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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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!
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!
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.
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
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!
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?
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!
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
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!
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.
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!
Does it work on brick patios and walkways?
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!
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
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?
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
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.
Have contacted you before, just tried product on roof, no success need help or refund
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.
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!!!!!