3 Ways to Clean Concrete Steps

Table of contents:

3 Ways to Clean Concrete Steps
3 Ways to Clean Concrete Steps
Anonim

There are various ways to clean a concrete stairway. If it's a quick wipe, spot wash, and / or house cleaning, use a mild dish soap and a stiff bristle brush to remove stains. For stubborn dirt or dirt on external steps, get a concrete cleaner and use a push broom or pressure washer for a deeper cleaning.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Use Dishwashing Liquid and Hot Water

Clean Concrete Steps Step 1
Clean Concrete Steps Step 1

Step 1. Sweep

Use a broom to remove dirt and debris from the stairway. Walk it up the steps until you get rid of all the dust and other debris that has fallen to the ground. This way, you will prepare the concrete for washing.

Alternatively, you can use a leaf blower to remove the dirt

Clean Concrete Steps Step 2
Clean Concrete Steps Step 2

Step 2. Mix one part of hot water and two parts of dish soap

Choose a liquid soap. Combine the ingredients in a plastic bucket mixing them thoroughly.

  • To make the solution more powerful, add a part of vinegar.
  • The water temperature should be at least 40 ° C.
Clean Concrete Steps Step 3
Clean Concrete Steps Step 3

Step 3. Pour the mixture over the stains

Make sure you cover them completely. Then, let it sit for 10-15 minutes. As it releases its action, check that it does not dry out. If it starts to evaporate, pour in some more.

If the stain is old or stubborn, you may want to leave it for 30 minutes

Clean Concrete Steps Step 4
Clean Concrete Steps Step 4

Step 4. Use a stiff bristle brush

Do not choose a metallic one, otherwise it could scratch the concrete. Rub it into the stains until they are completely gone.

If they are persistent, sprinkle some powdered laundry detergent on them. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Then pour the hot water over the stains and scrub with the stiff bristle brush until they are completely gone

Clean Concrete Steps Step 5
Clean Concrete Steps Step 5

Step 5. Rinse with warm water

Rinse the steps with warm water to remove all soap residue and debris. You will probably have to repeat this two or three times.

The water temperature should be at least 40 ° C

Method 2 of 3: Use a Concrete Cleaner

Clean Concrete Steps Step 6
Clean Concrete Steps Step 6

Step 1. Remove debris from the steps

Sweep or use the leaf blower to get rid of all dirt and debris. Make sure you cover the surrounding plants with a plastic tarp or garbage bags.

Also move nearby toys, decorations and furniture

Clean Concrete Steps Step 7
Clean Concrete Steps Step 7

Step 2. Mix one part of hot water and one part of active oxygen bleach

Combine the two ingredients in a plastic bucket mixing them thoroughly. The water temperature should be at least 40 ° C.

Alternatively, you can use a cleaner specially formulated for concrete in place of the water-based solution and active oxygen bleach. You can find it at hardware stores

Clean Concrete Steps Step 8
Clean Concrete Steps Step 8

Step 3. Spray the solution on the steps

Use it to fill a pump nebulizer. Working from top to bottom, apply it on the staircase, especially on the stained areas. Once spread over the entire area, let it sit for 20-30 minutes.

  • Make sure you wet the steps thoroughly to prevent the solution from evaporating as it works. If it starts to dry out, spray some more.
  • You can buy or rent a pump nebulizer at a hardware store.
Clean Concrete Steps Step 9
Clean Concrete Steps Step 9

Step 4. Scrub with a long-handled brush

You can also use a push broom for this. Working from top to bottom, scrub the steps until dirt and encrustations are completely removed. Use a smaller brush to clean in the smaller crevices and corners.

For an even result, make sure you clean all the steps evenly

Clean Concrete Steps Step 10
Clean Concrete Steps Step 10

Step 5. Rinse with warm water

Fill a 4-liter bucket with hot water. Starting at the top of the stairs, pour it down the steps to remove all soap residue, dirt and scale.

If they are still dirty, repeat steps 1 through 5 or use a different method

Method 3 of 3: Use the Pressure Washer

Clean Concrete Steps Step 11
Clean Concrete Steps Step 11

Step 1. Hire a pressure washer

Contact a hardware store in your city. Choose one that has at least a flow rate of 15 liters per minute and a pressure of 3000 PSI.

Clean Concrete Steps Step 12
Clean Concrete Steps Step 12

Step 2. Eliminate the debris

Remove dirt, leaves, twigs and other debris from the steps using a broom or electric leaf blower. Also, move around any plants, toys, furniture, and decorations that are nearby.

Make sure you cover any nearby plants that you can't remove with plastic tarp or trash bags

Clean Concrete Steps Step 13
Clean Concrete Steps Step 13

Step 3. Pretreat the staircase

Fill a plastic bucket with one part hot water and two parts liquid dish soap. Stir the ingredients until they are combined. Then, apply the solution to the concrete and scrub it using a push broom or stiff bristle brush. Let the mixture sit for 15-20 minutes.

Alternatively, you can pre-treat the steps with a cleaner specially formulated for concrete

Clean Concrete Steps Step 14
Clean Concrete Steps Step 14

Step 4. Wash

Connect the pressure washer to the electricity supply following the instructions in the instruction manual. Use the high pressure nozzle and select the rinse mode to clean the steps. With the nozzle facing the concrete, press the sear. Starting at the top of the stairs, start cleaning by going back and forth.

  • Wash the steps until all soap, dirt, and scale has been removed.
  • To ensure your safety, put on a pair of closed shoes, clothing that can get wet and safety glasses.
Clean Concrete Steps Step 15
Clean Concrete Steps Step 15

Step 5. Let the steps dry

Do this when they are completely clean. If you need to apply a sealant, make sure the concrete is completely dry before proceeding.

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