Dish soap and water: Dish soap is a degreaser, and it works well to clean oily and grimy concrete. Create a cleaning solution of warm water and few drops of dish soap and apply it to the surface. Let it sit for a while, then mop the patio and rinse it with fresh water.
Use a detergent such as Dawn or Ajax dishwashing liquid mixed with water to brighten a concrete patio that hasn't been cleaned in a while. Just as you would regularly vacuum the floor and dust your furniture inside your house, you should keep your patio clean so it's ready at a moment's notice to entertain.
Some good cleaners include Castile soap, liquid dish detergent, stone cleaners and mild floor cleaners.
Sweep off or vacuum up any loose dirt, dust, and debris from the concrete surface. Using a garden hose, wet the concrete. Then, apply a mixture of trisodium phosphate and water, scrubbing the solution onto the surface using a stiff-bristled broom. You can also use a pressure washer for this step.
Bronner's castile soap is our favorite non-specialized product for surface cleaning indoor concrete floors. Dr. Bronner's is a nearly pH-neutral cleaner that comes in a variety of natural scents. Because the soap is concentrated, a few drops in a gallon of water is plenty.
Vinegar is an all-natural solution for cleaning concrete. It kills mildew and mold, removes grime, and helps treat set-in stains. Before cleaning concrete with vinegar, it's essential to dilute it so you don't affect your sealer.
Dish soap and water: Dish soap is a degreaser, and it works well to clean oily and grimy concrete. Create a cleaning solution of warm water and few drops of dish soap and apply it to the surface. Let it sit for a while, then mop the patio and rinse it with fresh water. Repeat the process as many times as needed.
Simple Green Oxy Solve Concrete and Driveway Cleaner can be used with a power washer or for manual cleaning of concrete surfaces including driveways, sidewalks, patios, and walkways.
Microfiber Mop: Microfiber mops are great for concrete floors as they are gentle on the surface and can effectively trap dirt and dust particles. They can also be used dry or dampened with water or a cleaning solution.
Windex is a harsh chemical agent that you shouldn't use to clean concrete floors. It can damage and dull the decorative concrete floors like other harsh cleaners.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Simply fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and vinegar (or water and baking soda), and add a little bit of liquid dish detergent. Spray the mixture on your concrete surface and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then scrub and rinse your concrete.
Once you're done sweeping, pour dry dish soap or laundry detergent onto the stain. Let it sit for 45 minutes. Next pour water on the area and scrub with a nylon-bristle brush, which will not scratch the surface of the concrete. Allow the soap to sit for 10-15 minutes and scrub again.
If your area is more prone to algae and mold, then you may want to wash your concrete more often. You should pressure wash your concrete at least once a year to protect your concrete and the value of your home. Using a concrete sealer can also prevent damage to your concrete after it has been washed.
Driveways and Sidewalks
If you don't have access to a pressure washer, you can use Super Clean, a hose and a garage broom to get similar results. Spray the area down with cold water, spray on some Super Clean and let it sit a few minutes. Work it into the concrete with the garage broom, and rinse with the hose.
In fact, it leaves toxic chemical residues behind on your dishes and glasses that pose significant health hazards over the long-term. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) evaluated 326 dish soaps and assigned each one a hazard rating ranging from A to F, A being the safest, F being the most toxic.
Combine 1/4 cup of liquid bleach with 1 gallon of hot water in a large bucket. To avoid damaging your lawn or walkways, always dilute your bleach and control your runoff when rinsing. Soak your brush in the solution and scrub the entire area until it's fully saturated.
For lightly soiled concrete, you can remove dirt by using bleach mixed with water. Add 1/8th cup of liquid dishwashing detergent to the solution and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the surface, and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a nylon-bristled brush.
dish soap, 1 cup white vinegar and 1 gallon warm water in a bucket. Recipe #2 – Make a solution of 1 part all-purpose cleaner, 2 parts warm water and 4 parts ammonia. Recipe #3 – Mix 1/3 cup Tide to 1 gallon of warm water. Any of these should work well for cleaning unsealed cement garage floors.
A pH-neutral cleaner is always a good option for a final cleanse or to routinely mop with. No matter what is used to clean, it's crucial to allow the unsealed concrete to fully dry.
Dawn Dish Detergent
All you need to do is pour a generous amount of dawn over the oil and use a large bristle brush to scrub the stain until you can see that it is pulling away from the ground. Rinse and repeat until the oil disappears. This might just be the cheapest solution you'll find!