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Recent Articles
8 Tips for Easy Concrete Maintenance
Thanks to its porous nature, keeping concrete free of stains from Algae, Mold and Mildew can feel overwhelming. It is essential to protect concrete from this growth as well as dirt and grime. Over time, the growth, and staining is not just unsightly, it's actually destroying your concrete. Follow these tips to keep your concrete clean and beautiful year round!
1) DO CLEAN YOUR CONCRETE ONCE PER YEAR AS NEEDED.
Whether removing algae off the walk or oil stains on the driveway, it is important to properly clean concrete about once per year. Stains that sit on concrete become harder to remove over time. Lichen, Moss, Mold and Algae are not only unattractive but can also make surfaces slippery and dangerous.
2) DO SELECT THE PROPER CLEANER FOR THE JOB.
Not all cleaners do the same work. For example, the degreaser that pulls up oil stains from vehicles will not work against Algae, Mold, and Mildew stains, and vice versa.
If you are looking to remove efflorescence or the build-up of salts on the surface of the concrete, it is ideal to dry brush away the white, powdery substance. The introduction of cleaners or even water can cause more salts to rise to the surface.
3) DO TEST BEFORE CLEANING.
Occasionally some cleaners could result in discoloring concrete. Always test new products in a small, inconspicuous area before applying to the entire surface. This is especially important when cleaning any treated, stamped, or colored concrete. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer for their recommendation.
4) BE AWARE THAT CONCRETE IS A VERY POROUS SURFACE.
When cleaning concrete, it is important to use enough cleaner to heavily saturate the surface. You may notice that concrete can look barely damp after just a few minutes. If this happens, apply more cleaner to get into the naturally occurring nooks and crannies.
For concrete that has a large amount of growth or has been neglected for several years, it may take more than one cleaning to return the original look of the concrete.
5) DO CONSIDER AN OVERTIME TREATMENT FOR PROLONGED RESULTS.
Once your concrete is clean, it is a good idea to consider a treatment that works over time. These tend to be faster and easier to apply and will prolong the results of your hard work. Save time, money, and water by applying an over time treatment one to two times per year to prevent new growth. Alternatively, Lichen and Moss often respond better to an over time treatment. A cleaner will certainly work with a little extra elbow grease. A treatment can kill the growth at the roots and have the added bonus of longer lasting results.
6) DON’T SIMPLY PRESSURE WASH CONCRETE.
Be careful if choosing to pressure wash. Incorrect pressure washing forces water into the cracks and crevasses and begins to break up the naturally occurring surface finish that protects concrete. It can also force spores and growth deeper into those holes, along with a bit of water, creating a nice little habitat for unwanted growth. This often results in Algae, Mold, and Mildew stains returning even faster than before. Consider a soft wash for a less abrasive cleaning. Choose a cleaner best suited to the stains you are looking to remove. Apply, brush if directed, and then soft wash away.
7) DO WAIT A DAY.
Whether cleaning organic growth or oily stains, concrete tends to look better the next day. This is because the water that has soaked into those nooks and crannies can result in a slightly darker look to the concrete. Once it has dried out, typically overnight, it will appear even lighter in color. This is especially true with older concrete.
8) DO PROTECT YOUR CONCRETE AFTER CLEANING
Consider sealing your concrete surfaces after they have been properly cleaned. Be sure to research the best product and application for your job and to test it out before sealing the entire area. Consider:
- The type of concrete (old, new, stamped, colored, etc)
- What products were used during cleaning and how
- What do you want the sealer to do (appearance, performance, safety, etc)
While we may not think about it, we come into contact with concrete every day of our lives. Help to preserve your walks, drives, and even décor with these tips and your outdoor spaces will look great for years to come.
Have questions about cleaning concrete? Leave a comment below!
Before and After Pictures
Customer Photos
Tag #30SECONDSCleaners on Instagram or Twitter. @30SECONDSCleanerUSA on Facebook19 Comments
Jessica Merly
Hello Garrett,
We are sorry to hear that you were not pleased with the results of using 30 SECONDS Cleaners on your brick and awnings. We would love the opportunity to talk with you and see what went wrong. Please give us a call at 503-669-1953, it would be our pleasure to work with you to get the results that our fans have come to expect over the last 40 years. We hope to hear from you soon!
Ed Hicks
Every one e and awhile you come across a product that exceeds expectations, this is it! This product is a true labor saver, no power washing. Went back and bought extra just to have on-hand. Thanks again.
Mary
Do you have a product you recommend for sealing a driveway & sidewalk in central Florida? We have used 30 seconds to clean our house & have been very satisfied
Jessica Merly
Hello Mary,
Thank you so much for sharing your success using 30 SECONDS Outdoor Cleaner on your house.
We do not make a sealer for concrete and think its best if you talk to someone at your favorite Home and Garden store. They will have recommendations for you and feedback from other customers to help make the right choice. All the best!
James Burgei
We used 30 seconds cleaner on our Morton building and it worked great. We used what was left over to do a portion of our concrete patio and it left a rust color . Do we need to do over or can we scrub with water?
Jessica Merly
Hi James,
Thank you for contacting 30 SECONDS Cleaners. Our cleaner typically doesn’t discolor concrete. We think extra rinsing should do the trick but would love to take a look at some pictures to troubleshoot with you first. Contact us at 503-669-1953 or info@30secondscleaners.com and we can help get to the root of the problem with you!
JAMES BURGEI
We did rinse the patio and after 2 days the rust color is gone. We have ordered more to clean our front porch pavers. Thanks for replying. JIM
Jessica Merly
Thank you so much for the follow-up! We are glad to hear the extra rinse did the trick. Enjoy your clean patio and porch!
Francene Sargeant
Love it! On my third bottle and keep some in the garage. I got it to wash down an area on patio and up on siding. I didn’t know what it was but this house wash is better than sliced bread. After that I decided to see if it would clean the algae growing up the side of my house. Just a simple spray and a water hose worked wonders. I have videos but don’t see anywhere to upload them. Highly recommended.
Jessica Merly
Hello Francene,
Thank you for taking the time to tell people about 30 SECONDS Outdoor Cleaner. We love getting pictures and videos from our fans, and have been known to send out a little "Thank You’ gift for them. You can email them to Info@30SecondsCleaners.com. Thank you for offering to share them with us. Cheers!
Jeffrey Dougal
Does it work on brick patios and walkways?
Jessica Merly
Hello Jeffrey,
Yes, 30 SECONDS Outdoor Cleaner can also be used on brick. Instructions for cleaning brick is the same as concrete, so you are in the right place!
John Achterberg
AMAZING I sprayed my white vinyl siding with 30 seconds. Waited approximately 3 minutes and used a low power pressure washer to rinse. Every bit of dirt, grime, mildew came off. No scrubbing. Actually went over some areas that I had used a variety of cleaners on and cleaned up all the stubborn left over stains. I highly recommend this product. Thankyou
ROBERT D LISKO
This summer, I sealed my garage floor to help keep it clean and free of stains.
Unfortunately, I’m still getting tire marks on the garage floor.
Will 30 Seconds Cleaners remove the tire marks on my concrete floor?
Karen m Ammon
We bought our house a year ago this is the first summer here. Being able to walk around the house I discovered a lot of mold and I started to use a pressure washer. In my garage I discovered a small bottle of 30 second outdoor cleaner decided to give it a try, oh my God the stuff is awesome.Due to my work schedule I am only able to work outside on the weekends. I have now cleaned my house, the gutters, the bricks, the rocks, the sidewalk, and a wooden swing set.
I am so happy that I discovered that small bottle in the garage, I am a true believer of 30 outdoor cleaner. Thank you so much for this product I am a returning customer for life
Jessica Merly
Hi Robert,
Sorry, but we don’t think 30 SECONDS Outdoor Cleaner will remove the tire marks. We would ask a sales associate, perhaps in your favorite automotive store, to see what they recommend.
Stewart
Have contacted you before, just tried product on roof, no success need help or refund
Jessica Merly
Hello Stewart,
We see that we spoke with you back in May and sent out a replacement bottle to help clean your metal roof. We are sorry that you are still having issues using the cleaner. Please give us a call directly at 503-669-1953 to troubleshoot as we were unsuccessful via email last time. We hope to hear from you soon.
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Garrett Harte
February 18, 2019
This product did not even come close to what it promised! I just wasted my afternoon using it in masonry bricks and didn’t make a dent in the mildew on them. I also used it on an awning and same thing didn’t work! So dissatisfied with your product. I should have just sprayed bleach on them then power washed and I would have been ahead $30!!!!!