DIY Concrete Maintenance: 7 Tips to Keep Your Surfaces Looking Great

1. Maintenance Routine for Cleaning Concrete

Cleaning the concrete regularly will make the cleaning process easier to maintain.

Most concrete floors have the same cleaning requirements:

• Sweep your floor regularly to remove dirt and debris
• Use a garden hose to wash off the dust and light stains from your floor.
• If the dirt on the floor is heavier than the above two steps, use a low-pressure cleaner to wash the floor.

Decorative and stamped concrete requires a softer cleaning solution and a soft-bristle brush to clean the design without damaging it.

Tip: Clean your concrete at least twice a year, depending on how much traffic your concrete has.

2. Removing Stains

If a spill occurs on your concrete surface, immediately treat the stain so that it does not set into the concrete.

For oil-based stains, place cat litter or sawdust over the stain to soak up the oil, and then sweep away the cat litter or sawdust.

For organic-based stains (berries, leaves, etc.), apply a mixture of water and white vinegar to the stained area and let the solution sit until the stain is removed. Rinse with water and repeat the process until all of the stain is gone.

For rust-based stains, apply a rust remover specifically made for concrete to the rust stain and let it sit until the stain is removed.

Always test any cleaning solutions on a small, inconspicuous area first.

3. Protect Your Concrete Surface with Sealant

Protect your concrete surface from the elements and increase the longevity of your concrete surface with regular applications of a penetrating sealer or acrylic sealer.

Regularly applying a penetrating sealer or acrylic sealer to your concrete surface:

• Apply a penetrating sealer or acrylic sealer to your concrete surface every 2–3 years, or as directed by the manufacturer
• Choose the correct type of sealer for your concrete (for example, a penetrating sealer for the driveway and an acrylic sealer for decorative and stamped concrete)
• Always thoroughly clean the surface before sealing.

Tip: UV-resistant sealants are a good option in the hot and sunny climate of McAllen to protect your concrete from the damaging effects of the sun.

4. Fixing Small Cracks in Concrete

Small cracks in concrete do not necessarily need to be repaired immediately; however, if you wait too long to fix them, they may become larger and more difficult to fix.

To Fix Small Cracks in Your Concrete Surface:

• Use a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk to fill in the hairline cracks in your concrete surface.
• To fix larger cracks in your concrete surface, use a concrete patching compound.
• Prior to filling in the cracks, thoroughly clean the cracks and follow the directions provided with the patching compound.

Tip: If your crack is larger than 1/4 inch wide and/or is showing signs of shifting, contact a professional to fix the issue.

5. Wintertime Protection for Concrete

Although McAllen winters are generally mild, there may be occasional cold snaps.

When dealing with winter weather, take the following precautions to protect your concrete surface:

• Do not use de-icers to melt the ice on your concrete surface.
• Instead of de-icers, use sand to improve traction on slippery sections of your concrete surface.
• Remove any snow or ice that may accumulate on your concrete surface as soon as possible to prevent moisture from entering the concrete and potentially causing further damage to the concrete.

6. Knowing When to Call a Professional

While maintaining your own concrete surface through DIY maintenance is wonderful, there are times when you should seek the assistance of a professional.

Those instances include:

• Large cracks in your concrete surface and/or uneven settling.
• A large amount of damage to the surface of your concrete and/or spalling.
• Major stains on your concrete surface that cannot be cleaned by common household cleaning methods.
• The time has come for a new seal coat to be applied to your concrete surface.

At McAllen Concrete Contractors, we are available to assist you with any of the aforementioned more involved issues.

7. Green Cleaning Options

If you are looking to “go green” with your cleaning products, consider the following eco-friendly cleaning alternatives:

• Baking soda paste to remove light stains
• Corn starch to remove grease-based stains
• Lemon juice and salt to remove rust-based stains
• Hydrogen peroxide to kill mildew

The majority of these natural cleaning agents work just as well as their chemically-based counterparts and are better for the environment.

Bonus Tip: Proactive Measures

A little preventative measure now will save you a lot of hassle later.

Take the following preventative measures to help extend the life of your concrete surfaces:

• Place a mat at each entrance to your home/building to catch dirt and debris brought onto your concrete surface
• Position a drip pan under each vehicle parked on your concrete surface to collect oil drips
• Attach rubber feet or furniture glides to the legs of each piece of outdoor furniture to prevent scratching your concrete surface.
• Keep nearby tree branches trimmed to limit falling leaves and other organic debris from accumulating on your concrete surface.
• By taking these easy-to-follow maintenance tips, you will be able to keep your concrete surfaces looking their best for many years to come. Not only will regular maintenance enhance the appearance of your concrete, but it will also extend the life of your concrete surface, which will save you money in the long run.

In conclusion, while the following DIY tips are suitable for routine maintenance of your concrete, McAllen Concrete Contractors will always be available to support your more extensive concrete needs. Whether it is a new installation, repairing existing concrete, or just providing expert advice, feel free to reach out to us.

Do you have questions about maintaining your particular concrete surface? Contact us today. We would be happy to provide you with personal recommendations for maintaining your concrete surface in the unique climate of McAllen.