Cleaning Concrete: Care Tips for Decorative Coatings

Get tips and tricks for caring for your decorative concrete surface so it stays looking great for as long as possible.

Maintaining your concrete surface will help retain its gorgeous look for years to come. The pool deck pictured above was resurfaced by SUNDEK of Washington at The Emerson in Centreville, VA.

It’s true that a high-quality sealer is crucial if you want to preserve the appearance of your decorative concrete surface—but equally essential is regular maintenance. Below, we provide insights into cleaning and maintaining your decorative concrete so it looks beautiful for years to come.

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Caring for your decorative concrete surface

There’s no such thing as a maintenance-free surface, not even for top-notch coatings known for their durability. Regular maintenance is still necessary. By sticking to a cleaning schedule, you can ensure that your surface maintains its beauty and durability.

Remove dust and debris. Use a broom or leaf blower to get dust, dirt, and other debris off your surface. This prevents stains and helps maintain a clean appearance.
Promptly wipe up spills. When anything spills, such as chemicals, oil, or other liquids, clean them up as soon as possible to prevent stains and/or damage. Use a cleaner when necessary. (See our maintenance guide to get info about what cleaners work best on various stains.)
Reapply sealer when necessary. Check your surface to make sure your sealer is still effective, and have a contractor apply a new coat of sealer when necessary. Learn more about concrete sealers.
Protect your indoor floors from scratches. To prevent damage from scratches, attach felt pads or sliding casters to the furniture legs.
Give the surface a basic cleaning. Clean your surface at least a few times a year—or more, if needed. How often you’ll need to clean it depends on where it’s located and how it’s used.

Supplies for cleaning decorative concrete yourself

If you have the right information and the right materials, you can clean your decorative concrete surface yourself. Here’s are the materials you’ll need for cleaning your concrete:

What you'll need for outdoor surfaces

Power washer or garden hose with a strong nozzle
Scrub brush with stiff bristles

What you'll need for indoor surfaces

Mop and bucket filled with warm water
Non-abrasive sponge or mop for scrubbing stains

How to clean your decorative concrete surface

Below are the general steps to keeping your surface looking nice and preventing buildup. Specifics differ slightly based on whether your surface is indoors or out.

Cleaning an outdoor surface:

Use a broom or leaf blower to remove debris, dust, dirt, and leaves.
Use a garden hose with a spray nozzle or a power washer to rinse the surface.
Use a stiff-bristle brush to scrub dirty areas.

Cleaning an indoor surface:

Remove dirt and dust with a vacuum or broom.
Wash away dirt and grim by mopping the surface with warm water.
For areas with hard-to-remove grim, scrub with a non-abrasive cloth and mild cleaning solution.

How to remove stubborn stains

Unfortunately, no matter how often you clean your concrete, you’ll still come across spots that’ll be hard to remove. Fortunately, there are ways to tackle these trouble spots.

First, try power washing. Important: If you have your power washer set too strong, you might end up etching or scratching your surface.

If power washing doesn’t do the trick, try a non-abrasive cleaning solution specially made for your surface.

Choosing the right cleaning products

Before applying any product to your surface, verify that it’s appropriate for your decorative concrete surface. Using the wrong product can lead to etching or discoloration, so it’s best to be cautious.

If you’re not sure which product to use, seek advice from a reliable contractor.

Various types of stains call for different cleaning products. For example, when dealing with grease stains, citrus-based cleaners do the trick; rust can often be tackled with diluted muriatic acid; and mildew and algae can be resolved with trisodium phosphate (TSP). See our maintenance guide for details.

When cleaning doesn’t work on your decorative concrete surface

Unfortunately, it’s possible that your surface issues won’t be resolved with a cleaning. If that’s the case, there are options that don’t require you to completely rip out your surface:

Concrete resurfacing: A contractor can apply a coating directly onto your existing surface, giving you a new surface that looks brand new.
Concrete staining: Choose from a variety of colors to give your surface a refreshed look.