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How do I clean concrete?
08th June 2018 To keep your concrete floors looking good, you’ll want to keep them clean. Here’s how you can help maximise the lifespan of your concrete floor.
Use a pressure washer
A pressure washer is a great method of cleaning concrete and will deliver noticeable differences from the moment you start using it, removing dirt and stains. However, make sure that you do not exceed a rate of 4 gallons per minute (3000psi) or you risk damaging your concrete floor.
Using the fan setting, move the nozzle from side to side as if you were mopping a floor, whilst keeping the end around a foot from the concrete. When power washing a vertical concrete wall, you don’t have to worry about the dirt you’ve just washed away from settling back onto the concrete. When pressure washing a concrete floor, ensure that you wash towards the edges and not towards the centre.
Which chemicals can I use to clean concrete?
What if you have spotted a particularly tough oil or grease stain? Water alone does wonders when cleaning concrete, however, when you need an extra kick there are plenty of commercial options for you to choose from:
PH neutral concrete cleaning agents
Despite its resilience, concrete can be sensitive to certain acidic and alkaline substances. It is therefore the safest option to go with a PH neutral cleaning agent when cleaning internal, unsealed concrete floors.
Alkaline concrete cleaning agents
What about outdoor areas? Alkaline cleaning agents, also known as “concrete degreasers”, are ideal for use on concrete floors that are stained by grease, car oil and other automotive stains. This is because the high alkaline content breaks down oil and grease, making it easy to remove.
As concrete is naturally alkaline by nature, you can also use concrete degreasers to neutralise a concrete floor that has ben recently cleaned by an acidic cleaning agent first.
Acidic concrete cleaning agents
There are several acidic cleaning agents that help with specific concrete stains. Heavy rust stains on concrete are tough but are most effectively dealt with using a cleaning agent containing oxalic acid.
Acidic concrete cleaning agents are also the most effective way of tackling efflorescence; a situation where crystalline salt residue stains the surface of concrete, especially when it is exposed to hard water, a high salt content and alkaline soil.
We are experts in all things concrete, from the delivery of ready mix concrete and liquid screed, to concrete pumping services, we have you covered. For more information about our ready mix concrete, screed or concrete pumps for hire, contact us today on 0117 958 2090.