Are you looking for the perfect solution on the query “how to clean unsealed concrete floors and remove stains” where we have discussed everything about it.
Unsealed concrete is a porous material, meaning that it is very absorbent. When certain types of substances are spilled on unsealed concrete floors, they become trapped inside the pores where they cannot be removed. The more porous the concrete, the easier it will be to stain.
However, even non-porous floors can get stains stuck in them if the concrete is not cleaned properly. Concrete porosity increases after you clean it, so it is important to be thorough.
Unsealed concrete floors are porous by nature, so stains can become a recurring problem as spills continue to seep into the pores of the concrete.
You know that unsealed concrete floors are not always an easy thing to clean. The stains just seem to want to stay there, no matter how hard you try.
This article will show you the exact solution on how to clean unsealed concrete floors and remove stains and have your floor looking as good as new!
Complete Steps On How To Clean Unsealed Concrete Floors And Remove Stains
Cleaning unsealed concrete floors requires a few different cleaning techniques depending on the type of stain that is present.
After you have identified the specific type of stain, follow these steps to remove it from your unsealed concrete floor completely.
Sprinkle Sawdust On Stains & Grease Spills
Sawdust can be used to soak up grease spills and other types of oil stains. It also works well on chemical spills when combined with baking soda.
Pour enough sawdust or wood chips over the stain to cover it completely, then sweep away the excess sawdust. The sawdust should seep into the pores of the concrete where the oil stain is, drawing it out.
Sweep up the sawdust after about 24 hours and repeat if necessary until all of the odor has been removed from the concrete floor. This step is effective for common oil and grease stains.
If you don’t have any spotted areas, proceed to the following one. Moving on to the next step that is cleaning it with a push broom.
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Clean With Push Broom
Spots are the easiest stains to deal with, as you just have to sweep away the sawdust. However, if it is a more challenging stain that requires more scrubbing, you will have to use a push broom after sweeping up the sawdust.
Use a stiff-bristled push broom to scrape away any remaining sawdust or other residues on your unsealed concrete floors. If the stain is large, you may have to use a floor scrubber for this step as well.
Sweep up any residue with a regular broom and mop throughout your house. Continue this process until all of the sawdust has been removed from the affected area, and there is no more residue on your unsealed concrete floors.
Dusting With Vaccum Or Normal Mop
After you have swept up the sawdust or residue that was created from using a push broom, take out your vacuum and carefully vacuum around the area.
Make sure to take apart your vacuum and clean it well after doing this because dirt and dust will collect on your vacuum, and it may transfer back onto the floor if you use it again without cleaning it first.
Use a regular mop and warm water to thoroughly clean the area where the stain had previously been. Make sure to rinse out your mop well after doing this because sawdust or residue can get stuck in it otherwise and transfer back onto the floor on your next pass, which will just cause an extra mess on unsealed concrete floors.
If the stain is still present, proceed to the next step. If not, you are done!
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Put Water & Detergent On Stains
If your unsealed concrete floor has a stain that is made from spilled juice or coffee, you can use water and dish detergent to clean it. Place a drop cloth underneath the affected area as the excess liquid may seep out.
Sprinkle the affected area with water and put enough dish detergent in your mop bucket to make suds. Mop the detergent and water solution over the affected area until you see no more bubbles.
Use a bristle brush or scrubbing pad to work out any stains that remain on unsealed concrete floors. This is only effective for light stains such as juice and coffee since they are not strong enough to penetrate deeply into your concrete floors and stain the concrete itself.
Srcrubbing The Stained Marks Appropriately
If the stain is a tougher one to get rid of, you will need to use a scrubbing pad with the appropriate cleaners.
Make sure your scrubbing pad is not too coarse, or else it could damage unsealed concrete floors. You can use some hot water and good quality scrubbing brush to scrub out the stain.
The process is simple and easy and does not require a lot of strength or time. You can use these steps repetitively until you get rid of all stains completely from your concrete floors.
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Mopping With The Baking Soda Solution
The next step is to use baking soda and water. Obtain two mop buckets for this process. Fill one with water and the other with baking soda.
Obtain enough to create suds when mixed together in your mop bucket. You can do this by mixing small amounts of baking soda into the water until you see slight suds form at the top of your mop bucket.
Mop the area with the mixture and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before rinsing out. This step is effective for tougher stains but may not work on very dark stains.
Once you are done with this process, you will need to mop your unsealed concrete floors with clean water to rinse off any residue that was leftover, which we will discuss in the next step.
Wash & Clear The Floor With Water
Last but not least, use a regular mop to wet your unsealed concrete floors and rinse off the flooring until all residue is gone. Make sure you don’t miss any spots during this process, as it can leave behind grime if you don’t wash it properly with water on your next pass.
It’s better to make extra passes to ensure that you do not miss any spots than to skip areas and be left with grime. After you are done washing your floors, let them air dry for several hours if possible before walking on the area again.
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How To Know Your Concrete Floor Is Unsealed?
It is a common problem for many people to assume that their concrete floors are sealed when in fact, they have not been. The telltale sign of an unsealed concrete floor is the presence of dirt within the pores of your concrete.
It will look as if your floors have dirt trapped inside them and will require a simple wash to remove. If you notice the presence of dust on your floor, then it probably isn’t sealed.
Another way to tell is by sprinkling a little water onto your concrete and watching what happens. If the water absorbs into the concrete immediately, then this means that your floors have not been sealed.
If the water-drop test provides ambiguous results, there are other testing options available. For example, water droplets might bead on the surface of a barely porous, smooth finish for lengthy, giving the appearance of a sealed surface.
If this is the case, try pouring a muriatic acid solution over the concrete to see if it works. Unsealed floors are not dangerous for your home in any way, but it is important to remember with unsealed concrete floors comes the responsibility of needing to reseal them every few years.
Concrete floor sealing can be done through multiple methods, which you will need to contact a concrete contractor in regards to.
There are many factors that go into this process, like how your concrete was poured and what type of sealer it will require.
To seal your concrete floors, contact a professional. If you are looking to get your concrete flooring professionally done, then it is best that you look into hiring the services of an experienced contractor.
They will be able to offer you several different types of concrete sealing solutions for both indoors and outdoors.
Can You Mop Unsealed Concrete?
Unsealed concrete floors, like the tiled surface, are highly porous and receptive. This means that it will provide a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria, including E-coli.
It is very important to remember the cleaning process when dealing with unsealed concrete floors. It is crucial that you are thorough in your cleaning, especially when removing grime and stains from the surface. Mopping is an easy way to clean up spills and stains but is not always effective.
If you are looking to properly clean your unsealed concrete floors, then there are some steps that you can follow above. Keep in mind that these steps are general guidelines for the sake of discussion and may need to be altered depending on the type of floor surface or stain we are dealing with.
Before connecting the mop head to the power source, attach the cloth to the mop foot. Never, under any circumstances, try to fill the mop’s water reservoir while it is still connected to the outlet due to the danger of electric shock.
Remember, too, that the reservoir is only meant to contain water and no other concrete surface cleaning chemicals like muriatic acid solutions or commercial heavy-duty concrete floor cleaner solutions.
When it comes to removing cement floor stains, the steaming effect is typically enough to do the job; what’s more, you will not have to use any additional cleaning chemicals with this equipment.
If you steam-mop your unsealed concrete on locations that are near cold fixtures like porcelain sinks that might shatter if hot steam is applied to them, avoid doing it over these spots.
When working with unsealed concrete, it’s essential to be thorough but gentle if you scrub too hard or use high-pressure water that will greatly increase the chances of making the stain worse than better.
Final Verdict
Unsealed concrete floors are a popular choice for many homeowners because of their durability and low maintenance. However, it is important to remember that unsealed concrete requires regular cleaning in order to prevent bacteria build-up and unsightly stains.
In this article, we have outlined the steps on how to clean unsealed concrete floors and remove stains using both traditional methods like mopping as well as more advanced techniques like steam-mopping.
Keep in mind that these instructions are general guidelines and may need to be altered depending on the type of floor surface or stain we are dealing with.
