Need an easy concrete patio cleaner? This diy patio cleaner will have your porch looking like new in no time...with items you probably already have on hand. We've now been using this homemade cleaner recipe for several years and swear by it.
We've seriously had the worst patio for a while now. We have water "issues" in our backyard. Even having a French Drain installed hasn't done much to alleviate them. There is always mud. And it is constantly tracked onto the porch by dogs and kids. We have finally found our favorite homemade patio cleaner that really does the trick. Check it out below.
DIY Miracle Concrete Patio Cleaner
We realized we needed a patio cleaner of some sort, when at the end of the winter, the patio ended up looking like this:
Niiiiiiice.Can you see the dogs' path? It's bad. I've even burnt up a motor in a power washer still unable to clean it. After researching some different methods online, I came up with this particular patio cleaner recipe that resulted in the above spot looking like this:
I'll go ahead and preface this by saying, this is by no means a "green" cleaning solution. I normally try to stick to natural cleaners in my home, so this was definitely out of my comfort zone. But, I was desperate, y'all. The family was coming over for Easter and something HAD to be done!
Supplies for Concrete Patio Cleaner:
The patio cleaner will be thick and soupy (is that a contradiction? Like pea soup, no?). Grab some rubber gloves and a large scrub brush. I made my paste in a shallow glass pie plate (I wasn't sure how bleach & baking soda would react with metal, so I opted for glass to be safe). I would just dip my brush and scrub the concrete. Then rinsed it all when I was done. I did line my patio with old sheets to catch the runoff. I didn't want to harm my grass or let too many chemicals just go into the big, wide world. You can see below a photo after I began the process.
My husband and I were pretty amazed. And it goes fast. It didn't take me too long at all. Of course, the next day, the dog tracked on prints AGAIN. But, since I had just cleaned it, it easily hosed off. I'd say doing this a couple of times a year will keep the patio super clean. It also worked where my pot plants had leaked onto the patio and formed rings. Our patio now looks new!
As you can see in the bottom right corner of the above photo, I like to use a "Gong-Style" brush for this. It can get into the crack between the siding and the concrete, as well.
Just be sure to rinse really well after using the patio cleaner. Let dry completely before walking on it again.
More Patio Cleaners & Ideas:
- While we love this patio cleaner, we eventually changed the color of our entire patio area. See how we etched and then painted this patio.
- Hunker has a recipe for concrete cleaner that's a bit more scientific, but also good.
- My Homemade Residue Remover is also a good one to try on stubborn gunk.
I guess sometimes, I really should be mopping the floor.
This is such a clever idea!
ReplyDeleteMrs. Delightful
www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com
This is a great tip! I definitely need to try it on my back patio. I'd love for you to share this at my link party {It runs Tues-Sat}. http://adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com/2012/04/terrific-tuesdays-10.html
ReplyDeleteRachel
This is a GREAT tip!!!! I'll be able to use this on my patio blocks!! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!
LOL! Your blog name hooked me and when I hopped over you really were cleaning the "floor". It looks great too, and don't worry about not going green...the baking soda makes it half green...anything goes when your having guests, right? I'm so glad I found your blog via Mom On Timeout. I'm your newest follower so we can stay connected. I would love if you stopped by to visit. Lori
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have been doing more than mopping the floor!! Love the cleaning tip. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome tip and I can't believe the difference! Definitely giving this a try! Thanks for linking up on Teagan's Travels. I hope you'll be able to join this week's party going on now.
ReplyDeletehttp://teaganstravels.blogspot.com/2012/04/destination-inspiration-linky-party-11.html
Thanks, Michelle @Teagan's Travels
What a great idea! We usually just use our pressure washer but there are always some stains left behind that I'll have to try this on. Thanks so much for sharing at Mom On Timeout!
ReplyDeleteYES! I've been wanting a tutorial on this! Thanks for sharing, I'm pinnin this!
ReplyDeleteI'm featuring this amazing tip as my first tip of the week on my link party features! Thanks for linking up to Topsy Turvy Tuesdays, I can't wait to see what else you bring to the party every week!
ReplyDeleteI have using this method for years now and it is great it also cleans up oil stains from under the car
ReplyDeleteOil stains under the car are easily cleaned up with nothing more than kitty litter, the old fashioned cheap kind that is nothing more than granules of dry clay. Just throw it down and leave it till you get around to it again.... if you're in a hurry use muratic acid.
DeleteGreat idea. Unfortunately I am allergic to bleach. Still looking for other alternatives. If anyone has any suggestions other than bleach please contact me at trusis49@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteperoxide
DeleteGo to your big box store (Lowe's or Home Depot) or local hardware. Pool cleaner / muratic acid works... you absolutely have to dilute it or the fumes will take your breath. An alternative to that is ceramic tile haze remover/tile cleaner. Pick up some very good rubber gloves while there. You'll need them.... this is what I use when installing tile. Battery acid will also work but you really need to go back over with a solution of baking soda to neutralize the acid.
DeleteVinegar and blue dawn dish soap in water. Not enough soap for big bubbles.
DeleteGreat idea. Unfortunately I am allergic to bleach. Still looking for other alternatives. If anyone has any suggestions other than bleach please contact me at trusis49@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI use vinegar with baking soda to clean the grout on my floors. The chemical reaction that occurs is great for breaking up the dirt and clean-up's a breeze. Just do a little scrubbing here and there then wipe it all up w/ a clean towel. Not sure how it would work on a patio, but worth giving it a try.
ReplyDeletewas wondering if this would work for floors i find i have tiles that get so dirty with the pets and
ReplyDeleteDid the bleach kill the grass???
ReplyDeleteBleach will kill grass, but if you wet it down before and wash it off during and afterwards that helps from killing it, at least it did my bermuda. What I wanted to mention is that if you want them to stay clean, then you need to apply a concrete sealer, additionally, another helpful solution is to apply "purple cleaner" - just put in spray canister or bottle - mix with water and spray the surface, let it sit for a half hour - this works well if you have a drive on/into patio covering. The bleach solution is also good for killing the mold and mildew, and it is what it is lol Chlorine....... so with all things, use them in a manner appropriate for safety.
ReplyDeleteBleach will kill grass, but if you wet it down before and wash it off during and afterwards that helps from killing it, at least it did my bermuda. What I wanted to mention is that if you want them to stay clean, then you need to apply a concrete sealer, additionally, another helpful solution is to apply "purple cleaner" - just put in spray canister or bottle - mix with water and spray the surface, let it sit for a half hour - this works well if you have a drive on/into patio covering. The bleach solution is also good for killing the mold and mildew, and it is what it is lol Chlorine....... so with all things, use them in a manner appropriate for safety.
ReplyDeleteWe have some concrete around our in ground pool that has what looks like old rust stains on it from patio furniture that I'd like to get rid of. I think that this might just work. I'll give it a shot and let you know how it works out. Thanks for the post it sounds like it should work well.
ReplyDeleteToilet bowl cleaner works awesome on concrete!!
ReplyDeleteIs bleach safe for outdoor animals?? Grass?
ReplyDeleteAs you rinse away the bleach paste and dirt just make sure you continuously flood the surrounding 2 feet of grass, preferably NOT with a jet stream of water pressure.
ReplyDeleteyou could seal your concrete with a sealer and then everything would just spray off
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed this didn't work on our concrete slab by our front door. Oh well, I can only assume it's because my children bring in a special type of alien toxic sludge that resists human cleaning methods. It wouldn't be the first time. I am surprised it didn't do anything though, not even a little cleaner. Maybe I need a better scrubbing brush? The one I had wasn't super brittle.
ReplyDeletewhere did you get tgis seat
ReplyDeleteYou could probably scrub it with a broom.
ReplyDeleteThe look is totally changed after cleaning, I also need to try this, thanks for sharing. xx
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley! Thank you for stopping by! I hope this works well for you! <3
DeleteLooks great! What about wood decks?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anre! I'm not sure about a wood deck...We've only tried it on the concrete patio. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI am going to try this on the concrete floor in the garage
ReplyDelete