As you begin your spring cleaning chores, don’t forget about the concrete surfaces in and around your home or business! Keeping concrete clean is an excellent way to extend the life of the surface, not to mention improving the appearance. Stains can vary – such as mildew, food stains, ground-in dirt, or vehicle fluid residue, to name just a few. You can probably remove simple stains yourself, but if you have stains left behind by vehicles, it might now be so easy to do it yourself. For really tough stains, or to clean a large concrete area such as a parking lot, you should contact a local paving contractor. But if you’re ready to give it a try on your own, here are a few helpful tips to get your concrete in tip-top shape for the upcoming spring and summer months.
- Common stains – If you’re attempting to remove stain like food, paint, or mildew, a pressure washer and biodegradable detergent should do the trick. For really stubborn common stains, you might need to use a common detergent and a bristle brush to get the job done. Rinse the surface afterwards. Whether you rinse with a pressure washer or a regular garden hose, remember that water can easily damage concrete, so you should remove any standing water left behind with a good outside broom.
- For vehicle fluid stains, the process is a little more complicated. Note that even if you follow these steps, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to completely clean the stain, which is why it’s best to leave this to the professionals. But if you’re determined to try it yourself, start by cleaning all debris and dirt off of the concrete surface using either a pressure washer or a regular garden hose. If the stain is fresh – like spilled motor oil, for example – you can try to absorb some of it by sprinkling cat litter, baking soda, or sawdust on the spill and leaving it overnight. If the stain is old, you can skip this step. After removing any absorption material, you can try scrubbing the area with a bristle brush and either TSP or muriatic acid. But if you choose to use this material, be very careful since both can be very harmful to people and animals. You’ll need to wear gloves and protective clothing, and follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully.
If you choose to contact a paving contractor to remove stubborn stains (and we highly recommend that you do), be sure to ask about seal coating of your concrete surface. This will help to protect it from both stains and weather, and will help to extend its life significantly.