More serious stains will need a higher concentration of vinegar. As much as just vinegar is fine! You should note that while vinegar is good at drawing a stain up and out of the concrete, it will damage the concrete if left on it for too long. It's best to keep the vinegar on for no longer than 15 minutes.
Cleaning dirty concrete is fairly easy using a detergent or degreaser. You can use something simple like Dawn dish soap to various degreasers you can find at Lowes or Home Depot. Zep Purple works well on concrete. Eventually you'll need to find the chemical distributors in your town and see what's available.
Vinegar is a safe and environmentally friendly option for cleaning concrete, as it does not contain harsh chemicals that can harm the surface or the environment. Additionally, vinegar is readily available in most households, making it a cost-effective cleaning solution.
If you notice any cement stains on your windshield or windows, you can use this vinegar solution to remove them quickly. Just spray on top of the cement stain, wait for 15 minutes, and then wipe away the stain using a damp sponge.
More serious stains will need a higher concentration of vinegar. As much as just vinegar is fine! You should note that while vinegar is good at drawing a stain up and out of the concrete, it will damage the concrete if left on it for too long. It's best to keep the vinegar on for no longer than 15 minutes.
Bleach. Bleach is a great solution for tough stains like oil, although some scrubbing is necessary. Stronger than vinegar and without the layer-stripping effect of hydrochloric or muriatic acid, bleach is a medium strength cleaner.
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.
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.
Despite the signal word danger on most such labels, gardeners may instead just see vinegar and be careless. Sobering details: In concentrations over 11%, acetic acid can burn skin and cause eye damage, and concentrations of 20% and above are corrosive to tin, aluminum, iron, and concrete and can even cause blindness.
Yes, you can leave vinegar on mould overnight, though this isn't necessary as it usually takes effect after an hour. However, you can't use any type of vinegar, for mould removal you must use distilled white vinegar.
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.
Its high levels of acidity make it great at eating away at those tough stains that can build up on your driveway. For a milder cleaner, mix equal parts of water and vinegar and cover the surface. Scrub with a deck cleaning brush or similar for an overall driveway clean.
If your driveway is especially grimy, chances are it needs deeper cleaning. This usually requires the help of a specialist chemical cleaner like a degreaser or concrete cleaner. Spray this onto the surface, then scrub with a stiff brush and leave to dwell for 10-15 minutes (following label instructions).
Use Concrete Sealer After Pressure Washing
It soaks up everything! An effective pressure wash cleans the pores of your concrete. Make sure to apply concrete sealer after pressure washing.
Using a very dilute solution of bleach and water (1 cup per 2 gallons of water), pour it over the concrete, and let it sit on the stain for a few minutes; then scrub with the nylon cleaning brush until the stain vanishes.
While bleach will not harm concrete, it might eat away at a concrete sealer or coating, especially if the bleach solution is not rinsed off well after application. Bleach is highly corrosive and can be a serious environmental and health hazard when used incorrectly (see Precautions to Take When Using Bleach).
Combining bleach, powdered laundry detergent, and hot water gives you a mixture that can help remove stains and whiten the concrete. You may need to scrub the mixture into the concrete using a bristle brush to really wash away dirt and grime.
Liquid detergent acts as an air-entraining admixture. During mixing, the detergent forms tiny air bubbles that are distributed throughout the mortar. These air bubbles lubricate the mortar, making it workable for long periods, even as the water evaporates.
Baking soda is another natural, environmentally friendly concrete cleaner. It's mildly abrasive, making it effective at removing grease, oil and grime from concrete surfaces. It's highly alkaline, which means it won't damage your concrete.
One of the most budget-friendly ways to spot-treat stains is with liquid laundry detergent and water.
Moss, Mold, Mildew & Algae Stain Remover
Simply spray and walk away! That's it. Wet & Forget goes to work with the wind and rain to gently clean the surface over time. NO RINSE: Easy Spray & Leave Application. EFFORTLESS CLEAN: No Scrubbing, Rinsing or Pressure Washing.
Sodium hypochlorite or a strong bleach solution is the best chemical for cleaning concrete, but it must be used at the right time to achieve good results.