There’s a widespread misconception among customers that polished concrete floors require absolutely no maintenance. Unfortunately, this belief is incorrect.

While polished concrete flooring requires significantly less maintenance than materials like vinyl, carpet, or tile, it’s dishonest to claim that it requires “no maintenance.” In fact, a maintenance plan is crucial for ensuring the longevity of your floor.

Although polished concrete floors aren’t a “no-maintenance” flooring option, they’re certainly “low-maintenance.” That’s why we offer advice to keep your floors looking new.

 

Daily Dusting

Dust using a clean microfiber pad daily. This helps prevent surface damage to your concrete flooring by removing abrasive debris. Dusting is especially critical in environments with abundant particles in the air, like woodworking or steel shops.

Dirt or debris left on polished concrete can scour the finish when people walk across it. The more often you remove these dangers, the more likely your floor will stay pristine.

Avoid using dirty pads or rough materials that could scratch the surface of your floor during dusting.

 

Wet Mop Weekly

In most cases, polished concrete floors can be cleaned effectively with clean water and a regular mop. Doing this once per week removes sticky residue before it becomes a stain.

If you use a cleaning product for mopping, choose a neutral-pH cleaner to avoid potential concrete deterioration. Acidic or highly alkaline cleaners can cause surface damage, dulling the shine of your polished concrete floors.

Ensure that you use minimal water for mopping and that the surface dries quickly. Fans or heaters might help if your floor is in a cold environment.

 

Avoid Harsh Cleaning Products

Avoid using abrasive cleaners or chemicals on polished concrete floors. Use an automatic floor scrubber with a clean, non-abrasive pad in high-traffic areas requiring additional cleaning.

It’s difficult for any substance to stick to the smooth finish of polished concrete, making strong cleaners unnecessary and potentially damaging. Any acidic cleaning product could etch the surface, dulling its appearance.

An example of a neutral cleaner is castile soap. It should have a PH of around 7.

 

Clean Spills Immediately

Prevent surface penetration and stains by acting fast to clean spills. Allowing liquids to remain on the polished concrete for an extended period can result in permanent marks or etching.

Polished concrete is water resistant, but it’s safer to clean spills as soon as you notice them. The longer a liquid sits on the surface, the more likely it will find a tiny pore opening to move into and create a stain.

 

Professional Maintenance Help

Occasional professional maintenance may be required if your daily cleaning routine doesn’t restore your polished concrete floors to their previous lustre. This is particularly true if they become stained or etched.

A professional will have the correct tools and techniques to restore the polished concrete’s glossy finish. First, they can use water-based floor stripping agents to remove dirt and debris.

Next, stain protectors and densifiers seal the surface during the final polishing restoration step. Different floor maintenance products are used based on desired benefits, focusing on enhancing shine, surface performance, wear resistance, and weathering.