Mopping with a pH-neutral cleaner and clean water is an effective way to remove light dirt and grime. It's important to use a cleaner specifically designed for concrete to avoid damaging the surface. For tougher stains and grime, professionals may use a scrubbing machine with a brush attachment.
Some contractors use at least a little degreaser for most jobs, even to remove dirt, which can be somewhat oily. According to Hinckley, alkaline cleaners are also the preferred chemical for cleaning soot from concrete.
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.
At A-1 Concrete Leveling, the typical rate for professional concrete cleaning services is around $0.55-0.60 per square foot. For example, surfaces up to 1,600 square feet would generally cost around $950 to clean. For reference, a typical two-car driveway is around 650 square feet.
Concrete resurfacing is often seen as the best way to remedy worn, chipped, or spalling concrete without replacement. However, while it may seem like an attractive option, it's important to understand that it is usually only a temporary fix, especially in areas with frequent temperature and moisture fluctuations.
Fortunately, a little Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach or Clorox® Outdoor Bleach can help make your patio refresh an easy afternoon project.
One of the most budget-friendly ways to spot-treat stains is with liquid laundry detergent and water.
The national average cost of a concrete slab is $6.60 per square foot for materials and labor. Most homeowners can expect to pay between $4.34 and $7.73 per square foot for concrete installation.
Cleaning concrete with muriatic acid can be a highly effective solution if used correctly, providing ultra-bright white concrete and removal of many types of stains. In one application, you can remove rust stains, oil stains, algae, and paint splatter with a quick chemical application followed by pressure washing.
Ordinary household dish soap as a degreaser is extremely useful for cleaning up oily, grimy concrete stains while avoiding the use of harmful chemicals. Start with two gallons of warm water and a mere two teaspoons of dish soap in a standard bucket.
The discoloration factors are calcium chloride mixtures, cement alkalis, hard surfaces, inadequate or insufficient curing, wet subsurface, varying proportions of aqueous cement on the surface, and changes in the concrete mixture. Discoloration from these causes appears very soon after concreting.
You can use Simple Green Oxy Solve Concrete and Driveway Cleaner to clean a concrete patio with or without a pressure washer. It removes oil, grease, grime and most stains and discolorations. Its biodegradable formula is safe for lawns and pets.
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.
For indoor concrete cleaning, or for other areas where a pressure washer may not be ideal, using a scrub brush can effectively clean concrete. You will want to use hot water to scrub the area thoroughly clean. Like with a pressure washer, you can combine a degreaser with the water to remove harder stains.
How much does a 40x60 concrete slab cost? An installed 40x60 concrete slab (4 inches thick) for buildings will typically cost between $9,600 and $19,200. A 4-inch slab will usually cost between $4 and $8 per square foot (depending on your location) for materials and labor.
To produce one yard of concrete, you'll need to use about 45 80-pound bags (or 90 40-pound bags). Because of the time and labor required to prepare such a large quantity, it is usually more cost- and time-effective to have ready mix concrete delivered.
Hydrochloric Acid
Also known as muriatic acid, this robust cleaning agent can delve deep into concrete, banishing even the most stubborn stains.
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. 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.
To most effectively clean away the algae, high water pressure can force out any growth that has gotten down in the pores of your concrete.
Power Washing
If you have noticed that your pavement looks especially dirty, don't go right down the replacement route — try cleaning it with a pressure washer first. You will likely be surprised at just how much dirt, debris, and strains a strong pressure washer can get out of your concrete.
If your deck is made from concrete, pavers travertine, brick, stamped concrete or composite decking, you can clean and refresh it for summer using OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover.
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.