Keeping your concrete clean can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal and overall aesthetics. If you have not cleaned your concrete in a long time, you may need some professional assistance to make sure your home looks the best it possibly can. With that in mind, there are some things you can do on your own to make your concrete look like new. Use the tips below to learn how to keep concrete clean.
Power Washing
Power washing is by far the most common way to clean concrete. This can be effective at cleaning set in stains and getting rid of dirt and debris you just can’t reach. You can hire professionals to power wash your concrete, or you could do the power washing yourself. If you want to do this on your own, you will need to get a kit that converts your garden hose into a power washing machine.
Chemical Scrubbing
Some concrete stains can easily be removed with chemical scrubbing. You essentially pour on the chemicals and let them soak into the stain for however long the instructions suggest. Then you can rinse off the concrete and hopefully reveal a brand new surface. Not all chemical cleaners are effective, so do not be surprised if you end up needing to power wash in addition to using a spray.
Household Degreasers
For grease stains, you may be able to use salt or cat litter to soak up the grease. Pour one of thee over the area and let it sit for at least 15-30 minutes. Then sweep it up and see what you find underneath. You can choose to power wash the concrete after the grease stains have been removed because there may be some residual stains left.
Maintenance Work
In order to keep your concrete clean and your labor at a minimum, try to tidy up your concrete periodically. If you see weeds starting to form along the edges, clean them up before they get out of hand. If you spill paint on the concrete accidentally, try to power wash it before it sets in too much. Sweep the area on a regular basis, and be sure to clean under items that are always on the concrete (grills, patio tables, etc.). If you can keep up with the mess as it develops, you won’t have to spend much time cleaning it up.
