Unsealed concrete floors are commonly found in workshops, garages, and basements. They don’t require frequent cleaning as sealed concrete floors, but you will have to clean them after some time. Unsealed concrete floors are porous and easily stained, making cleaning difficult. Let’s find out the best ways to remove different stains from unsealed concrete floors.
Get your Concrete Floor Free of Dust and Debris
Remove dust, debris, liquid, nails, or anything that may interfere during the cleaning process. It is recommended to move out machinery, vehicles, and personnel before you start cleaning unsealed concrete floors.
Food or Beverage Stains
You will Need
- Dishwashing soap
- Water
- Brush/ Scrubber
Instructions
Take 2 Tbsp dishwashing soap and one quart of water. Mix them well, and pour on the stained surface. Give it a good scrubbing until the stain has gone. Rinse your concrete floor with water, and it’s all clean. Repeat to get better results.
Grease Stains
Removing oil and grease stains from unsealed concrete floor is a tough nut to crack compared to removing food stains.
You Will Need
- Sawdust
- Dry cat litter
- Cornstarch
Note: You can use any of the products mentioned above.
Instructions
Layer your floor with any of the products and let it sit for a minimum of 48 hours. At this time, the cornstarch/dry kitty litter/sawdust will absorb the oil from your porous concrete flooring. Use a broom or vacuum to remove the product. You can wash with dishwashing soap to get better results.
Heavy Rust Stains
You Will Need
- Commercial rust remover
- Distilled vinegar
- Brush/Scrubber
Instructions
Commercial rust removers contain oxalic acid, which fights with heavy rust stains. Pour rust remover on the stain and leave it for some hours.
Then pour distilled vinegar over the area and leave it for an hour or two. Use a brush or scrubber to scrub the stained area and rinse it with clean water.
Mildew Stains
You Will Need
- Water
- Powdered laundry detergent
- Trisodium Phosphate TSP
- Stiff brush
Instructions
Prepare a mixture of water and laundry soap by adding 2 tbsp powdered laundry soap to 1 quart of water, and mix it well. Add 2 tbsp of Trisodium Phosphate and shake the contents.
Pour the mixture over the stained area and scrub it well using a stiff brush. Rinse with clean water.
Note: Wear safety gloves and face mask while working Trisodium Phosphate.
Tire Marks
You Will Need
- Degreaser
- Stiff Brush
Instructions
Wet the stained area with water and pour some degreaser over it. Let the degreaser sit for 2-5 hours, then scrub the stains. Wash with clean water.
FAQs
How do you get rid of stains from your unsealed concrete floors using a detergent?
Pour the liquid detergent on the stain or mix the powdered detergent with one quart of water and leave it for some time. Pour some boiling hot water and scrub the area until the stain disappears. Rinse with clean water.
Can you use steam to clean your unsealed concrete floors?
Yes, steam can easily remove oil and grease stains from your unsealed concrete floors. However, you must avoid using a steam mop near brittle fixtures like porcelain sinks as they may crack due to hot steam.
Can I use commercial cleaner on the unsealed concrete floor?
Yes. There are plenty of commercial cleaners available for unsealed concrete floors. You may need to check what type of stains the cleaner can remove and its compatibility with your floor type.
Is it helpful to seal an unsealed concrete floor?
Yes. Sealing an unsealed concrete floor with a paint-on sealer prevents future stains and makes cleaning easy. It doesn’t affect the durability as well.
Final Words
Knowing what type of stain you are going to clean will make the cleaning process easier for you. It is easy to distinguish the sealed and unsealed concrete floors, but sometimes ruling out the stained or unstained floors can be difficult as concrete floors are porous and absorb everything that spills on them.https://www.youtube.com/embed/MNffnX3HmoM
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