Effective Tips To Clean Concrete Basement Floors

Concrete, for sure, is one of the best, sturdiest, and most durable flooring options for all spaces, specifically basements. However, it could become an almost bummer to the nerves regarding maintenance. And, of course, any misconduct can lead you to unwanted consequences. In this blog, I am going to enlist effective tips to clean concrete basement floors. Let’s start learning the importance of cleaning basement floors.

Why Cleaning The Basement Floor Is Crucial? 

Concrete floors are very durable and trendy and can easily last several years. To increase the lifespan of this flooring, it is necessary to clean it properly.

• Maintain The Shine Of the Concrete Floor

The concrete floor has a porous structure; ultimately, dirt and grime accumulate in it, and its shine will dim. Regular cleaning of concrete floors and occasional polishing can minimize the dullness of this floor and bring it back to its original shine.

• Cleaning Increases Resistance Of Floor

The concrete floor in the basement mainly receives significant foot traffic and is prone to wear and tear, damages, and scratches. All these factors affect the overall resistance of the floor. Cleaning of this floor makes it vulnerable to more damage.

• Increase The Home Value 

If you think of re-selling your property, regularly cleaning the concrete tile floor will improve its value. Having a neat and clean basement floor leaves a good impression on the buyer.

Tips for Type-Based Concrete Basement Floor Cleaning

Different types of basement concrete flooring require different methods and cleaning agents to provide the best results. Below, we have mentioned three types of basement flooring and their cleaning method. Let’s explore:

Sealed Concrete Basement Floors

Sealed Concrete Basement Floors are typically the easiest to clean and take care of. Supplies and Tools You’ll be needing:

• Vacuum Mops (damp and dry one)
• Warm Water
• Dish Soap

Cleaning

• To begin with, go for a thorough vacuuming to get rid of all the fine dirt and dust particles, achieving a smooth surface to proceed with

• Thoroughly dry mop the whole space

• Mix the appropriate amount of dish soap into the water, and using an absorbent mop, swipe the whole area while taking care of all the corners and edges.

• Rinse off the surface with clean water using the mop.

• Finish off with a dry mopping and letting the area dry out completely

Unsealed Concrete Basement Floor

Unsealed Concrete Floors aren’t likely to develop any sort of physical damage. However, it is possible for them to get stained quickly by absorbing all the liquid spills.

Therefore, proper cleaning is essential to prevent stains from soaking on an unsealed concrete floor. These stains often end up being really stubborn and, thus, very hard to get rid of.

Follow this effective explanation on how to clean unsealed concrete basement floors. Supplies and Tools You’ll be needing:

• Cat litter (or Saw Dust)
• Push Broom
• Dusting Mop
•  Vacuum Powdered Cleaner (preferably dishwashing detergent)
• A bucket or Container
• Absorbent Cloths or Towel

Cleaning:

• Start by sprinkling the cat litter or the sawdust atop the oily or greasy stain. Leave the sprinkled substance overnight to soak as much oil as possible.

• Use a push broom and sweep away all the buildup from the floor. Afterward, you can either dust mop or vacuum the space so as to get rid of even the finest dirt particles. As for the vacuum, make sure you use the one with an attached brush.

• Wet the stain if it has dried, and sprinkle it with the powdered dishwashing detergent. Let it sit for 45 minutes. If the stain is wet, then there is no need for additional moistening, and you can go with sprinkling the detergent directly.

• After the stain has been well-soaked, start pouring boiling water on top of it, followed by scrubbing along with a stiff brush. Rinse with clean water and mop thoroughly to remove all the detergent residue.

• For detailed cleaning of the entire floor, take about 1 gallon of boiling water and mix in around 2 ounces of baking soda. Use this mixture to mop the whole floor.

• Finish off by rinsing the mop and sweeping once through the entire space using clean water to rinse off all the solution.

• You can either let the floor dry itself or if there isn’t enough time to do so, wipe it dry with a few absorbent cloths or towels.

Polished Concrete Basement Floor

Polished concrete epoxy floors, are relatively easier to take care of and since they are the most durable, they are usually considered the foremost option for areas with higher extent of foot traffic.

The general maintenance of Polished concrete floors includes dust mopping on a daily basis and wet mopping at frequent intervals so as not to give rise to major cleanliness issues. Just follow our effective tips to clean concrete basement floors for neat basement decor.

Also, another essential factor in taking care of the polished concrete floors and making them last long is to watch out for the spills and clean them immediately. Since a well-maintained cleaning schedule works perfectly for the maintenance of polished concrete floors, there is no essential requirement for some particular sort of cleaning. Still, you can use the following method if you feel the need for detailed decluttering.

Supplies and Tools You’ll be needing:

• Mild Cleanser (specifically a PH-balanced one)
• Lukewarm Water
• Bucket or Container Mop

Cleaning

• Cleaning polished concrete floors is pretty simple because all you need to do is make a mixture of water and cleaner.

• Start by dipping the mop into the solution and sweeping the entire space, particularly focusing on the problematic areas.

• Finish off by using a mop dipped in clean water and wrung properly to accomplish the cleaning while also getting rid of any residue of the solution. Wipe off with towels or let the area dry out thoroughly.

Disclaimer:

• You need to be extremely careful with what you pick out as a cleaning element for your polished concrete floors since they are prone to getting damaged severely when exposed to harsh substances.
• Never use bleach, highly acidic elements, or Ammonia on top of polished concrete floors.
• You can use stone cleaner, liquid dishwashing detergent, and castile soap as an alternative to the floor cleaner.

How To Clean A Cement Basement Floor

Cement, an essential ingredient of concrete, is often used as an interchangeable term for the concrete itself. This gives rise to the pondering of Are concrete floors and cement floors the same thing, or whether there is a difference between concrete and cement.

Concrete floors, as a matter of fact, are sturdier than cement ones. As for the particular concern of How to clean a cement basement floor, the method is pretty similar to that of the strategy used for cleaning concrete floors.

For cleaning cement floors, the mixture of Ammonia along with dish soap in water works ideally, and by using this, you should be able to eliminate the majority of the stains and dull-looking appearance.

Things to Avoid During The Cleaning of Concrete Basement Floors

After learning the detailed methods of how to clean concrete basement floors. It is crucial to understand the practices that should be avoided during the cleaning.

• Harsh Chemicals

If you want your concrete floor color to stay vibrant longer, then never use harsh cleaner over it.

• Avoid Abrasive Tools

Using abrasive tools to clean concrete floors is wrong. It can damage the floor and cause damage on the floor.

• Use Of Excessive Water

If you use excess water while cleaning concrete floors, mold growth can occur. Because the water will sweep down from the joint easily.

• Allowing Water Accumulation

Never allow the water to accumulate on the concrete floor during the cleaning. Immediately clean the water with a dry mop or towel.

• Skipping Regular Maintenance

If you skip regular cleaning and maintenance of the concrete floor, then dust will build up, and it becomes tricky to clean.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Okay To Mop On Unsealed Concrete Basement Floor?

Unsealed concrete basement floors can be cleaned by mopping. However, that isn’t quite a recommended idea. Instead, using a steam mop works wonders in this regard, as it reaches even the trickiest spots while cutting down all the accumulation.

How To Clean A Concrete Floor Post The Construction?

A mild cleaner, along with warm water, will do the job for you, and you can easily clean it with the help of a mop. However, be careful to never use harsh cleaners atop freshly constructed concrete floors as they can cause severe damage to the just-done-finishing.

How To Clean A Basement Floor With No Drainage System?

You can mop floors without a system to drain water or other liquids. As for making the cleaning solution, a simple mixture of Ammonia and dish soap in warm water works fine and should be able to carry out a detailed and effective cleaning.

Why Do Concrete Basement Floors Seem So Dusty?

What seems to be dust atop concrete basement floors is a white powdery substance caused by excessive water in the concrete mixture. This abundant water tends to rise to the surface during troweling (finishing process), causing the freshly done concrete floor to appear dusty.

Is It Okay To Use Baking Soda For Cleaning Concrete?

Baking soda and vinegar does make an effective cleaning process. A mixture of these two is an excellent option if you don’t want to expose your freshly constructed concrete to harsh cleaners and opt for a natural way to achieve finer results.

What To Do With An Excessively Dirty Basement?

Cleaning a basement often becomes difficult due to some of the tricky points and edges that are hard to reach. You can use a long-handled duster to get such points. In addition to that, vacuuming the basement space is also quite an effective strategy, as it helps in a thorough cleaning.

Final Words

That is all about how to clean concrete basement floors. Analyze your floor type and clean it according to the method mentioned in the blog. Additionally, never try a shortcut while cleaning the concrete floors. Still, if you are stuck at some point, you are free to ask in the comment section.