How To Clean A Dusty Concrete Basement Floor (Do This!)
A dusty concrete basement floor is definitely not the most visually appealing part of your house. But aside from being an eyesore, it can be a source of allergens, mold, and other issues. So what is the best way to clean a dusty concrete basement floor and make it look brand new?
After gathering cleaning supplies and moving your furniture and belongings out of the basement, thoroughly sweep or vacuum the floor. Follow up by mopping, removing stains, mold, and mildew, and resealing the concrete for best results. If you have a sealed concrete floor, avoid using harsh cleaners like bleach, ammonia, vinegar, lemon juice, and acid-based products.
In this article, we’ll go over how to clean a dusty concrete basement floor step by step. We’ll also provide tips for getting rid of stains, mold, and mildew.
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Why Clean Your Basement Floor?
If you don’t have a finished basement, you might be wondering if it’s really necessary to clean your basement floor. Cleaning the basement reduces dust and eliminates mold and mildew, which can be health hazards. It also alerts you to any areas of the basement that require maintenance and repairs.
Plus, if you dread making trips down to the basement, cleaning can help. It improves the basement’s appearance and reduces unwanted odor as well as pests like flies and spiders.
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies
Start by gathering all of the supplies you’ll need to clean the floor. This includes a broom or vacuum, a dust mop, a nylon-bristled brush, and dish soap. You’ll also need warm, clean water and a mop bucket.
Depending on whether your floor is stained, you may also need stain removers like baking soda. If your concrete is unsealed, you can also use ammonia, lemon juice, or vinegar. Sodium bicarbonate, also known as washing soda, can be useful as well.
If you wish to reseal your concrete basement floor after cleaning, you’ll need sealant and a long-handled roller.
Step 2: Prepare The Area
Next, move all of the furniture out of the way so that you can easily clean the entirety of the floor. Eliminate all obstructions. If this isn’t possible, you could move everything to one half of the room.
You can start by cleaning the first half and allowing it to dry. Then, move all of the furniture to the clean side and start cleaning the rest of the basement. This is a more tedious process, but it might be necessary if you don’t have anywhere to move your belongings.
Step 3: Remove Debris
The cleaning process begins with removing debris from the floor. If there are large chunks of debris, you can pick them up by hand. Otherwise, thoroughly sweep or vacuum the floor to collect all dust and other particles.
If you don’t have a heavy-duty vacuum, you can typically rent one from the hardware store. This is recommended if you have a large basement since vacuums are quicker and more efficient than brooms.
After sweeping or vacuuming, follow up with a dust mop to pick up any particles that were left behind.
Step 4: Mop The Floor
Use a mop, warm water, and a mild cleaner like dish soap or pH neutral floor or stone cleaner. Fill the mop bucket with water and a quarter of a cup of cleaner for each gallon of water. Mix the solution thoroughly.
Dip your clean mop into the solution and wring it out to avoid applying an excessive amount to the concrete. Start in the farthest corner, mopping in small sections until the whole floor is clean.
Rinse the floor with clean, warm water. You could mix in a few drops of lavender essential oil to add a fresh scent to the room. Lavender also deters pests like flies.
After you’re done mopping, allow the space plenty of time to dry completely. It can be helpful to turn on fans or a dehumidifier to help the drying process move along more quickly.
Step 5: Remove Stains
If your concrete floor is stained, you may need to do a little bit of extra cleaning. Start by moistening the stains with a wet mop and sprinkling them with dish soap. Allow the dish soap to sit for an hour.
The next step is to pour boiling water on the stain while scrubbing it with a floor scouring brush. This should remove the stain from the concrete.
Rust stains can be removed with baking soda for sealed concrete or vinegar or lemon juice for unsealed concrete. Let the cleaning agent sit for an hour or so before scrubbing with a scouring brush.
After stain removal, rinse the floor with clean water and a wet mop. Then, use a dry mop to absorb some of the moisture on the surface of the concrete.
If there’s still cleaner on your floor, mix washing soda with hot water and mop the floor again. Run some fans and a dehumidifier to help the drying process along and prevent long-term moisture in the basement.
Step 6: Remove Mold And Mildew
Mold and mildew in your basement can cause problems, but they’re usually easy enough to remove. Although bleach should not be used on sealed concrete, you can utilize it to eliminate mold on unsealed concrete.
Start by mixing a few ounces of bleach in a gallon of water. Put the mixture into a spray bottle and spray the solution onto the mold- and mildew-infected spots on your concrete floor. Use a nylon scrub brush to clean the affected areas until the mold and mildew are removed.
Next, use clean water and a mop to rinse the concrete floor. You can follow up with a dry mop to absorb excess moisture as well.
Another option is to sprinkle bleaching powder onto the affected sections of your concrete floor. Leave it there for one to two days. This allows the bleach to kill the mold and mildew while also eliminating the odor that comes with them.
After letting the bleaching powder sit for 24 to 48 hours, use a vacuum to suck up the powder and dead mold or mildew. Finish off the process by mopping the floor and allowing it ample time to dry.
Step 7: Reseal The Concrete
This step isn’t always necessary, but it’s recommended to reseal your concrete if it’s old and dull. Use a long-handled roller to apply the sealant, applying it in a thin layer with even strokes. Allow the sealant at least 24 hours to cure before moving your belongings back into the basement.
The best concrete sealants are vapor barrier sealants and penetrating, waterproofing sealants. Since basements are prone to moisture, it’s a good idea to choose silane or siloxane sealants. These types of sealants are much better than epoxies, acrylics, and urethanes.
Although epoxies, acrylics, and urethanes may look nice, they will quickly begin to peel up as soon as water enters the basement. Therefore, go with the silane and siloxane sealants for a more durable finish on your concrete basement floor.
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Related Questions
Why is cleaning the basement important?
Whenever you clean your basement, you have an opportunity to take notice of any issues that require maintenance or repair. You can get ahead of issues like mold and water damage before they become more serious. Cleaning the basement also reduces dust and allergens in the air.
Is basement cleaning expensive?
The cost of basement cleaning depends on multiple factors. If you’re cleaning your basement yourself, you’ll only need to pay for cleaning supplies. But if you hire professionals to clean up after a flood, you’ll pay between $3000 and $10,000. In some cases, your insurance will cover flood clean-up.
What is a basement clean out drain?
A basement clean out drain is a capped pipe that is connected to your home’s sewer system. It’s typically located outside of the house in the front or backyard.
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With a lifelong passion for writing plus strong enthusiasm for home improvement and DIY projects, joining the team at Upgraded Home was an easy choice. Jessica Allen likes to share helpful information with current and aspiring homeowners. Aside from writing, Jessica loves doing yoga, playing the piano, and dabbling in graphic design.
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