How to Clean Patio Stains without a Power Washer

Maintain your home's value by cleaning stained cement floors and patios. You don't need whatever special equipment, only a few common ingredients.

Photo of empty garage with stained concrete and cement floor

How to Clean Stained Cement or Concrete

As with any household chore, the all-time method depends on the type of mess yous're cleaning. If your concrete or cement has multiple stains, you'll need to treat each ane separately.

Fourth dimension required: Varies

What to Know Before You Get-go

Cleaning a stained cement or concrete floor isn't a quick task, only it's not a difficult one, either. Earlier you go started, there are a couple of important things to remember:

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

2. Use good ventilation. If you're working in the garage, open the doors. If you're working indoors, open up windows. Yous'll be stirring up a lot of dust and possibly other irritants that have soaked into the cement. Protect your lungs. If you have asthma or allergies, information technology'south a adept thought to wear a particulate respirator mask, too.

Equipment You Demand:

  • Push broom
  • Saucepan
  • Strong brush
  • Spray bottle (some stains)

Materials You Need:

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

General Cleaning for Dingy Cement

Before y'all brainstorm cleaning cement stains, general cleaning of the unabridged surface.

  1. Sweep the surface with a button broom to remove debris.
  2. In a bucket, combine i/2 cup baking soda, 1 gallon of hot h2o, and a expert eject of liquid dish lather. Employ a push button broom or stiff brush to spread this around and scrub dingy spots. Rinse, and let it dry.
  3. For lingering stains, rewet the surface and sprinkle it with oxygenated bleach. Different the chlorinated version, oxygen bleach won't harm your lawn or any plants lining your driveway. (I use OxiClean.) Again, utilise the broom's bristles to scrub the expanse, and then permit the oxygenated bleach work for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Rinse the surface and your broom. Let both fully air dry out.

Removing Mold, Mildew, or Moss

Sweeping lone isn't enough to remove mold, moss, or cement from other organic matter. To clean mold stains on your cement, you have to kill the spores or plant fabric 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 after spraying.
  3. Rinse with a bucket of fresh h2o and allow the area completely dry.

For really stubborn mold or mildew stains on cement, utilise a solution of 1/four cup oxygenated bleach mixed into 1 gallon of hot water. Allow this sit in place 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 physical floor. Since cement is porous, you lot may detect the oily mess has worked its mode beneath the surface to leave a deep stain.

It is possible to get rid of these greasy cement stains, just you'll demand to be patient. In other words, the all-time manner to clean your cement's grease stains is with a skillful application of elbow grease. Hither's how.

  1. Soak up the surface spill past sprinkling the surface area heavily with baby pulverisation, cornstarch, dirt cat litter, or diatomaceous earth. (I keep a bag of the latter on paw for cement stains and too to go on ants out of the firm.) These substances are all very absorbent and can pull greasy messes out of cement. You need to utilize a thick layer, though, of effectually a half-inch.
  2. Allow the powder to remain in place 24 hours to lift the oil. Check it a few times and use more powder if you come across the meridian layer starting to show grease. After a full day, sweep up the mess and discard it.
  3. Side by side, combine 1 quart of very hot water and 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap in a saucepan. (Adding 1/4 loving cup of Pine-Sol can help, but avert using pino oil products if y'all have pets.)
  4. Apply the mixture to the surface area and scrub information technology with a brush or broom. Rinse well with hot water, then allow it air dry.

Removing Rust Stains

If the rust stain on your cement is fairly fresh, cleaning information technology with straight white vinegar and a stiff brush may be enough to remove information technology. Rinse well with fresh water subsequently, though, since undiluted vinegar can etch cement over time.

For larger or older rust stains, get the area clammy and and so sprinkle it with a production containing oxalic acid. (I use Bar Keeper's Friend.) This all-natural acrid is mild enough that it won't etch your cement only stiff enough to dissolve rust. Scrub the spot with a stiff brush, rinse thoroughly, and repeat until the stain is gone.

Tips to Forbid Cement Stains

It'south always amend to preclude stains than to allow them happen and hope you can become rid of them by cleaning. The tips below will aid you lot avoid the almost mutual 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 yous plan to sell your home in the side by side year or ii, this step can actually print buyers. (Hither are more cleaning tips to protect your home's value.) DIY sealants need to exist reapplied every 2 to 3 years. Professional, penetrating concrete sealants can terminal as long equally 20 years and often carry a transferrable warranty.

Barriers and Liners

Employ a removable, waterproof barrier betwixt your cement and things likely to stain it. In the garage, this means lining the flooring below your cars with oil drip mats. Expect for a sideslip-proof one that'due south easy to clean and it will continue oil or other leaking motorcar fluids from damaging your floor. (We employ this one.)

Use rugs or mats beneath patio furniture to catch spills and prevent rust spots. Choose a carpeting specifically designed for outdoor use then water doesn't damage it. Outdoor rugs and mats won't trap water beneath them that could atomic number 82 to mold or mildew growing on your patio.

Don't put bloom pots directly onto your patio or front step. Use baste trays below planters and so runoff and soil don't cause stains. Exist sure to empty those trays after heavy rains so they don't concenter mosquitoes. (Here are more ways to keep mosquitoes away from your patio.)

Bargain with Moisture

Don't let moisture compose or discolor cement. Utilize downspout extensions to divert rainwater from your domicile'south foundation and into the backyard rather than onto your physical surfaces. Also, make sure to clear away leaves and other debris afterwards storms or during the fall season. Letting autumn leaves collect on your patio can trap moisture and cause mold and mildew stains.

How Often to Clean Cement Areas

Cleaning your outdoor areas is a year-circular job. Sweep cement patios, steps, and sidewalks weekly during warm atmospheric condition and at to the lowest degree once a month during winter. Sweep your garage at least once a month, as well. Clean spills on concrete when you lot see them and use fans to dry indoor cement areas any time they get wet. Routine cleaning of cement and concrete areas is ultimately the easiest way to prevent stains.