Concrete is a material often chosen when installing a new terrace. Its ease of maintenance and strength make it a preferred option compared to wood, tiles, or stone. However, when faced with the task, one quickly realizes that not all cleaning products are suitable. So, how do you clean a concrete terrace and remove stubborn moss stains that are very common? Here are some tips from grandma’s that will ensure the durability and cleanliness of your terrace. The dirt won’t have time to get ingrained!
Important information for successfully maintaining a concrete terrace
First and foremost, know that despite its strength, concrete does not tolerate all cleaning products. For example, like marble, it does not tolerate acidic natural products (lemon juice, white vinegar…) that can make it porous. The same goes for bleach and ammonia which can also make concrete tiles porous over time. These toxic products are harmful to the environment and should be avoided for outdoor spaces maintenance!
Regarding the pressure washer, it is not necessarily to be banned, but be sure to keep the jet away from the concrete tiles to avoid too much pressure that could increase the porosity of the tiles. However, using a scrub brush is a safer solution. Also, perform regular maintenance and quickly remove stains as soon as they appear to prevent them from getting ingrained. (The products mentioned below will be perfect for that.) For polished concrete, you can even squeegee it after rain. This will keep the terrace clean!
So, how do you clean your concrete terrace effectively?
Black soap, ideal for your terrace
Soapy water is a very effective and gentle solution for successful cleaning. Here, prefer black soap, which is a very degreasing and stain-removing cleaning product. In addition to giving your terrace a shine, this soap will clean it thoroughly and protect it. To do this, add a cap of liquid black soap to 3 liters of hot water. All that’s left is to put some elbow grease! Scrub the floor with your scrub brush, then rinse with clear water.
Baking soda, of course!
Baking soda will remove grease and limescale stains, as well as eliminate more ingrained dirt. We recommend adding it to hot soapy water (black soap or Marseille soap at a stretch). Then, you can gently scrub this mixture on the floor and rinse with clear water.
Washing soda for a really dirty concrete terrace
Washing soda is a step above baking soda. If your terrace is very dirty, use these crystals instead of baking soda.
How to remove moss from a concrete terrace
Normally, moss and lichens don’t have the opportunity to settle if you perform regular maintenance. However, one is never completely safe from a nasty surprise! To combat moss on a terrace, you can dissolve coarse salt in hot water and apply it to the affected areas. Here, you can absolutely recycle salty and starchy water still hot from potatoes or pasta. Then, scrub vigorously to remove the green marks. Other tips include wood ash or citric acid diluted in hot water. For the latter solutions, plan for rain-free days to let them act for a few days before rinsing and scrubbing.
