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.
Alkaline cleaners are great for lifting oil stains, grease stains, and other petroleum-based stains from concrete. It's an added benefit that you can use it with a pressure washer, making the job that much easier. For an eco-friendly cleaner, we recommend Oil Eater cleaner degreaser (US$15.74, Amazon).
In fact, vinegar removes mold from concrete better than bleach. Bleach will only remove the top layer of mold, causing the mold to return.
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.
Pressure washing is one of the fastest, most effective ways to get your concrete white again. Concrete can change color over time due to pollen, algae, or dirt buildup, but a good pressure wash can easily remove dirt and stains and make your concrete look new again.
Try a Turpentine and Lime Poultice
Mix one part lime with two parts of turpentine to form a paste and spread it on the stained parts of your concrete. Cover your mixture with a plastic bag and allow it to sit for a full day. Use rocks to hold down the bag to prevent it from flying away.
Cleansing — For mild discoloration, repeatedly flushing the hardened concrete surface with hot water, then scrubbing with a stiff brush, can reduce or remove discolored blotches. Acid treatment — If the discoloration is more severe, a mild acid solution of 1-3% muriatic acid to water can help remove the discoloration.
Use a mild grease-cutting detergent such as Dawn or Ajax dishwashing liquid mixed with water and a natural or synthetic bristle scrub brush to help brighten the patio surface. NOTE: Never use a wire brush as it can leave rust stains and scratch the concrete surface.
Use Bleach
But that's not all; chlorine bleach can also be used for cleaning the concrete driveway. Of course, you should dilute it with equal parts of water or a 1:1 ratio. With the mixture ready, spray it on the driveway, allowing it to sit for 10 minutes. Then, use a stiff brush before rinsing with clean water.
As a gentler cleaner, bleach can't harm concrete's durable material. Aside from being an effective cleaner and stain remover, it also acts as a disinfectant to the concrete surface.
The product's major asset, aside form its striking architectural beauty, is its ability to remain white throughout its life. White concrete, obviously, is not a surface treatment that can deteriorate with age.
A quick answer is yes! White vinegar can clean concrete and remove stains. It may not be as powerful as concrete cleaners, but it can clean up concrete stains on a budget. Not to mention that vinegar can also remove germs and bacteria from concrete.
The Liquid peroxide cleans, refreshes, and brightens concrete, tile, and grout without leaving watermarks or residue in contrast to other cleaning chemicals. Powdered peroxide-based formulas are generally high-performance alkaline, tile and grout cleaners and degreasers that are made for use on heavy-duty concrete.
The 1600-WHITE series of water-based, white-pigmented concrete curing compounds are wax-based dispersions with selected white pigments. When properly applied, 1600-WHITE forms a premium-grade membrane, which optimizes water retention.
Efflorescence is the white powdery substance often seen on the surface of concrete or brick. Efflorescence is caused by water vapor migrating through the slab bringing soluble salts to the surface of the concrete. Many people mistake the white powdery substance with mold or mildew.
Concrete Cure – Liquid Membrane Forming Compounds
The most common form of concrete curing today is spraying a liquid membrane forming compound commonly referred to as 'cure'. The cure is sprayed across the surface of the slab, which creates a film that reduces the evaporation of water from the surface.
Vinegar is a kitchen staple that many people have on hand. If you use it to clean concrete, combine equal parts white vinegar and water. Apply the solution to the darker areas and scrub with a stiff-bristled brush. If the stains aren't coming off, spray undiluted vinegar, let it sit for 10 minutes, and scrub again.
Baking Soda
Salt and commercial ice-melt formulations can stain — or actually eat away — the concrete around your house.
Another relatively safe and environmentally friendly solution for cleaning concrete is an oxygen bleach product, such as OxiClean. Just be sure to wear rubber gloves, as bleach products can be tough on skin. Sprinkle the powerful solution over the entire patio and scrub it with an ordinary push broom.
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.
Because of this, it can cause harm to certain varieties of concrete surfaces. For example, vinegar can etch or discolor concrete surfaces that contain a high concentration of lime. You must do a preliminary test on a tiny, unnoticeable area before utilizing vinegar to clean the concrete surfaces in your home.