Caring For Your Glendale, AZ Commercial Concrete Flooring

Concrete is durable and versatile, making it a popular material for both interior and exterior flooring surfaces. Because it is stain-resistant and can be left plain and smooth or stamped with unique designs, concrete also offers a great deal of flexibility in terms of functionality and decor in a variety of spaces. Since concrete is porous, regular cleaning is necessary to prevent mold and dirt from building up. [1] The cleaning method does vary slightly depending on the type of concrete you’re working with, but proper maintenance will keep your floor clean and fresh, and help increase its longevity in your home, garage, shop, or workplace.

Seal The Floor: A high-quality sealant will last a few years, so you should re-seal your floor every two to three years.[15] Sealing your concrete floor will protect it from scuffs and stains.

• Choose a sealant that’s right for your concrete surface.
• Use water-based sealants for indoor flooring.

Sealed concrete will need to maintained properly with deep cleaning and buffing, burnishing.

A wide variety of cleaners are available that are designed to clean or remove contamination from concrete surfaces. Understanding what these different cleaners do and how they work can save you time and money on your next cleaning project.

First, without going into complex chemistry, let's discuss how a basic soap works. We all know that oil and water do not mix. Soap consists of fatty acids that emulsify oil, grease, and dirt, allowing the particles to be removed with a water-based solution. Without soap, just plain water doesn't have much cleaning ability. By surrounding and entrapping stubborn oil or organic-based dirt, a soap or cleaner allows the grime to be rinsed away more easily.

The origin of basic soap goes back hundreds of years, and today there are a multitude of modern detergents and cleaners to choose from. Some utilize complex chemistry to target specific types of contamination and dirt in a wide variety of environmental conditions.

Even with the best cleaner, good old-fashioned elbow grease and patience really make the difference when removing a stubborn stain from concrete. Concrete is porous, holds dirt well, and can be a tough surface to clean. Doing some research and trying a few different systems can really pay off. Once you find the cleaner that really works, you will cut your time for concrete surface preparation or maintenance in half.

pH-Neutral Cleaners

When to use them: These mild cleaners are primarily designed for cleaning interior sealed concrete surfaces that do not have embedded dirt. They can also be used on exterior or interior unsealed concrete that only needs a mild cleaning, with no major dirt contamination present.

How they work: These cleaners are typically concentrates that you dilute with different amounts of water, depending on the level of cleaning required. Saturate the concrete surface with the cleaner, followed by scrubbing or light agitation. After a few minutes, vacuum or mop up the residue, followed by rinsing with clean water. If dirt remains, try repeating the process or using a stronger solution. Commercial & residential concrete cleaning and sealing phoenix az

Acidic Cleaners

When to use them: These types of cleaners are primarily designed to remove stains, dirt, and contamination that are soluble in an acidic solution. They are especially effective for removing efflorescence on concrete, an insoluble metallic salt that appears as a white powder or crystalline residue on the concrete surface and will not wash away in plain water. Exposure to hard water, a high salt content in the concrete, and high soil alkalinity are common causes of these types of stains.

How they work: As you might expect, acidic cleaners contain acid as the active ingredient. They come in both concentrated and ready-to-use formulations and are applied directly to the contaminated area. Sometimes scrubbing or agitation is needed, and stubborn stains may need additional applications. It is critical to neutralize the concrete after cleaning with an acid-based cleaner, followed by a clean-water rinse. Consider using a sealer to protect the area from future alkaline or salt contamination.

Alkaline Cleaners

When to use them: Also known as "concrete degreasers," alkaline cleaners are most often used to eradicate oil, grease, or other hydrocarbon-based stains in concrete. The high alkalinity of these cleaners emulsifies, or breaks down, the oily contamination. The other application for alkaline cleaners is to neutralize concrete surfaces after acid staining or acid cleaning. Alkaline cleaners are the best way to bring the pH of concrete from acidic to alkaline, which is concrete's natural state. Modern alkaline soaps and cleaners far exceed the neutralizing ability of the old-school method of baking soda and water. They are economical too, since 1 gallon of cleaner fully diluted will treat approximately 4,000 square feet of concrete. Concrete floor cleaning, sealing glendale and phoenix az

How they work: Alkaline cleaners typically come as concentrates and are diluted with water, depending on how aggressive the stain is. Apply the cleaner full strength for deep or older stains, and dilute it for newer stains that haven't penetrated far. Agitation or scrubbing to work the cleaner into the oil stain is critical for good results. A common mistake when using alkaline cleaners is to not allow enough time for the cleaner to work. Depending on the type and depth of the oil stain, multiple applications may be necessary, with each being allowed to work for a few hours to get acceptable results. Another important step when using alkaline cleaners is to "lift" the oil stain out of the concrete once the stain has been emulsified. You can use an industrial wet vac, poultice, or rags. Remove the residue with clean water, and reapply more cleaner if needed until the stain is gone.