How to Clean Unsealed Concrete Floors Indoors: A Complete Guide to Clean Your Basement and Garage Floors!   

We call basements or garage floors the extended part of our home yet often leave it unsealed, and such floors take a toll on us when it comes to cleaning. But by being a bit smarter and knowing how to clean unsealed concrete floors, it’s easy to upkeep the floor surface all by yourself (Yes, you’ve heard it right!) and make it look just like the indoors!     

Usually, unsealed cemented garages or basements become dirty and stained from motor oil, rust, and everyday dirt. Instead of cleaning it and maintaining it with a vacuum cleaner, we pose laziness, and the result is that it becomes a habitat of the stubborn and greasy mess that is challenging to get rid of. To help you out, we turn to cleaning experts for a DIY solution on how to clean unsealed concrete floors, and guess what? We came up with the easiest way to clean unsealed concrete floors in just a few steps using household cleaning materials.    

Get the step-by-step DIY process of cleaning unsealed concrete floors indoors that can save you a lot of bucks spent on professional cleaners. Go get it!  

How to Clean Unsealed Concrete Floors Indoors

What Is an Unsealed Concrete Floor?  

An unsealed concrete floor is a hard floor mostly found in basements, workrooms, storage rooms, and garages. Unsealed concrete means the raw form of concrete, which is different from sealed ones. Unlike sealed concrete floors, unsealed or uneven concrete floors have no additives or sealant; hence, such floors are prone to damage. You can clean unsealed concrete floors indoors in two ways- applying the traditional scrubbing technic or using a pressure washer.  

Let’s start with a step-by-step process of cleaning unsealed concrete floors indoors by using household cleaning solutions:  

Step- 1: Gather the Necessary Equipment for Cleaning  

Before starting the cleaning procedures, remove the necessary materials like plants, furniture, and other things; after that, clean the surface residuals using a shop vac or stiff-bristled broom. In this course of cleaning the unsealed concrete floors, you’ll need the following things:  

• Precautions like rubber gloves, eye-protective goggles, etc.  
• Shop vac or stiff-bristled broom    
• Cleaning solutions or stain removers  
• Hot water (based on preference)  

Tip: While using any acidic cleaners or preparing cleaning solutions on your own, make sure you’re safe; use rubber gloves and goggles, and wear safety clothes.  

Step- 2: Prepare the Cleaning Solution  

Several ingredients can be used to prepare homemade floor cleaners for unsealed concrete floors; if one ingredient is not available to you, you can go for an alternative one. Here, we’ve added different types of mixtures. How to make unsealed concrete floor cleaner (you can make use of any mixtures given below):  

Mixture- 1:  

• 2 TSP laundry detergent powder   
• 2 TSP trisodium phosphate  
• One quart of water  

Mixture- 2:   

• 2 tsp. dish soap   
• 1 cup white vinegar   
• 1-gallon warm water in a bucket.   

Mixture- 3:  

• 1-part all-purpose cleaner  
• 2 parts warm water  
• 4 parts ammonia  

Mixture- 4:   

• 1/3 cup Tide  
• 1 gallon of warm water  

If you cannot get your hands on any of these household cleaning solutions, you can choose this perfect Bona Hard Surface Floor Cleaner.  

A note to remember: Before applying any cleaning solution, test it on the floor (an unnoticeable part). If there is no unwanted mark or color change, your homemade cleaning solution will be safe to use.   

Step- 3: Apply the Cleaning Solution  

If the dirt is greasy or oily, then sprinkle cornstarch or dry kitty litter over the grease and wait for a certain period. Depending on how old the grease is, you may have to wait up to 24 hours.  

If there are old rust stains over the concrete floor surfaces, then apply the cleaning solution mentioned in Step- 2 and wait for 30 to 45 minutes.   

Step- 4: Scrub the Surface  

When the grease feels loose or the stains feel weakened, scrub the surface with a concrete floor scrubber; using warm water can effectively remove such stubborn dirt.   

Step- 5: Rinse and clean the Surface  

Once you’re done scrubbing the unsealed concrete floor surface, use clean water to mop the floor; you can use a wet & dry vacuum cleaner and leave the area to dry.  

Tip: If the unsealed concrete floors indoors, like the basement area, lack an adequate air-passing system, then use your ceiling fan or table fan to dry the floor surface after cleaning.  

How to Clean Unsealed Concrete Floors Indoors With A Pressure Washer  

You can clean an unsealed concrete floor using a pressure washer, too. They effectively clean all the dirt from the surface, including cracks and crevices. You can use a hot-pressure washer to clean the surface that uses hot water to remove hardened stains or grime from the unsealed concrete floor.  

Now, let’s see the step-by-step process of cleaning indoor unsealed concrete floors with a pressure washer:  

Step- 1: Do the Initial Cleanup  

Use a stiff-bristled broom or a shop vac to remove the residuals from the surface. Ensure your safety before using a pressure washer; taking precautions like wearing rubber gloves and eye-protective goggles is essential before you start.  

Step- 2: Use Your Pressure Washer  

Use the pressure washer to clean the surface.  

Note: While using a pressure washer, you don’t need to pre-scrub the surface. Just set up the machine correctly; use the nozzle based on the need. You can use only water or use a cleaning solution for pressure washing.  

Step- 3: Dry the Surface  

After pressure washing your unsealed concrete floor, leave the surface until it dries properly.  

Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Unsealed Concrete Floors Indoors  

Follow these proven tips and tricks for cleaning unsealed concrete floors indoors to boost the sustenance of your floor surface.  

• Clean unsealed concrete floors indoors at least once a week; Daily brooming and swiping once or twice a week.   
• Never leave the unsealed concrete floor wet; take steps to prevent the unsealed concrete floor from water absorption.  
• It’s good to ensure adequate air passes to the indoor basements or garage areas where it lacks natural air movements.   
• Use trisodium phosphate/ammonia/white vinegar to remove mildew stains or food and beverage stains.  
• Use a commercial rust remover to clean the stubborn, large, and dark rust stains.   

How to Clean Unfinished Basement Floor  

Cleaning an unfinished basement floor is similar to the way you clean your unsealed concrete floor.  

Step- 1: Gather the Necessary Equipment  

Make sure you have all the essential materials required to clean the unfinished basement floor. First, vacuum the surface or broom it to clean the loose dirt and debris.  

Step- 2: Apply Cleaning Solution  

To clean your unfinished basement floor, you can use a mixture of detergent and ammonia with adequate water to scrub the floor surface; use a stiff nylon brush while scrubbing.  

Step- 3: Rinse and Clean  

Once you’re done scrubbing the required surface, you can use clean water to rinse the area to ensure proper cleanup. After that, let the floor dry appropriately.   

Unsealed Concrete Floor Health Risks  

Unsealed concrete floors are porous and prone to damage. So, certain health risks could arise if the accumulated concrete dirt and dust are not properly cleaned. The risks include:  

• The build-up of mold and bacteria  
• Create unhygienic environment  
• Dust may lead to health hazards like allergy  
• Such messy and dump areas can be the source of mosquitos  
• Uncleaned concrete floors can become slippery, which may lead to accidents  

Final Words  

When it’s unsealed concrete floors, proper cleanup is the only thing that can make your floor surface more sustainable for a longer time. This user guide for unsealed concrete floor cleaning covers all the tips that can make every nook and cranny of your unsealed concrete floors and make it look perfect.

How to Clean Unsealed Concrete Floors Indoors: FAQ