleaning driveways, sidewalks and patios, as well as removing stubborn stains from concrete. They can even be used to clean decks and other wood surfaces!
Spray on, hose off
For minor stains, spray on the cleaner and hose it off.
You will need a garden hose and spray nozzle. Spray your cleaning solution onto the surface of your concrete and let it sit for several minutes. Rinse thoroughly with a garden hose with a nozzle. Repeat if necessary. This method is not recommended for use on an entire driveway or large area, but it is effective for small stains and spots.
Baking soda
One of the best methods to clean concrete is with baking soda. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a natural cleaning agent that is safe for both people and the environment. It is a mild abrasive that can help you scrub away stubborn stains and clean stuck-on dirt without scratching your concrete floor. This makes it especially useful for cleaning many types of garage floors and other high-traffic areas on your property where persistent dirt tends to accumulate. Baking soda is also a natural deodorizer, so it will absorb bad smells while you are cleaning with it as well. Finally, baking soda is a mild alkali that can help to break down dirt, grease and oil so you don’t have to struggle with getting tough stains out before they go into your washing machine.
Vinegar and baking soda
Another great option is to use vinegar and baking soda, which are both low cost and environmentally friendly. Baking soda is a mild abrasive that offers a gentle cleaning solution for concrete. It can be used as a scrubbing agent on its own or mixed with water. Vinegar is acidic so it will help remove stains from your concrete surface if you let the mixture sit on the stain for about 15 minutes before scrubbing it away with a brush or mop. You can combine baking soda and vinegar to clean your entire concrete surface at once or use them separately depending on how dirty your concrete is.
Use some trisodium phosphate
Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) is a very effective cleaner for concrete. This strong chemical cleanser can be found at most hardware stores, and it’s great for cleaning outdoor furniture, vehicles of many kinds, and houses themselves. If you’re looking to clean tough stains like grease, paint or oil off of your concrete floors or walls, you may want to consider using TSP as the first step in a concrete cleaning routine.
Make a paste with trisodium phosphate and water
Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is a strong cleaner and can cause damage to plants, so if you are using this method around any plants, cover them up. If you do want to use TSP, wear gloves and a mask because it is an irritant. The best way to use trisodium phosphate is by making a paste with water. Apply the paste to your concrete and scrub it in with a stiff nylon brush until the stain is gone. It’s especially good for oil stains.
Coal tar sealers are great for protecting against oil stains.
If you have oil stains on your concrete, coal tar sealers are the way to go. These sealers are black, but can also be red, brown and green. They’re applied by spray or roller. You’ll want to re-apply them once a year as they’re porous and not long-lasting.
Coal tar sealers can be applied via spray or roll.
Do not use a pump sprayer – these do not have fine enough settings to apply coal tar sealers correctly.
Don’t skimp on the sealer. You will not save money by applying a thin coat of sealer, as it will wear off prematurely, leaving you with the same problem you were trying to fix in the first place but now with a layer of partially worn away sealant on top.
Apply the sealer in a thin coat using circular strokes rather than straight strokes. This helps ensure even coverage across the concrete surface.
Apply enough to completely saturate the concrete and let it dry for 24 hours before walking on it or allowing anyone (or anything) else onto your freshly sealed driveway or patio area
For daily cleaning, use water and for deeper stains, use TSP.
For daily cleaning, simply use water or a mild detergent. For deeper stains, try TSP (trisodium phosphate) and baking soda. Baking soda is an effective treatment for oil stains. Simply make a paste (mix with water), apply the paste to the stain and let it dry overnight. Scrub clean with a broom or brush in the morning and rinse with water. Power washers are one of the best ways to quickly clean dirt and debris from concrete surfaces. However, power washers can cause damage to older concrete, so make sure you know what you’re doing before washing your concrete driveway or any other surface that has been there for a while!