How to Clean Sealed Concrete Floors 

One of the primary reasons concrete is a popular material for constructing floors is that it is durable and low maintenance. Typically, it is the material of choice for driveways, patios, and other exterior floors or surfaces. However, even inside the house it can be used to construct floors because removing stains and blotches off concrete floors is far easier.

In addition, depending on the type of concrete floor sealer you apply, the dull, grey nature appearance of cement flooring can be transformed into something more pleasing to the eye, especially when you know how to clean concrete flooring.

Despite its durable nature, concrete floors still need further protection. Floor sealers protect concrete from exposure to moisture and thereby prolong its lifespan. Good quality floor sealers last for at least a couple of years, after which you will have to apply a new coating of sealer. However, just because you have a sealed concrete floor does not mean that cleaning is no longer necessary.

Although it obviously do not require the same degree of attention that a hardwood floor or a marble floor would, but nonetheless, concrete floor cleaning is still required from time to time to maintain its good condition.

The method of cleaning cement floors, such as a concrete patio or driveway, will differ from the method used to clean indoor concrete floors that have been stamped or polished. Indoor concrete flooring need to be tackled a little more gently than outdoor concrete flooring. Plus, stains on indoor concrete floors should be dealt with as soon as possible, because while concrete is fairly stain resistant, its porous nature means that it does soak up a certain amount of spills and dirt.

If you want to know how to clean your concrete floors, you begin by spraying the driveway, patio, or any other external concrete surface with cleaning detergent. Use a nylon brush or any other brush with stiff bristles to scrub the detergent thoroughly.

Remember not to use a brush with metal bristles as it might scratch the surface and the metal fibers may also remove the layer of sealant in some parts of the floor. Once the floor has been scrubbed properly, turn on the power washer and move the wand from side-to-side, just like you would when you are using a mop.

When it comes to cleaning concrete flooring, make sure that you are wearing safety glasses and a pair of sturdy gloves before you start cleaning.

Follow this routine once every month or as needed in maintaining a clean driveway or patio. However, you need to put in some extra effort to clean any stains on the floors. Bleach and ammonia are the most common chemicals used in a concrete floor cleaner for outdoor flooring.

You can also use trisodium phosphate (TSP) to clean and get rid of stains. You will have to mix it with water and scrub the floor with it to remove stains. Once again, a brush with nylon bristles is the best option. 

After thoroughly scrubbing the stained areas in your concrete flooring, you can use a hose to clean up the floor. The other alternative you have when it comes to how to clean concrete flooring is muriatic acid. This, however, is generally used for the particularly obstinate stains such as rust and dried up grout.

Irrespective of which product you use to clean stains, do not forget to wear protective eyewear, clothing, and gloves – especially when you are handling chemicals to clean your concrete flooring.

If you want to clean indoor concrete flooring, you will need to sweep the floor or better still, vacuum it thoroughly on a regular basis. The frequency with which you do this will depend on the amount of foot traffic the flooring receives.

You will also have to take into consideration the presence and number of pets and children in the house. So, if the floor in question receives heavy foot traffic and you have pets at home, the dry dusting and cleaning needs to be done daily. Whereas if the foot traffic is moderate and there are no pets at home, you can restrict the dry dusting and cleaning to once or twice a week. 

Use a microfiber mop or brush to dry clean the floor. It creates static electricity, which efficiently pulls dust and debris off the floor and does not just push the dust or debris around. This ensures that the flooring is clean in a thorough manner.

Here are a few quick notes about the various types of concrete sealers and the things you need to know about them in order to ensure they last long.