Make Your Concrete Floor Sparkling With Best Concrete Floor Cleaner
Concrete flooring is one of the most popular options for the interior and exterior of a home as it’s one of the easiest floors to maintain. Since there are no gaps between the floorboard or grout lines, you won’t have to worry about dirt being trapped between the lines. It’s also a durable material that’s easy to take care of – especially if you treat it properly. Even so, however, you’d still need to purchase an appropriate cleaner for your floor, or you could end up with a whole slew of issues.
When it comes to selecting the right concrete floor cleaner, however, where do you start? There are many different types of floor cleaners from acidic to alkaline or pH-neutral ones, and it can be an overwhelming decision. To help, we’ve prepared a comprehensive guide on what’s the best concrete floor cleaner for the type of flooring that you currently have. We’ll also provide detailed steps on how to go about cleaning your concrete floor and end off with a review of some of the best concrete floor cleaners and tools that we’ve found.
What Type of Concrete Floor Cleaner Should I Get?
There are many different types of concrete floor cleaners, in order to choose the best cleaner for your floor, the first thing you’d need to consider is what type of finish is on the concrete.
Sealed
If you’ve got sealed concrete, it essentially means that the concrete is coated with certain materials that make it both nonporous and stain-resistant. For sealed floors, you’d want to go for pH-neutral cleaners as they’ll help to loosen surface dirty that you can easily scrub and rinse away.
Polished
Polished concrete goes through a densification and polishing process that makes them incredibly durable. They’re also much easier to maintain than other concrete floors as no sealers or waxes is required. With polished concrete, you can opt for a pH-neutral cleaner or purchase a special cleaner and conditioner that’s designed for polished concrete.
Stained
Stained concrete essentially means that the concrete has been colored. Like the other concrete floors, you can go with a pH-neutral cleaner. With stained concrete, it’s also ideal if you protect the floor with a sealer and a coat of wax or floor finish. You’ll need to reapply this every couple of years to maintain the quality of your floor.
Stamped
Stamped concrete is a type of textured concrete that replicates other materials such as stone and brick. It’s usually stained and can be either sealed or unsealed. Stamped concrete is generally not difficult to maintain, but it also depends on whether it’s sealed or unsealed.
Painted
Then, you’ve got painted concrete. With this type of flooring, you’d need to be careful that the cleaner you select doesn’t end up damaging the cement paint or sealant. You’d want to avoid a cleaner that has high acidic ingredients or elements such as bleach or ammonia as it can damage the paint job. Instead, opt for a mild cleanser, or you can also choose to create your own.
Unsealed
Finally, there are unsealed floors. These are floors that have no additional treatment – leaving the surface susceptible to stains and liquid stains. With unsealed concrete, you may have to remove the grease and oil stains that are soaked into the floor. To do that, you’d need an alkaline cleaner that will allow you to rinse or scrub away the stains with a power washer.
Below, we’ve got some step-by-step instructions on how to go about cleaning each of the floors mentioned above.
How to Clean Sealed Concrete Floors
- To start, you’d want to remove all surface dust and debris from the flooring by either sweeping or vacuuming everything.
- Then, you’re going to go ahead and either take out your concrete floor cleaner or mix two gallons of warm water with two teaspoons of dishwashing liquid. You’ll then go ahead and mop the floor with that solution – for sealed concrete floors it’s important not to use harsh cleaners.
- Once you’re done, go ahead and rinse everything, allow your floor to dry and you’re good to go.
How to Clean Polished Concrete Floors
- Similar to the above, you’d want to get rid of all surface dust and debris.
- Then you’ll go ahead and clean your floors with a commercial polished concrete cleaner. Make sure that the cleaner is pH-neutral and remember to read all of the instructions properly.
How to Clean Painted Concrete Floors
- Once again, you’ll remove all of the surface dust and debris to make sure that it doesn’t scratch the floor.
- Then, you’d want to go ahead and mop the floor with your concrete floor cleaner. Make sure that it’s not harsh or acidic as those cleaners can damage the finish of your floor. Ideally, you’d want to opt for a mild all-purpose cleaner and mix it with some warm water. Then, use a slightly damp microfiber mop – it’s essential not to use excessive moisture as that can break down the paint.
- Go ahead and rinse with a mop to remove any soapy residue before allowing the floor to dry.
How to Clean Unsealed Concrete Floors
- Start by sweeping away and removing any surface dirt and debris.
- The best way to clean an unsealed concrete floor is with a pressure washer that’s filled with a mixed solution of trisodium phosphate and water. Once the solution has been distributed, go ahead and rinse the area before allowing it to dry.
- If the unsealed concrete floor has grease stains, you’d want to sprinkle some cornstarch or kitty litter that’s dry on the stain and allow it to sit for at least three day to completely absorb the oil. Once that’s done, go ahead and vacuum the residue and repeat as necessary.
- If there are any food and beverage stains, go ahead and mix dishwashing liquid with water before using a stiff brush to scrub the mixture onto the flooring. Once that’s done, go ahead and rinse with plain water.
- If you’ve got tire marks, you’d need to wet the area before spreading degreaser over the stains. Leave it for four hours before scrubbing with a stiff brush and rinsing well.
- With rust stains, if it’s light just pour distilled white vinegar over the stains and allow it to sit for at least 30-minutes before scrubbing it with a stiff brush. If the stains are darker and larger, you’d want to use a commercial rust remover.
- Finally, with mildew stains, you’d want to mix laundry detergent with trisodium phosphate and water. Then you’d want to scrub the mildewed area with a stiff brush along with the solution before rinsing. If the mildew stains are bad, you might have to use chlorine bleach. If you do decide to use bleach, however, remember not to mix it with other cleaners, always wear protective clothing, and use it in a space with plenty of ventilation.
Best Concrete Floor Cleaners
EXIMO Waterless Concrete Cleaner for Driveway
This amazing concrete floor cleaner is exactly what you need to restore your concrete to its natural color. It’s also ideal for removing oil along with other petroleum stains in your concrete. What’s great about this concrete floor cleaner is that it’s environmentally safe and is made with a natural, waterless formula that’s safe for you and your family.
You can also use it in a wide range of settings from your driveway to the sidewalk and even parking lots. You can also choose to apply it either wet or dry – making it supremely convenient. All you’ve got to do is use it on the surface, and you’re good to go. Individuals who have purchased this are really impressed with the cleaner and mentioned that some spots they had on their flooring are almost entirely gone. They also like how you don’t have to use a pressure washer, and there’s no need to wash off the cleaner.
Terminator-HSD Eco-Friendly Bio-Remediates and Removes Oil & Grease Stains
Another fantastic cleaner, this eco-friendly concrete floor cleaner is exactly what you need to remove oil and grease stains on either concrete or asphalt driveways. The ingredients within this particular cleaner will break down and dissolve oils on the concrete, and it’s also both eco-friendly and powerful.
With this particular product, you can also remove large stains with no issues at all. You can also use it on a wide range of surfaces from asphalt to streets, garages and parking lots. Stains that it can remove include oil, grease along with any hydrocarbon-based stain. In terms of application, all you’ve got to do is spread it evenly and mist it with water. There’s no scrubbing required – how convenient is that? Individuals are happy with this product and mentioned that their stains have almost completely disappeared. While you’d need to be patient with the product, customers agree that the results are worth it.
Concrete DNA Polished Concrete Cleaner
This cleaner is exactly what you need if you’re looking for something that works well on polished concrete flooring. Not only is it water-based, but it’s also safe and contains a non-corrosive formula that won’t damage your floors. It even contains unique hardening ingredients for a more thorough cleaning.
This polished concrete cleaner can be used with either auto scrubbers or mop buckets, and you’d want it with some warm water before using it on your flooring. It also comes in two different sizes to suit your needs and is an excellent cleaner that’ll not only maintain your polished concrete floors, but it’ll also revive them.
Rust-Oleum 301243 Cleaner and Degreaser
This heavy-duty concrete floor cleaner can be used for both residential as well as commercial use. Not only will it thoroughly clean the surface, but it’ll also remove contaminants. You’d want to use this cleaner before coating your concrete surface to help with adhesion of paint, stains and sealers. It’s also environmentally friendly and is an excellent cleaner that’ll break down oil, grease, and stains.
If you’d like, you can also go ahead and dilute the solution and use it as an everyday cleaner. Customers that have purchased this cleaner mentioned that it does a great job, and they like how there are no fumes. They also noted that it helped to effectively get rid of any old rust stains and other stains from the floor.
Dometic D1215001 Concrete Renew
Last on the list is this user-friendly bioactive cleaner that’ll help with safely removing oils and other hydrocarbon-based oils from concrete flooring. It’ll naturally penetrate through the concrete and will help with dissolving grease, oil, antifreeze and more. You can also use this on product on both your garage floors and driveways.
The formula is also both biodegradable and non-toxic, and it’s incredibly strong and will do the job well. Customers have been happy with this product and mentioned that it was able to deliver as promised.
Best Tools To Clean The Concrete Floors Like a Pro
While cleaning your concrete floors, there are some tools that you can use, and we’ve curated a list of some of the best ones to get you started.
Brush Concrete Cleaner
Need to scrub your concrete floors? Use this power scrubber. Not only does it work great on concrete, but it’s also a great product for larger outdoor surface areas. It has a stiff four-inch flat brush that’ll get the job done, and also has a rugged steel draft that’s durable and long-lasting. The shaft of this brush is also compatible with both cordless drills and drivers.
Upon purchase of this product, you’ll also get a 90-day money-back guarantee in case you run into any issues. Customers are happy with this product, and a lot of them have used it with cleaning tiles and getting rid of grout. It’s the perfect brush to use for when you’re scrubbing the mixture into the flooring.
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Drill & Drill Bit Set
If you need a drill, this is another great product. It comes with a lithium-ion battery and can hold a charge of up to 18 months. It also comes with a 100-piece assortment of a range of accessories to cater to all of your needs. With this drill, you’ll also be able to drill through or screwdriver through a range of material from wood to plastic and even metal.
Those who have purchased this drill liked how it’s incredibly sturdy, and even with using it a few times a week it hasn’t faltered. Another customer also said that even though it won’t go through hard tile, it seems to go through everything else. They also like how the charge lasts longer than most other devices and is one of the best deals for any homeowner that doesn’t need a high-end tool.
Pressure Washer Surface Cleaner
If you’re looking for a professional surface cleaner, this will do the trick. It’s able to clean an area that’s over 20” wide and is great at getting rid of stubborn stains on various surfaces from patios to decks and sidewalks. It’s also high-efficiency and comes with two high-pressure rotating jets that cleans much better than a typical spray nozzle.
Material wise, this cleaner is made with heavy-duty bearing along with durable stainless steel. It also comes with flexible bristles that’ll allow you to have control over the spray, and a built-in filter screen to prevent impurity blockages. It’s also compatible with most power washes and comes with an 18-month warranty in case you run into any problems. Customers are a fan of this surface cleaner and mentioned that it’s made of a steep solid build, has excellent pressure, and performs a nice and clean sweep.
Bottom Line
We hope that this article has helped you select a concrete floor cleaner that best suits your needs. When it comes to choosing a cleaner, it’s vital that you pick one that suits your flooring. For example, for painted concrete, you’d want to go with a mild cleanser, so you don’t end up damaging your floor. With that in mind, you’ll be well on your way to selecting a concrete floor cleaner that best suits your needs.