Caring for Your Concrete Floor

Concrete flooring offers incredible durability and reduced maintenance costs, making it an excellent choice for use in the home.  However, concrete does require some maintenance in order to keep it looking great and in the best shape possible.  What do you need to do to maintain that concrete floor?  How expensive is the maintenance required?  How frequently do you need to perform the maintenance?  Here are the tips you need to make the most of your new floor.

Spills – Spills pose a problem for all flooring types and concrete is no different.  While it does not have the issues associated with wood or bamboo floors, concrete can still suffer from spills.  Make sure that you clean up spills as quickly as possible.  Even sealed concrete can absorb liquid from spills, which will discolor your floor.  In order to maximize the protection for your floor, reseal it as needed.

Dirt – Dirt is not a huge issue with concrete, though some types of mud, such as red clay, can stain your floor.  If mud is tracked onto the concrete, clean it up as soon as possible.  For general dust and dirt that accumulates through regular use, simply sweeping the floor on a regular basis should be sufficient.  If you have dirt built up on the floor, water and a soft brush are usually all that you will need to clean it up.

Shine – If your concrete floor has a polished finish, it can wear away, especially in high-traffic areas.  If this happens, simply reseal the floor and use a commercial buffing compound and a buffer. Buffers can be rented, or you can buff the floor by hand on an as-needed basis, using a buffing pad or cloth.  If large areas need to be resealed and buffed, a buffing machine should be used.

Mopping – Mopping your concrete floor should pose no problem.  However, do not mop using standing water.  Use a damp mop to clean the floor and rinse the mop frequently to keep dust from scratching through any polish on the floor.