Research and Learn about Decorative Concrete

Interior Floors

Acid Stained Concrete

Interior Concrete Floors

Concrete Overlays

Basement Floors

Concrete Polishing

Decorative Engraving

Concrete Dyes

Stenciling Interior Floors

Concrete Resurfacing

Radiant Floor Heating

Garage Floor Coatings

Interior Concrete

Concrete Countertops

Concrete Fireplace Surrounds

Faux Wall Coverings

Concrete Furniture

Sinks and Vessels

Outdoor Concrete

Concrete Patios

Stamped Concrete

Concrete Driveways

Concrete Pool Decks

Concrete Countertops

Outdoor Living Rooms

Concrete Walkways

Concrete Resurfacing

Acid Stained Concrete

Colored Concrete

Exposed Aggregate

Rock Salt Finish

Stenciled Concrete

Decorative Engraving

Pavers

Faux Wall Coverings

Foundation Repair/Waterproofing

Foundation Repair

Concrete Crack Repair

Foundation Waterproofing

Basement Wall Repair

Building with Concrete

Concrete Homes

Finished Basements

Decorative Concrete

Concrete Basements

Pervious Concrete

Green Building

Maintaining Concrete

Clean and Seal

Make Existing Concrete Better

Other Concrete Info

California Concrete

Florida Concrete

Texas Concrete

Caring for Concrete Floors

Concrete Floor Maintenance

Once a concrete floor is acid-stained, a concrete sealer is added to help resist water, stains, and dirt, and abrasives.

Keeping your floor clean will be relatively simple. You'll want to talk to the concrete contractor who stained your floor about specific instructions for the specific products and colors used for your floor.

There is often more than one way to do the job.If you called three companies for advice, don't be surprised if you get a couple different answers on how to clean the concrete.

For general cleaning, first try water and scrub with a soft, non-metallic brush to see if this removes the surface dirt.

If that doesn't work, step up to water with a mild soap, then water with a stronger soap, then water with a stronger soap plus ammonia.

If a sealer has been previously applied to the concrete surface, the surface may only need a light, general cleaning and to have the sealer reapplied or touched up in high traffic areas.

However, if the concrete has ground in dirt or grime, the substance should be removed prior to installing a sealer. And the surface must be penetrated to do so.

Cleaning polished concrete

Although keeping polished concrete shiny requires minimal effort and expense, some regular care is necessary.

Doug Demmert of Demmert and Associates recommends a simple maintenance program of occasional dusting to remove grit and damp mopping with a neutral cleaner to enhance the shine. Some manufacturers sell special cleaners and conditioners for polished concrete that not only clean the surface, but also leave behind a dirt-resistant film. These products can be applied with a mop or auto scrubber and do not require buffing.

With basic cleaning, polished concrete should keep its luster for years. Eventually, though, the shine can dull, especially in high-traffic areas. Fortunately, it's easy to restore the gleam. Sometimes simply buffing the floor with a commercial polishing compound will do the trick. If more touch-up is necessary, the floors can be lightly repolished with a fine-grit abrasive.

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