With spring officially upon us, warmer temperatures are in sight. And with warmer temperatures comes the eagerness to entertain on your Racine stamped concrete patio.

Like so many areas of your home, your concrete needs a good spring cleaning before use. Cleaning concrete will not only make your concrete look beautiful, it will give you the satisfaction of a ready-to-use space.

Below are several dos and don’ts for cleaning concrete.

(For all of the suggestions below, be sure to test any cleaners on a small, inconspicuous section of concrete — especially colored concrete — to make sure it doesn’t ruin your concrete.)

Before any concrete cleaning, be sure to move all grills, tables, benches or anything else that could get in the way of cleaning. Also, be sure to thoroughly sweep the area to remove any debris, including leaves, branches, or dirt.

For concrete cleaning after a cold, long winter, use a 10-to-1 mix of warm water and an environmentally safe, biodegradable cleaner. You can leave the mixture on the concrete for as long as 15 minutes before scrubbing with a stiff broom and rinsing.

For stubborn stains on your concrete, simply add bleach to the mixture. One cup of bleach will clean approximately 100 feet.

While pressure washers are often considered safe for concrete cleaning, it’s best to avoid them. While the high pressure water dislodges dirt and debris, it can also chip concrete. It’s instead best to use gentle brushing, low pressure and biodegradable cleaners to keep your concrete clean, beautiful and performing as it should.

To learn more about the best way to clean your concrete, including your Racine stamped concrete, contact us today.