Preparing Decorative Concrete

There are many ways that decorative concrete can be used in your home. Perhaps you have a decorative patio or planters in your outdoor space. Whatever the case may be, you will need to prepare your decorative concrete for visitors when having a party or get together. You want your outdoor space to look it’s very best as you entertain your guests. So how do you prepare concrete? Read on to find the best way to clean concrete for your next gathering.

Simple Cleaning

If you are simply freshening your patio up for a get-together, cleaning will not be difficult. You can use a power washer to remove stuck on dirt and grime, easily erasing the dirt that accumulated during the winter months. If you use a power washer, the decorative concrete patio needs to be unpainted. A painted patio will see the paint chip if a high-powered washer is used.

For stains that seem too difficult, you can use a stiff brush and some type of cleaner. Use a little bleach mixed together with water in a spray bottle and add in 1/8 a cup of liquid dishwashing detergent. Spray this solution on the surface of the concrete and let it sit for just a few minutes. Scrub the area with a stiff bristle brush and then spray with water. Let the patio dry and then check for any other areas that might need attention. Give yourself a day or two to clean the area depending on how dirty the patio is. After cleaning, be sure to sweep often to keep dirt at a minimum.

Tough Stains

If you have tough stains on your patio, you will need to approach them differently. If you have grease or oil stains on your patio, you will need to use sawdust or kitty litter to try and remove the stain. Apply a thick layer of either and let it sit for some time. Remove the material and then sweep the surface of the patio. Once you have swept, spray the surface with water from a garden hose.

If the patio still seems dirty, you can then try using a power washer to remove ground in stains. Use a high-power setting to push the dirt from inside the pores of the concrete to the surface and then wash away. Let the area dry and then come back again with the power washer to give it another go if stains remain. Your patio will then be ready to use for your next gathering.

The best way to keep from having to spend a great deal of time and effort cleaning a decorative concrete area or item is to keep it clean. Sweep regularly and wash away any dirt or mud that may gather after a storm. Decorative concrete flower pots can get quite dirty after a storm. With a simple spray with a garden hose after a storm, loose dirt can be removed and the pot clean and shiny once again.

Be sure to clean your decorative concrete on a regular basis to ensure your outdoor areas look their very best year round.