- Housekeeping
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Durable and easy to maintain, concrete is an increasingly popular choice for indoor floors. Here's how to clean it.
By
Jolie Kerr
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Jolie Kerr
Jolie Kerr is a cleaning expert and the author of the New York Times bestselling book, My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag ... And Other Things You Can't Ask Martha. Her work has appeared in GQ, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times and Town & Country. A graduate of Barnard College, Jolie lives in a tiny Manhattan apartment with her five vacuum cleaners.
Published on November 24, 2023
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Concrete floors are durable, cost-effective, and easy to clean, especially compared to other popular flooring materials like hardwood or natural stone, making them an increasingly popular choice for indoor flooring. However, even the most low-maintenance floors require routine maintenance to remain clean and in good condition.
Indoor concrete floors can be swept, dry mopped, or vacuumed to keep them clear of dirt, dust, and other debris, and they should be mopped regularly with a mild detergent. You’ll find instructions here for cleaning indoor concrete flooring types, including sealed, polished, dyed, painted, and stenciled concrete.
Before Getting Started
Indoor concrete flooring differs from troweled concrete used for outdoor spaces like driveways or patios. While there are several types of indoor concrete flooring, they can all be cleaned using the same methods. However, stain removal techniques and cleaning agents vary if the concrete floors are dyed, painted, or stenciled.
Regardless of the type of indoor concrete floor you have, use a neutral cleaning agent and avoid harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia, which can strip the protective coating, leaving the floors with a dull appearance.
Castile soap or mild dish soap are good options for cleaning indoor concrete flooring, as are cleaning agents designed specifically for use on concrete.
When cleaning dyed, painted, or stenciled indoor concrete floors, take extra care that the cleaning products and methods used are gentle. These flooring types are more prone to scratching, fading, etching, and other damage than sealed or polished concrete. Avoid using harsh cleaning agents, including bleach, ammonia, acids, and pine cleaners, and abrasive tools on indoor concrete floors.
Concrete floors should not be cleaned with excessive liquid or steam mops, which can cause costly, irreversible damage due to the combination of high heat and concentrated moisture. As with all indoor flooring types, less is more when it comes to the use of cleaning products. Overusing cleaning products can leave a residue that lends a dull, streaky, dingy appearance to floors.
Equipment / Tools
- Broom
- Mop and bucket system
- Vacuum with brush attachment
- Nylon bristle scrub brush
Materials
- Mild cleaning agent
- Soft towel
Instructions
How to Clean Sealed or Polished Concrete Floors
While troweled concrete outdoor flooring can be cleaned using a pressure washer, sealed, polished, or painted indoor concrete floors require gentler methods.
Sweep or Dry Mop
Begin by sweeping or dry-mopping the concrete floors to remove dirt and dust. Pay particular attention to the corners and edges of the floor, where debris accumulates. Use an angled broom to get into tight corners.
Vacuum
After sweeping or dry mopping the concrete floor, use a vacuum fitted with a soft brush attachment to pick up any remaining dirt, dust, or debris. Using the vacuum’s soft-bristled attachment is essential to prevent scratching the floor.
Mop Floors
Using a mild cleaning agent that is safe for sealed or polished concrete floors, damp-mop the floors using minimal water. Concrete floors should not be cleaned with excess water, which can cause surface erosion and cracks over time. Rinse the mop frequently between passes to avoid spreading dirt around, wringing it thoroughly so that it is only damp and not dripping.
Remove Stains
If there are stains after mopping, use a nylon bristle brush and a mild cleaning agent to scrub them from the floor. Treat stubborn stains with a degreaser or a stronger stain removal agent, such as TSP.
The 9 Best Degreasers of 2024 for Extra Cleaning Power
Dry Concrete Floors
Working in a circular motion, use a soft towel to buff the floors dry. Drying the floors prevents streaking and mitigates the risk of mold and mildew forming on damp concrete.
How Often to Clean Concrete Floors
Indoor concrete floors should be swept or dry mopped regularly to keep dirt, dust, crumbs, and other debris at bay. How frequently to clean indoor concrete floors depends on several factors, including how highly trafficked the area is and environmental considerations such as dust in arid conditions or mud in damp areas.
Highly trafficked concrete floors should be swept, dry mopped, or vacuumed with a soft brush attachment every day or every other day and mopped at least every other week. Concrete floors that are less highly used can be swept, dry mopped, or vacuumed once a week and mopped once a month. Spot clean spills and treat stains as they happen to extend the time between mopping.
Best Products for Cleaning Concrete Floors
When cleaning concrete floors, a mild detergent and a mop are the right products for the job. These are some of the best cleaning agents and tools for the task.
- Best Mild Cleaner for Concrete Floors: Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap ($14, Amazon).
- Best Concrete Cleaner: Zep Neutral pH Industrial Floor Cleaner ($13, Amazon). This pH-neutral multi-surface floor cleaner is safe to use on sealed and polished concrete floors, and on vinyl, marble, granite, and other natural stone floors.
- Best Mop for Cleaning Concrete Floors: O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop, Bucket Floor Cleaning System ($35, Amazon). Our pick for best spin mop, O-Cedar’s mop and bucket system, makes frequently rinsing and wringing out a mop a cinch.
- Best Degreaser for Concrete Floors: KH-7 Super Degreaser ($12, Amazon). Our pick for best overall degreaser, KH-7 Super Degreaser is a multi-purpose concentrated formula that dissolves grease quickly from hard surfaces. Its water-based, phosphate-free formula means it is safe to use on floors in households with children and pets, and it doesn’t contain fragrance, making it a good choice for people who are sensitive to scents.
