Polished concrete is one of the easiest surfaces to clean. It's much more straightforward to clean than carpet (which requires semi-regular treatment by a professional) and even simpler than tiles.
And the good news is, there are some small tips and tricks that can make cleaning your polished concrete floor even easier — including precautions you need to take to make sure you get the most of your polished concrete floor.
Sometimes, however, a concrete floor is not salvageable — it may simply passed its used by date. When a concrete surface has been damaged, or is no longer cleanable, it is time for more drastic action. You might have to look at getting professionals in to pour a new slab, or grind down and re-seal your old surface.
Read on for tips on cleaning, protecting, and maybe even replacing, your polished concrete floors.
At Policrete, we're industry leading specialists in premium concrete floor solutions. Our polished concrete floors are durable, low maintenance, and great to look at. We back our expert work with quality guarantees for your peace of mind.
How to clean your polished concrete floor manually
There are two main objectives to keep in mind when cleaning a floor. First, you need to remove all the dust, dirt and debris. Secondly, but just as important,you need to protect the surface from harm during the cleaning process. Concrete is a resilient surface, and will resist marks and scratches better than floorboards or linoleum. However, there are still some precautions you should take if you want to keep your polished concrete floor looking its best.
If you're cleaning the surface manually, follow these steps to keep your floor clean and pristine:
Sweep the floor: A soft, microfiber dust mop is a better option than a harsh bristled broom that might scratch the surface.
Use the right cleaning agents: It is important that the cleaning agent you use on a concrete floor has a neutral pH level. This will make it easier to remove dirt particles.
Remove the cleaning agent before it dries: Dried cleaning agents can result in discolouration of your surface.
Tips for using a wet mop: Always ensure that your mop and water are clean, so you're not spreading nasty particles around.
How to clean your polished concrete floor with automated equipment
In big industrial or commercial areas, it can be more efficient to use automatic floor scrubbing machines, rather than hand held mops. If you are using automatic equipment to clean your polished concrete floors, ensure that you're using cleaning pads that are soft, and won't scratch the surface. Overly hard pads can damage the finish.
The wheels on your equipment should be made of rubber, or a similar material, that also prevents scratches. And follow the same steps listed above for manual cleaning.
Is it time to replace your polished concrete floor?
Polished concrete surfaces are highly durable, but nothing lasts forever. Do you find that no matter how often you clean your concrete floors, they just don't look right? It might be that the finish is past its used by date. If your floor has been damaged, or is starting to show its age, then it's time to take action.
There are two ways to proceed, each with different benefits:
Pour and polish a new slab of concrete: With a brand new slab, you'll have a fresh, clean surface that meets your exact specifications. It can be ground to whatever level you choose, and you have full flexibility when choosing a finish. And, when you work with Policrete, you can be assured of quality work; we guarantee that your new slab will be free of structural cracks.
Grind and seal your old concrete surface: This process starts by grinding the floors down to their most aesthetically pleasing level. Then a sealant is applied to protect the surface. Because there's less labour involved and you won't have to wait for the concrete to dry, this process is very cost effective and has a prompt turnaround.
