How To Clean a Concrete Patio
Clean your concrete patio now so it's ready for summertime entertaining, picnics and lazy day relaxing. It's easy and only takes a couple of hours.
Time 2 to 4 hours
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$50-100
Introduction
Whether your temperatures are warming or still stuck below freezing (sorry my Minnesota friends), soon you'll be dusting off that outdoor furniture and readying your concrete patio for the season.
Sure, you could just sweep the leaves away and call it a day. But cleaning your concrete patio is easy and doesn't take very long. And the results are worth it. Grab a bucket, sturdy deck brush and concrete cleaner so you can scrub away the winter gloom. You can also use a pressure washer. Your concrete patio will love you for it.
"It's important to use the right cleaners that won't harm your plants or grass nearby," says Andrii Gurskyi, co-founder of cleaning service HomeClean. Gurskyi recommends concrete cleaners like Zep Driveway & Concrete Cleaner or Simple Green Concrete and Driveway Cleaner, but he says natural products like vinegar and baking soda are viable options, too.
Tools Required
- Bucket
- Garden hose
- Leaf blower or broom
- Long-handled deck scrub brush
Materials Required
- Baking Soda (optional)
- Concrete cleaner
Project step-by-step (6)
Prep the patio
- Move patio furniture, plants and outdoor rugs.
- Sweep off leaves, rocks and debris, or use a leaf blower.
Hose down grass, plants and patio
- Soak all surrounding grass and plants with water from the garden hose. This protects them from cleaner residue.
- Spray patio to remove loose dirt and make it easier to scrub.
Prepare cleaner
- Dilute cleaner according to the label directions.
- Pour cleaner into the bucket and fill with water from hose.
Scrub
- Dunk your deck brush into the bucket and start scrubbing.
- Reload brush periodically to maintain a wet, sudsy mixture on the patio.
- Start from one end and move methodically to the other so you don’t miss any spots.
- Let the solution sit for 10 to 15 minutes or as advised on the product label.
Rinse
- Rinse patio with water from garden hose.
- Soak plants and grass again to rinse off any cleaner residue.
Spot treat
- Apply a paste of baking soda and water to stubborn stains.
- Allow to sit for a few minutes, then rinse.
- Make sure patio is dry before replacing patio furniture and decor.
