How to Clean Patio Stains without a Power Washer

Maintain your abode's value past cleaning stained cement floors and patios. Y'all don't need any special equipment, just a few mutual ingredients.

Photo of empty garage with stained concrete and cement floor

How to Clean Stained Cement or Concrete

As with any household task, the best method depends on the type of mess yous're cleaning. If your concrete or cement has multiple stains, you lot'll need to care for each one separately.

Time required: Varies

What to Know Before You lot Start

Cleaning a stained cement or physical floor isn't a quick task, just it'south not a hard one, either. Earlier you become started, in that location are a couple of of import things to remember:

1. Do not mix cleaning methods. Combining different solvents can cause toxic fumes and lead to serious wellness problems. Treat each kind of stain 1 at a fourth dimension and give the floor enough time to thoroughly dry between methods. (Find out more about cleaning products that aren't safe to combine.)

two. Use skillful ventilation. If you're working in the garage, open the doors. If you're working indoors, open windows. You'll be stirring upwardly a lot of grit and possibly other irritants that have soaked into the cement. Protect your lungs. If y'all have asthma or allergies, information technology's a adept thought to wear a particulate respirator mask, too.

Equipment You lot Demand:

  • Push broom
  • Bucket
  • Potent castor
  • Spray bottle (some stains)

Materials Yous Demand:

  • Baking soda
  • Hot water
  • Liquid dish soap
  • Oxygenated bleach (some stains)
  • Cornstarch or dirt cat litter (some stains)
  • Distilled white vinegar (some stains)
Man using push broom to clean dirty cement sidewalk

General Cleaning for Dirty Cement

Before yous begin cleaning cement stains, general cleaning of the entire surface.

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  1. Sweep the surface with a push broom to remove debris.
  2. In a bucket, combine 1/2 cup blistering soda, ane gallon of hot water, and a good squirt of liquid dish soap. Apply a push broom or stiff brush to spread this effectually and scrub dingy spots. Rinse, and allow information technology dry out.
  3. For lingering stains, rewet the surface and sprinkle it with oxygenated bleach. Unlike the chlorinated version, oxygen bleach won't harm your backyard or any plants lining your driveway. (I utilize OxiClean.) Again, employ the broom'due south bristles to scrub the surface area, and then permit the oxygenated bleach work for x-15 minutes.
  4. Rinse the surface and your broom. Let both fully air dry.

Removing Mold, Mildew, or Moss

Sweeping lone isn't plenty to remove mold, moss, or cement from other organic matter. To clean mold stains on your cement, you accept to kill the spores or plant material causing the trouble.

  1. Spray the moss stain on your cement with equal parts of distilled white vinegar and hot water.
  2. Using the push broom, scrub the area well later spraying.
  3. Rinse with a bucket of fresh h2o and let the area completely dry.

For really stubborn mold or mildew stains on cement, employ a solution of 1/iv cup oxygenated bleach mixed into 1 gallon of hot water. Let this sit in identify for 15-30 minutes, then rinse and dry the surface.

Grease or Oil Stains

Oil leaks from cars, lawnmowers, or other equipment can leave a slippery stain on your concrete floor. Since cement is porous, you may find the oily mess has worked its fashion below the surface to leave a deep stain.

Information technology is possible to get rid of these greasy cement stains, but you'll demand to be patient. In other words, the best way to make clean your cement's grease stains is with a skillful application of elbow grease. Hither'south how.

  1. Soak upwards the surface spill by sprinkling the area heavily with baby powder, cornstarch, clay true cat litter, or diatomaceous globe. (I go along a bag of the latter on hand for cement stains and also to keep ants out of the house.) These substances are all very absorbent and can pull greasy messes out of cement. You need to apply a thick layer, though, of around a one-half-inch.
  2. Permit the powder to remain in identify 24 hours to lift the oil. Cheque it a few times and use more than pulverisation if you meet the top layer starting to evidence grease. After a full day, sweep upward the mess and discard information technology.
  3. Adjacent, combine 1 quart of very hot water and 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap in a bucket. (Adding 1/4 loving cup of Pine-Sol can help, but avert using pine oil products if you accept pets.)
  4. Use the mixture to the surface area and scrub it with a brush or broom. Rinse well with hot h2o, so allow it air dry.

Removing Rust Stains

If the rust stain on your cement is fairly fresh, cleaning it with directly white vinegar and a stiff brush may be plenty to remove it. Rinse well with fresh water after, though, since undiluted vinegar can etch cement over time.

For larger or older rust stains, get the surface area damp and then sprinkle information technology with a production containing oxalic acid. (I use Bar Keeper'due south Friend.) This all-natural acrid is mild enough that it won't compose your cement merely strong plenty to deliquesce rust. Scrub the spot with a stiff brush, rinse thoroughly, and repeat until the stain is gone.

Tips to Prevent Cement Stains

It's always amend to prevent stains than to let them happen and hope you can get rid of them by cleaning. The tips below volition assistance you avert the almost common stains on your cement or concrete surfaces.

Clean concrete walkway bordered by trimmed lawn and hedge

Sealants

Applying a sealant to your garage floor protects information technology from stains and keeps physical floors looking brand new. If you programme to sell your home in the next twelvemonth or two, this pace tin can really impress buyers. (Here are more than cleaning tips to protect your domicile'southward value.) DIY sealants demand to be reapplied every ii to 3 years. Professional, penetrating concrete sealants tin last as long as 20 years and often carry a transferrable warranty.

Barriers and Liners

Use a removable, waterproof barrier between your cement and things probable to stain it. In the garage, this means lining the floor beneath your cars with oil drip mats. Look for a sideslip-proof one that's easy to clean and it will continue oil or other leaking auto fluids from dissentious your floor. (We use this 1.)

Utilise rugs or mats below patio furniture to catch spills and prevent rust spots. Choose a rug specifically designed for outdoor use and so h2o doesn't damage it. Outdoor rugs and mats won't trap h2o below them that could lead to mold or mildew growing on your patio.

Don't put flower pots straight onto your patio or forepart footstep. Use baste trays beneath planters then runoff and soil don't cause stains. Be sure to empty those trays subsequently heavy rains and so they don't attract mosquitoes. (Here are more than ways to go on mosquitoes abroad from your patio.)

Bargain with Moisture

Don't let moisture etch or discolor cement. Employ downspout extensions to divert rainwater from your dwelling'due south foundation and into the lawn rather than onto your concrete surfaces. Also, make sure to clear abroad leaves and other debris later on storms or during the fall flavor. Letting autumn leaves collect on your patio can trap wet and crusade mold and mildew stains.

How Oftentimes to Make clean Cement Areas

Cleaning your outdoor areas is a year-round task. Sweep cement patios, steps, and sidewalks weekly during warm weather and at least once a month during winter. Sweep your garage at least once a month, too. Clean spills on physical when you see them and utilise fans to dry indoor cement areas any fourth dimension they get wet. Routine cleaning of cement and concrete areas is ultimately the easiest style to prevent stains.