Your patio and driveway can take the full brunt of the weather and use it around the home. In time, they show wear and get dirty. Besides this, you can find mold creeps in when there is little light or high humidity in some areas.
The cleaning method depends on how stained it is. A pressure washer is often recommended to clean heavily soiled or stained patios thoroughly.
For cleaning dirty patios and driveways, pressure washers are handy. What to do if you don’t have a pressure washer to clean a concrete patio? For a clean patio, you do not need to invest in a pressure washer.
As good as pressure washers are, they can cause damage if you don’t know how to use them correctly. Luckily, in our guide, you can learn how to clean cement patio using alternative cleaning methods.(Learn How to Polish Concrete)
By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of how to clean concrete patio and how to do so without a pressure washer.
How Can I Clean My Patio Floor Without a Pressure Washer?
Removing Loose Debris
If loose dirt and trash are the problems on your concrete patio, the solution is simple: sweep it away. Your patio may appear to be filthy, yet all that is visible is dried dirt and debris. It is recommended to sweep your concrete patio regularly regardless as it helps prevent dirt and grime from accumulating.
Most loose dirt and debris can be swept away so long as it hasn’t worked itself into the patio’s concrete. Even if it has set in, you can use a garden hose to remove some stubborn dirt with a sweeping brush to scrub at the dirt.
You then may find you need to deal with grime accumulating on your patio. Once this happens, you can find many; there are various cleaning methods to remove old dirt and grime to keep your patio clean without using a power washer.
However, a stain remover can be toxic, and you can find alternatives around your home that are as effective on certain stains. (Learn How to Remove Paint From Concrete)
Bleach
Bleach should be the last option when cleaning concrete patio of tough stains or stuck on grime. Bleach is an extremely potent and dangerous chemical that must be kept away from pets and children. Other protective measures will be necessary, so ensure you wear protective gloves and a mask to avoid inhaling the bleach fumes.
- Mix bleach in water and add the solution into a spray bottle to avoid excessive concentrations of bleach in a certain space.
- Spray the bleach solution on the stained area and let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Spraying too much can cause the solution to run off the patio onto your grass or nearby flowers and harm them.
- After 10 minutes, use a stiff brush to scrub the stains. A bleach solution is effective, so stains can be easy to remove.
- Ensure you rinse the surfaces with your garden hose once finished.
Bleach is effective in removing mold from stones or pavers. Let your concrete patio dry before returning any objects or furniture to the area.
Also, ammonia can clean the patio concrete too. Never mix bleach and ammonia as they will release dangerous fumes.
Muriatic Acid
If you thought bleach was harsh, muriatic acid is a great way to eliminate tough stains, especially on concrete patios. This is a highly powerful material that can certainly do the job if you have dried grout or rust. Because it is a highly toxic chemical, you should proceed with caution, just as you would with bleach.
When using it, use gloves and protective glasses, and wear sure to follow any product instructions. However, when applied properly and responsibly, you’ll have a potent cleaning solution for those tough stains on your concrete patio.
Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
To create an effective cleaning solution, TSP is mixed with water. Scrub your solution onto the stained area with a thick bristle brush for removing tough stains.
Scrubbing should be continued until the stain is completely gone. All that’s needed now is to spray the area with a hose to remove any loose particles and your cleaning solution. Best of all, you can find TSP in most home improvement stores.
What Is the Best Thing to Clean Concrete With?
Because most things can be harmful to plants, pets, and children, here are a few more alternatives to clean the patio without power washer and offer fantastic results.
Soda
Grease stains can be removed with regular soda as it contains three ingredients that let it do this. Carbonated water is commonly known as carbonic acid, a solution that contains carbon dioxide, phosphate acid, and citric acid. (Learn How to Clean Drains with Baking Soda and Vinegar)
These three acids effectively dissolve grease and oil on concrete surfaces or your driveway.
This approach works with any soda that contains these ingredients, but Coke is a popular choice.
Pour the soda onto the concrete and let it settle for 15 to 30 minutes. You can clean the rest with water and a scrub brush, depending on the extent of the stain.
Laundry Detergent
If you have grease or oil, then strong detergent mixed with a little water and a scrub brush may be all you need. The process needs a good scrub, and after you apply the mix, wait a while, then scrub before washing the outdoor area and scrub with your broom.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another natural, environmentally safe way to clean your driveways and concrete patio. To create a natural cleaning solution for a filthy patio, mix a half cup of baking soda into a gallon of water. In moderate amounts, this is safe to use around plants and pets.
- You can add an eighth of a cup of liquid dish detergent to make the mixture stronger and cut through grease.
- After you’ve made your mixture, spray it on the stains or cover the entire patio surface for an overall clean. Wait for 20 minutes, so the baking soda and detergent break down the dirt and grime.
- The last part of the job is to give the patio surface a thorough scrub with a deck brush or similar for oil stains.
- You can then rinse the outdoor surface area off and let it dry.
Will White Vinegar Clean Concrete?
Scrubbing rust stains from concrete, even those years old, can be done with vinegar and water. White vinegar and a small brush are very effective and eco-friendly.
Pour the white vinegar directly into the stain, wait 20 minutes as it soaks in, and eat away at the rust.
Scrub with a stiff-bristled brush.
Vinegar is a natural cleaning solution that is safe to use on your patio and around your home.
- Mix equal parts white vinegar and water to create a stain remover that can be used on various surfaces.
- When cleaning a concrete patio, go over filthy areas with a stiffer hard bristle broom or a scrub brush.
- If the rust stain persists after a thorough scrub, spray the rust with undiluted vinegar and let the acid remain for about 10 minutes.
- You can scrub it again after the vinegar has set. This should easily remove even the toughest stains.
- The cleaner and loose debris, you can rinse away after scrubbing with your hose.
How Can I Make My Concrete White Again?
If concrete isn’t properly sealed and is exposed to the outdoors or spills, it will turn discolored. If you’ve tried cleaning it with regular detergents and water but haven’t been able to remove the stains, a few simple household substances can help.
After you’ve removed the existing stains, consider sealing the concrete with a solvent- or silicone-based concrete sealer to prevent further discoloration. You may need to employ a professional cleaner if these chemicals don’t work.
Using a hose or a pail of water, wet down the concrete. This aids in the adhesion of the baking soda to the surface.
Cover all discolored areas with baking soda. To make a paste, lightly wet the baking soda.
With a stiff-bristled scrub brush, scrub the baking soda into the concrete. A wire brush should not be used since it can damage the concrete.
Leave the baking soda paste overnight on the concrete. This allows the baking soda to absorb any substances in the concrete that are discoloring it.
Allow the concrete to dry completely after rinsing it well.
To treat the discolored spots, use vinegar or bleach. If you’re going to use vinegar, don’t dilute it. Pour it onto the concrete and use a scrub brush to work it into the surface. If the discoloration fades, repeat the process until the discoloration is totally gone. (Find the Best Pressure Washers)
Scrub the concrete with a solution of 3 tbsp bleach and 1-gallon hot water.
You can give patios a final rinse and let dry.
Use a paint roller to apply the sealer over the entire concrete area you are planning to paint. Let it sit and dry, and then you should have a patio that is easy to hose down to keep clean in the future.
