social

Cleaning Concrete?

April 23, 2018

My concrete patio stones are discoloured from the weather, sun and rain. What would you suggest to clean them, without damaging the surrounding grass? Or maybe there is a paint option?

Advertisement


Answers


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
April 23, 20181 found this helpful

You can try to clean it with regular liquid dishwashing detergent. If it is faded, that is another story.

 

Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,246 Posts
April 23, 20181 found this helpful

I'd try a watered down grout cleaner

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
April 23, 20181 found this helpful

What steps you need to take has a lot to do with how your stones were colored in the first place.

  • If your stones were made with colored concrete then you may be able to just clean them and maybe seal them with a concrete sealant.
  • Advertisement

  • The best way to clean concrete is with a power washer. These can be rented at many hardware stores or Home Depot, Lowe's, or at rental stores.
  • A power washer can be used to clean more than concrete - such as some patio furniture, driveways and decks.
  • If your stones are not colored concrete you may need to clean them with a power washer to get them ready for paint. You can dig up grass with a power washer but since you will only be using water it will not harm your grass.
  • Individual stones are difficult to paint because the sides may show and have to be painted or just paint the top and let grass cover the sides.
  • If you are careful with painting, your grass may be slightly damaged but should recover quickly.
  • There are lots of paints to choose from as well as a large variety of colors and most paint stores/departments will help you select the right type of paint.
  • Advertisement

  • here is a link to some suggestions on how to do this:
  • homeguides.sfgate.com/paint-outdoor-brick-pavers-85786...
 

Diamond Post Medal for All Time! 1,298 Posts
April 23, 20181 found this helpful

We use a pressure washer and that alone does the trick for us.

 

Silver Post Medal for All Time! 255 Posts
April 29, 20181 found this helpful

Use a power washer and you won't need a cleaner.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 107 Posts
May 31, 20180 found this helpful

a vapor cleaner or a power washer would work

 
Answer this Question

8 More Questions

Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.

March 23, 2009

How do you get egg off of concrete?

By pat from Coplay, PA

Answers


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 124 Posts
March 24, 20090 found this helpful

Have you tried Coca-Cola?

Use the full on sugary original Cola not the diet.
It removes blood from concrete so I imagine that the cola would work for egg too.

Advertisement


Leave it on the stain for an hour or so then rinse off with clean water.

Good luck,
Monique :)

 

Silver Feedback Medal for All Time! 378 Feedbacks
March 24, 20090 found this helpful

Hmmm... I'm guessing it was so hot you could fry an egg on the sidewalk?

 
March 24, 20090 found this helpful

I agree that cola, on a sunny day, will likely remove it, but I'd be inclined to use club soda to prevent dark stains, and check it before it dries, scrubbing with an old broom or stiff brush well. Rinse and it should be clean. Good luck and god bless. " )

 
March 27, 20090 found this helpful

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The egg is gone. Cola works!

 
July 19, 20160 found this helpful

So the dark color in the cola did not discolor the concrete in anyway?

 
Answer this Question

March 6, 2005

I want to know how to clean the garage floor of my home before I seal the concrete. It was painted over a couple times and has worn through in several places. Sure I could go to Home Depot and buy some expensive floor cleaner but where's the ThriftyFun in that?



Jim from Florida

Answers

March 7, 20050 found this helpful

TSP and a push-broom

 
By Joyce (Guest Post)
March 7, 20050 found this helpful

all i use is bleach on the concrete. it works great on grease marks.put it on with a brush & in a few days it is gone.

 

Diamond Feedback Medal for All Time! 1,023 Feedbacks
March 7, 20050 found this helpful

I've used borax, sprinkling it on the floor and rubbing it in with a broom. Sweep it up after 1/2 hour or so and then rinse with water. It cleans and takes any musty smell out of the floor.

Advertisement

Susan from ThriftyFun

 
By Liz (Guest Post)
October 11, 20080 found this helpful

You might want to use tsp it is a powder that you mix with water to clean your walls before painting. You can also use muratic acid.
Liz Az

 
Answer this Question


Bronze Request Medal for All Time! 87 Requests
July 4, 2007

Hi everyone and thanks in advance for tips. I am cleaning the desks in my church school. Some are painted wood and they are coming clean OK, but there are some that are like a poured concrete. That is what they look like anyway. They also look a bit like countertop material.



Anyway I was trying to clean them today. They started to come clean when I sprayed bleach water on them but you could see it was sprayed. Then i got a sponge with the green scrubby thing on the other side. For 15 minutes I scrubbed that desk top. Oh yes, it came clean but it still is dirty plus I have 12 desks in that room to clean.
Advertisement

I have not tried vinegar yet. That is the only thing I can think of that my nose could tolerate. Someone has suggested a Gorrllla or gooey something but she said it smells, oooohhhh really smelly. Don't want that. Any suggestions, please help!

Sandy from Baltimore

Answers

July 6, 20070 found this helpful

Simple Green

 
By Bobbi (Guest Post)
July 10, 20070 found this helpful

Try Barbasol Shaving cream. You can buy it at the dollar store, and it works great.
Bobbi

 
By no name today (Guest Post)
July 10, 20070 found this helpful

Try on a small area these:

Some thoughts, alcohol, peroxide, baking soda and water, dawn dish detergent, or Tide.

Then don't mix these====vinegar or bleach or ammonia ---BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!!!! USE ONLY INDIVIDUALLY, CAN CAUSE TOXIC FUMES IF MIXED.

 
Answer this Question

May 3, 2005

Tips for cleaning concrete. Post your ideas.

Answers


Diamond Feedback Medal for All Time! 1,023 Feedbacks
May 3, 20050 found this helpful

Extremely strong, durable material made from cement and aggregate.

To clean, wet with clear water. Apply a hot solution of 2 to 2 1/2 ounces washing soda or 1/2 ounce trisodium phosphate (for example Spic and Span) per gallon of water.

This article was written by Anne Field, Extension Specialist, Emeritus with references from Georgia Extension bulletin Buying and Caring for Smooth Surface Flooring: Masonry.

Source: MSU Extension

 
May 8, 20050 found this helpful

I use pool chlorine and a stiff broom to clean my concrete driveway and walkways. I'll have to try Spic and Span, it's less expensive. Thank you. :-)

 
Anonymous
May 5, 20190 found this helpful

Liquid chlorine and a pressure washer is the best solution

 
Answer this Question

April 18, 2005

I went to replace my potted plant and discovered what I call rust marks (aka water stains) on my covered concrete patio. Any suggestions to restore concrete to its natural color - gray?



Rusty Jean in California

Answers

By Claudia (Guest Post)
April 20, 20050 found this helpful

I was going to post the same problem myself today....What a coincidence! Mine came from rust areas on my wrought iron railings dripping down on the porch. So now there are two of us that want to know. Any ideas?

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 170 Posts
April 20, 20050 found this helpful

I have never tried this but the back of the container of Barkeeper's Friends states that it removes rust and discoloration from stone and masonry. I buy it at Wal-mart in the cleanser area. It is a handy cleanser to have in the house.

 
April 20, 20050 found this helpful

Hey guys! I might be able to help. Literally just walked back in from dealing with a similar situation. We poured a little bit of bleach on the concrete patio and let it sit for a minute. Then just turned the hose on it with the full force of the attachment. Don't know side effects or if it could harm anything but the stains are gone! (Or at least lessened considerably so that I'll do it again tomorrow!) Hope that helps!

 
Answer this Question

January 29, 2009

What is the best cleaning solution to clean my sidewalk and walkway using a pressure cleaner?

Sharon from FL

Answers

January 29, 20090 found this helpful

Hello! I pressure cleaned my walk last summer with nothing more than water.I'm sure you could use something but not sure what so as not to kill grass and flowers or that would hurt animals.My walk had never been cleaned and the home was built in 1940.The walk looks new.Give it a try.

 
By Laura (Guest Post)
February 3, 20090 found this helpful

Yep, I agree. Water is all you need. It is the pressure of the water coming out that blasts away any dirt. I had a great time doing our driveway. I used the sprayer to write a note on the cement. We had "I love Dave" on the driveway for about a week! Have fun!

 
Answer this Question

May 18, 2012

What kind of home remedy can I use to clean my concrete front porch that has dirt ground in and has some light green mold?

By Peg C

Answers

May 19, 20120 found this helpful

Clorox, I use it all the time. You could always pressure wash it.

 
Answer this Question

May 25, 2014

We had a new concrete patio installed last year. Over the winter, fallen leaves stained it and we scrubbed with dishwashing soap, no cleaner. Any ideas how to clean it? We don't want to use bleach if it will kill the adjacent grass.

By Marcie S.

Answer this Question
Categories
Home and Garden Cleaning MiscellaneousSeptember 12, 2011
Pages
More
💘
Valentine's Ideas!
🍀
St. Patrick's Ideas!
🎂
Birthday Ideas!
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Instagram
Categories
Better LivingBudget & FinanceBusiness and LegalComputersConsumer AdviceCoronavirusCraftsEducationEntertainmentFood and RecipesHealth & BeautyHolidays and PartiesHome and GardenMake Your OwnOrganizingParentingPetsPhotosTravel and RecreationWeddings
Published by ThriftyFun.
Desktop Page | View Mobile
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Generated 2024-01-22 13:14:04 in 15 secs. ⛅️️
© 1997-2024 by Cumuli, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
https://www.thriftyfun.com/tf950030.tip.html