Polished concrete flooring offers a great deal of durability and can easily withstand some of the most punishing conditions, but this does not that you are exempt from performing routine maintenance and cleanings. Many commercial operators who install polished concrete fail to recognize how important it is to maintain and preserve areas in your flooring that experience a lot of foot traffic. The good news is that polished concrete is generally very easy to clean and maintain, and we want to help break it down for you.
Cleaning Up Spills and Leaks
If there is a chemical spill that occurs and the material leaks out onto your polished concrete, the need to act decisively when it comes to cleaning and sanitizing the area. If you neglect to clean up the spill for an extended period of time, then this can have a corrosive effect on your concrete flooring and greatly weaken it. There are a variety of remediation methods that you can take to ensure that chemical spills will not have a major effect on the strength of your flooring, such as using the recommended concrete cleaners and acetone (but only to remove adhesive residue from tape). You typically want to avoid using any cleaners that contain acid in them.
Protect Your Concrete Flooring
Sealers are typical applied to your flooring to produce the sturdy polish that overlays the concrete material. However, periodically you will need to re-apply the sealer to ensure optimal protection and prolong the lifespan of your concrete flooring. When a chemical spill occurs, some of the sealer is removed, which will diminish the strength of your concrete flooring. Even if it is not completely necessary to apply another layer of sealer, it will nonetheless provide additional strength and preserve your concrete material. Sealers also help sustain the shiny and pristine surface of your concrete flooring, making it appear brand new and as if it never experienced any structural damage.
Simple Maintenance Procedures
Proper maintenance and cleanings will keep your concrete flooring in pristine condition for many years to come. Adhering to a regular maintenance and cleaning routine will do wonders for your polished concrete flooring and ensure that you get the most out of your investment. Here are some helpful pointers on how you can preserve your flooring:
- Clean up any spills immediately to prevent staining and protect your concrete flooring
- Remove any debris or trash on the floor by hand
- Sweeping and mopping your floor multiple times to prevent dirt from accumulating and making the polished finish appear dull and drab
- Use an auto-scrubber to wash the entire floor and use a cleaner that is meant for concrete flooring.
Avoid Using the Wrong Cleaners
A kind of cleaner that can have a damaging effect on your polished concrete is wax. Don’t ever use wax when it comes to cleaning your floor. There are many negative consequences to waxing your polished concrete and we want to explain them to you:
- Using a wax cleaner will possibly void your warranty
- Wax creates buildup on your floor which will inevitably need to be removed
- You should avoid placing tape on your floor because the adhesive material can potentially cause damage when you remove it
It’s also worth discussing is that you should avoid using water to clean polished concrete for at least three days after you install your new flooring so that you can give it enough time to cure. This will ensure that you receive the optimal amount of protection.
The ideal cleaners that you want to use have neutral pH levels. You want to avoid using bleach, ammonia, and vinegar because they will compromise the polish of your concrete flooring.
Manuel and Automatic Cleaning
Wet mopping is a popular option for many people because it is easy to perform and it’s also very effective in removing dirt, debris, and bacteria from your concrete flooring. We recommend that you use clean mops and clean water whenever necessary, and if you have to clean a larger area, then we suggest that you use an auto-scrubber with a non-abrasive pad.
You should use a neutral cleaner when wet mopping so that you can suspend dirt particles and easily remove them. Also, you should never mop polished concrete with only water because this will ineffectively remove dirt particles and cause abrasions and discoloration to your flooring.
You should also keep in mind that cleaning pads on automatic cleaners can leave behind scratch marks on your concrete flooring which will significantly mar the polished finish.
Conclusion
Having a proactive approach towards cleaning and maintenance will great protect and preserve your concrete flooring. It’s important to remember that polished concrete is extremely durable and easy to maintain, so the last thing you want to do is overthink things and cause any unwanted damage.
For more information on polished concrete, give us a call today and speak with one of our team members. They can tell you everything you need to know about cleaning and maintaining polished concrete. You can also visit the homepage of our website!