For tougher dirt, you can dilute oxygen bleach with water to form a thick consistency and put it in the stained areas. Let it sit for about an hour. You can scrub the areas using a stiff nylon-bristle brush. Using a hose or a bucket, rinse the areas using plenty of water.
OxiClean is a powerful concrete cleaner that works well on various materials, including pavement and grout.
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.
You already know that bleach is a trusty household product for brightening up stains on garments. 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.
Whether your patio is sealed concrete or cement, or even sealed concrete pavers, a bleach and water solution makes it easy to clean away built up soil, stains from leaves and pollen, mold, mildew and algae.
In fact, vinegar removes mold from concrete better than bleach. Bleach will only remove the top layer of mold, causing the mold to return.
As a gentler cleaner, bleach can't harm concrete's durable material.
Liquid peroxide formulas clean and brighten grout lines without harsh acids and chlorine bleaches that can damage the grout and surrounding flooring materials. The Liquid peroxide cleans, refreshes, and brightens concrete, tile, and grout without leaving watermarks or residue in contrast to other cleaning chemicals.
Bleach is commonly used to whiten concrete and is very effective at doing so if the initial stain is removed beforehand. Bleaching stained concrete white prepares it for any additional coloring treatments that you may wish to apply in the future.
Pour ⅓ cup of Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach into 1 gallon of water in a plastic bucket or container. Apply bleach solution using a brush or broom on horizontal surfaces, and a sponge or mop on vertical surfaces. Heavily soiled surfaces may require additional scrubbing. Wait 6 minutes for disinfecting.
Use a Commercial Cleaner
Either muriatic acid or oxalic acid can be used to remove extreme rust and mineral deposits, particularly stains that develop around concrete cracks. Trisodium phosphate is another favorite ingredient for grease and dirt stains. Always follow the instructions on the commercial cleaner.
Hydrogen peroxide is another concrete cleaning item that is easily available at pharmacies, grocery stores, and home improvement stores. For a natural, stronger solution to tackle stubborn stains on concrete surfaces, mix flour and hydrogen peroxide into a paste the consistency of peanut butter.
Stubborn stains may require extra action. Try mixing one cup of trisodium phosphate (TSP) in a gallon of hot water and pouring this over the stain. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes and scrub with a brush. Wash off with your hose and repeat as necessary.
Yes, vinegar is an excellent concrete cleaner. This solution can strip surface-level messes from concrete. Due to its acidic properties, vinegar can be a powerful tool for breaking down offensive materials such as dirt, stains, and bacteria.
As moisture rises to the surface of the concrete, it carries with it the calcium salts from within the concrete. These react with CO2 at the surface, forming that white powdery dust. It can be worsened by exposure to moisture, such as rain. With no moisture movement, there is no efflorescence.
Although the concrete is disinfected after just 5 minutes, lightening it will take a little longer. Leave the bleach solution on the concrete for about 20 minutes, then sweep briskly with the stiff broom to dislodge the softened grime. Use the scrub brush to tackle stubborn areas. Rinse off the patio.
After disinfection with bleach solutions, surfaces should be rinsed and dried. Bleach can be irritating to skin and mucous membranes, so any residue should be removed prior to returning animals to the environment.
OxiClean can be used on many surfaces, indoors and out. For removing tannin stains from concrete, first sweep the surface and hose it off. Getting the concrete uniformly damp before you add a cleaner is always a good idea, because doing so will yield more even results.
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.
Our top pick for an alkaline concrete cleaner, Sunnyside 64216 TSP All Purpose Cleaner, is recommended for indoor surfaces and works quickly to remove tough stains. Acid concrete cleaners are made with phosphoric acid or hydrochloric acid, which cause a chemical reaction that lifts stains.
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.
Oxygen bleach, aka color-safe bleach or non-chlorine bleach, comes in both powder and liquid forms. Like chlorine bleach, it removes stains but is gentle on fabrics, when used as directed. With its active ingredient of hydrogen peroxide, oxygen bleach works by slowly breaking down stains and then dissolving away.
Mixing vinegar and bleach together releases a poisonous chlorine gas, which can be fatal if inhaled at high enough concentrations.