How to give your concrete floor a second life

 

From cleaning and maintenance, to giving your concrete floor a facelift, here’s everything you need to ensure it’s looking spotless and clean all year round.

Has your concrete flooring seen better days? Is it currently discoloured and riddled with stains — the same stains you promised to clean last year? Well it’s lucky you’ve landed here.

There’s often a lot of discussion on what is the best way to clean concrete floors, such as how do you clean unfinished concrete floors? What is the best concrete cleaner? What chemical will clean concrete?

In this article we’re going to equip you with everything there is to know about cleaning concrete floors so you give it a fair shot before you decide to remove the concrete slabs altogether. From choosing the right cleaner and removing stains and imperfections, to easy maintenance that ensures your concrete is looking schmick all year round. 

So, if you’re wondering how to make concrete look new again, continue on reading.

How to clean standard, unfinished concrete floor

Here are some easy-care instructions for cleaning your concrete driveway, garage floor, patio and side paths of your home.

Cleaning items

  • Soft-bristle broom or vacuum cleaner
  • Garden hose
  • Pressure washer (optional)
  • Stain remover (we’ll get to this in the section after)
  • Water 
  • Safety gloves

 

Instructions

First things first, make sure the day you choose to clean your concrete floor is a warm and beautiful sunny day. Nothing beats cracking open a coldie before, during and after the job.

  1. If it’s concrete flooring in the garage be sure to clear out everything before you start cleaning. The same goes for patio areas and so on.
  2. Using the vacuum or broom, remove loose debris, dust and dirt.
  3. The easiest way to clean your concrete floors is with a high pressure washer as it will literally blast away grime and dirt. Otherwise, change your garden hoses setting to the highest and start cleaning side to side and making sure the corners are thoroughly flushed out.
  4. Apply stain remover on any stubborn stains while the floor is wet and allow to sit for a couple of minutes.
  5. Using the soft-bristle broom, give the stain a gentle scrub.
  6. Give the affected area a rinse. Repeat steps 4 to 6 if necessary.

 

How to remove stains from concrete floors

How can I make my concrete ‘white’ again can be a challenging task if you’re unsure on what to do and what cleaner is safe to use. In this section we discuss how to remove particular stains and what cleaner to use on your concrete floor.

 

Remove oil and grease stains

Concrete driveway cleaner helps remove oil, grease and grime from concrete and driveways with ease. Simply dilute with water into a spray bottle and apply to the stained area and let it sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Using a scrub brush, thoroughly clean the area before rinsing with water. For more stubborn stains you may need to repeat this process. 

 

Remove tyre marks

Degrease is going to be the best cleaning solution to remove tyre marks from concrete flooring. Apply the concrete cleaner mentioned above to the tyre marks and let it sit for a few hours. Give it a good scrub with the scrub brush before rinsing it off. Repeat this process if necessary. Avoid any chemicals that contain muriatic acid as it is highly hazardous and a reactive acid which can damage the concrete.

 

Generally cleaning

For general clean purposes, mix warm water with a few drops of mild detergent (either dish washing liquid or mild laundry detergent) into a mop bucket. Apply to concrete and give it a scrub with a soft bristled broom or brush.

 

How to maintain concrete floors

The easiest way to keep your concrete floors clean and spotless is with everyday routine maintenance. Now I know what you’re thinking, cleaning your concrete floors after coming home from work is the last thing you want to do, so here’s some quick and simple tips.

  1. Remove any dust and debris using a broom, leaf blower or garden hose once a week.
  2. Remove stains as soon as they happen. This will prevent the stain from getting deep into the concrete and save you a world of work later on.
  3. Give your concrete floors the odd pressure wash here and there if you notice discolouration and grime build up.

 

Give your concrete floor a face lift with concrete grinding

Concrete grinding isn’t the first option most would think of and we don’t blame you. It’s not something widely considered, probably because there isn’t much out there in terms of how concrete grinding can help with restoring concrete surfaces.

Concrete grinding can be used to remove imperfections and stains, resulting in a smooth and clean surface by removing the top layer of the floor. It is also especially useful if you need to remove paint, epoxy and other remnants that have made a mark on your concrete. 

What you may not realise is that concrete grinding also helps prepare the surface for installation of a new flooring option, that is if you’re interested in new floors. By doing so, this can help increase the longevity of the next floor you lay down.

On the other side of things, concrete grinding is almost a necessity when it comes to warehouse and factory concrete floors. Grinding concrete helps ensure that the floors are in safe working order, removing any hazards and increasing its longevity and durability.

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