5 Tips for DIY Concrete Cleaning

Don’t want to use harsh chemicals, and have been searching for alternatives safe for your landscape, family and pets?

Looking for solutions that don’t involve pressure washing?

Wonder if bleach is safe to use on your concrete?

If you’ve asked yourself these questions prior to a concrete cleaning project, you may want to consider do-it-yourself (DIY) concrete cleaning options. The thought of making your own cleaner might seem challenging, but it’s fairly easy, and it is definitely a cost-effective solution for cleaning cement. Using simple ingredients you likely already have in your home, your can mix a solution that is safe to use on any concrete areas. Ingredients like baking soda, dish soap, laundry detergent, hydrogen peroxide, and white vinegar are perfect for DIY concrete cleaning.

With a little time, and a little elbow grease, you’ll be able to clean your concrete areas quickly and efficiently, with solutions that are safe for your family and home.

1. DIY concrete cleaner and degreaser

• Mixing a concrete solution that is safe to use, and will remove oil stains from concrete, is fairly easy. It is also a very cost-effective way to give your pavement a deep-cleaning.

The ingredients:

• Borax or laundry detergent
• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Hot water

The application:

• Pour baking soda directly onto stain and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Pour vinegar over the baking soda until it’s all wet. When the mixture starts to fizzle, add a few tablespoons of laundry detergent and scrub the mixture with a stiff-bristled brush. Use a garden hose with a spray nozzle to thoroughly rinse the area until all of the soap is gone. Repeat the process for especially difficult stains.
• You can also use vinegar straight if you would prefer not to use baking soda or detergent. This method will require a little more elbow grease, but will still get the tough stains out of your cement. Pour vinegar directly onto the stain and let it sit for 1-15 minutes. Scrub vigorously with a stiff bristled brush, and rinse clean.

2. How to clean a cement patio

• Your patio areas are subject to a lot of wear and tear from daily use, and seasonal weather. A thorough spring DIY patio cleaning will help keep your patio looking its best all summer long.

The ingredients:

• Bleach
• 1/8 cup dish soap
• Water

The application:

• Remove all furniture, plant and accessories from your patio. Sweep away any dirt or debris with a wide push broom. Mix 1/4 cup bleach to 2 gallons of water, and add dish soap. Pour mixture into a garden sprayer, and spray down the patio. Let the solution sit for 5-10 minutes, and then scrub into the concrete with a stiff-bristled brush.
• Use your garden hose and spray nozzle to rinse the patio area clean. Repeat as needed for especially dirty areas until the patio is clean.

3. How to remove rust stains from concrete

• Using the methods in steps 1 or 2, begin by thoroughly cleaning the stained area. Allow to dry completely after cleaning, generally at least 24 hours. Once the surface is totally dry, pour lemon juice directly onto any rusty areas. Let stand for 15-20 minutes to allow the acid to work its magic. You can also use white vinegar instead of lemon juice.
• Scrub the areas thoroughly with a stiff-bristled scrub brush, and rinse with clean water. Repeat as needed to remove all rust stains completely.

4. Natural solutions for pressure washers

• If you do decide to use a pressure washer, you can still use a natural cleaning solution to clean your concrete and kill off mold.

The ingredients;

• 8 tablespoons baking soda
• 4 tablespoons dish washing detergent
• 2 cups warm water
• 4 tablespoons bleach

The application:

• Mix the baking soda and dish washing detergent in a bowl until baking soda is completely dissolved. Add water, mix well, and then add bleach. Pour the solution into the soap reservoir on your power washer, and spray down your concrete area thoroughly. Always work from the top of the pitch down, so dirty water is not running over areas you have previously cleaned.
• Remove the soap reservoir, and switch the nozzle to a high pressure tip. Rinse the are thoroughly with clean water until all excess solution is removed.

5. The ultimate DIY concrete cleaning solution

• The most cost-effective, and easiest to prepare concrete solution is a very simple one. It takes very little time to mix, and is safe to use around any areas in, or around, your home. Mix 2 parts baking soda, to 1 part bleach and apply the solution to any concrete area you want to clean. Use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub the solution into the concrete, and rinse clean with your garden hose.