Your flooring Riverside CA patios may have been taking a beating over the past years. If you’re keeping the floors in your house clean, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do the same thing for your patio floors. Spring is the perfect time to clean up, so if you’re ready, here are some tips on how to clean your cement patio.
Cleaning the Patio
Before you begin, make sure you remove everything that’s in your patio. Remove the furniture, plants, and other things that are scattered all over the patio. When the patio is already clear, sweep the surface in order to remove all the debris and dirt. Pull any weeds that have been growing at the edges and those that are in between the pavers and cracks.
Soiled Patio
If your patio is lightly soiled, you can use a stiff brush and a cleaning solution to remove the dirt. For the cleaning solution, mix bleach with water and add liquid dishwashing detergent. Put it in a spray bottle and spray directly to the surface. Leave for a few minutes and scrub the area with a stiff brush. Avoid using a metallic brush as it could leave metal bits on the hardwood flooring Riverside CA floor and could lead to rusting and staining, which defeats the purpose.
If your patio is surrounded with flower beds, make sure you keep them protected. Bleaching could harm your plants. So after applying the cleaning solution, rinse the area well making sure that the bleach is removed.
For tougher stains on your patio, use oxygen bleach mixed with water. Apply the solution directly to the stained area and leave it for an hour. Afterward, use a brush to scrub off the area.
Eco-Friendly Cleaners
If you don’t want to use bleach and other chemicals to clean your cement patio, you can make your own natural and eco-friendly cleaners using the ingredients that can be easily obtained in your kitchen. For instance, you can mix vinegar with water and use the solution to remove stains on the concrete floor. Baking soda is also an ideal choice for a natural cleaner. Simply mix 1/2 cup of baking soda to a gallon of water. Add a liquid detergent and spray directly to the soiled surface. Leave for 30 minutes and scrub well.
Heavily Stained Patios
If your patio is heavily stained or if it’s filled with mildew, you might have to use a pressure washer to clean it off. There are rental centers that offer pressure washers for rent. Simply follow the directions on how to use the machine to clean your cement patio. Wear protective gloves and eyewear when using the pressure washer because the water would come out of it at an extremely powerful force.
After you have cleaned your patio, protect it from future stains with the use of a Riverside flooring sealer. Using a paint roller, apply the sealer directly to the patio floor. Once the sealer is dry, your patio will be sparkling clean and you can now entertain your guests in your patio.
