Highly trafficked concrete floors should be swept, dry mopped, or vacuumed with a soft brush attachment every day or every other day and mopped at least every other week.
For addressing stains and more deep-seated grime, you can use a mop and bucket with a floor-safe detergent solution. Sponge mops or microfiber mops are excellent choices for concrete floors as they provide good coverage and are gentle on the surface.
How often should you mop hardwood floors? We recommend a good cleaning at least once a week. If there are spaces that aren't used as much you could probably get away with twice a month. Remember to sweep or dust the floors first before mopping!
When concrete surfaces are not sealed, they will quickly become stained and discolored. Not only does this make your floors look bad, but it can also lead to mold and mildew. Sealing concrete floors is an important part of the finishing process. It protects the concrete from stains, moisture, and other damage.
How often should your polished concrete floor be resealed? As we said, there are several factors which determine the ideal frequency of resealing, but generally polished concrete should be resealed between 2-10 years, with 5 years being a solid average.
A contractor's pricing can vary depending on the designs you choose to install. In general, here is what you can expect for pricing your polished concrete floor: Matte Polish – $2.00 to $6.00 per square foot. High-Gloss Polish – $3.00 to $8.00 per square foot.
However, if you don't notice any damage to the floor, it's possible that you can restore shine simply by cleaning with a microfiber mop and a concrete floor polishing agent which can break down surface dirt and grime. To clean concrete floors, stat with small areas to ensure there is no dirt or grime left behind.
Oil spills, sun rays, and changes in the weather will all damage concrete floors if they are not protected with a sealer.
A properly installed, sealed and maintained polished concrete floor can be expected to last a hundred years or more in even the harshest commercial environments. Its life-span will also far surpass that of other floor coverings, such as carpeting, vinyl tile and wood laminates.
Unlike more permeable materials such as wood or drywall, concrete does not allow water to evaporate quickly. This slow evaporation rate can lead to prolonged periods of dampness, increasing the risk of mold growth and further damage to the floor and any materials installed on top of it.
Any high-traffic areas in your home should be wet mopped once a week. Rooms in your home that are not frequently used—such as a guest room—do not need to be mopped weekly. Mopping every other week or monthly should be sufficient.
Why are my floors still dirty after mopping? Improper Mop Maintenance: Forgetting to Rinse A common floor cleaning error is overusing floor soap, assuming more moisture equals better cleanliness.
The answer is that you can't really clean your toilet too much, but Lysol® recommends you clean your toilet weekly. What to use to clean a toilet? Before you tackle the task, make sure you have everything you need to clean a toilet with: A toilet brush.
String Mops
Those mops have long handles and a cotton or synthetic fiber tip. The ability of string mops to absorb large quantities of water and cleaning solution makes them an effective option for wet mopping concrete floors.
Never use ammonia, bleach, Mop & Glow, Pine-Sol, Lysol, or citrus-based products on polished concrete floors. Do not use a Swiffer WetJet-style cleaning tool on polished concrete, since the liquid in these devices contains trace amounts of solvents.
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.
Cons of Concrete Floors
Hardness: There's no denying that concrete is hard underfoot, a quality that some find uncomfortable. It's also unforgiving — a dropped glass definitely won't survive — and it may be a concern if there are small children or elderly folks in the household. Area rugs can help alleviate concerns.
Some professionals might suggest that concrete floorings should be resealed every 2-5 years, but that depends on a couple different factors. Businesses and buildings will require different timeframes for resealing due in part to the amount of traffic that floor experiences.
What is the maximum life of modern concrete? Generally, for large infrastructures, the lifespan of modern concrete is about 100 years if properly maintained.
Remove any loose debris from unsealed concrete floors before deep cleaning. A broom with soft bristles or a 'hard floor' vacuum should suffice. Why is this step so important? Because grit and small particles from mopping can scratch and damage your floor.
Yes, concrete lasts much longer than other common building materials. For example, asphalt lasts between 15 and 30 years on average, a small fraction of concrete's 50- to 100-year life span. Stone pavers on driveways and patios will last between 20 and 25 years without major repair.
Some good cleaners include Castile soap, liquid dish detergent, stone cleaners and mild floor cleaners. Mix a solution, apply to floor with a wet mop and then rinse with a mop dipped in clean water.
Power Washing
You will likely be surprised at just how much dirt, debris, and strains a strong pressure washer can get out of your concrete. There are also some excellent concrete cleaners that are made to help get stains from tires, oil, and dirt out of your concrete.
In short, the difference between cement vs concrete is easy to clear once we know all the basics of their compositions. Cement is a binding agent made from limestone and clay; whereas concrete is a building material created through the proper mixing of cement, water, sand, and rock.