After spring cleaning comes summer projects. Perhaps the biggest area of summer projects for most homeowners has to do with the outside of their property. From replacing mulch and cleaning up the garden, to reorganizing the garage, and everything in between. The outside of your house needs some sprucing up after everything it has been through all year. One big part of that is cleaning the driveway or other outdoor surfaces, because let’s face it, stains happen. Below are some of our best tips for concrete cleaning around your home.

Concrete Cleaning Prep

To start with, you need to gather all your supplies. These should include:

• Broom and dustpan
• Mop and bucket
• Scrub Brush with stiff but non-metal bristles
• Spray bottle
• Gloves
• Clay cat litter

Start by examining your driveway. If there is standing liquid from spills such as motor oil, pour some cat litter on the area and let sit for about 30 minutes while you keep working. After the litter has absorbed the excess liquid, simply sweep it away into the dustpan. If there is no standing oil, you can skip this step.

Cleaning Product Options

There are many different cleaning products that you can use. What you choose may depend on what you already have around the house or what you can readily find and what type of stains you are dealing with.

Detergent

For smaller grease stains, a strong detergent should work to remove the discoloration. Simply mix the detergent with a bit of water, apply to the stain, scrub, and rinse off.

Baking Soda and White Vinegar

If you have ever seen a school science project volcano, you know what happens when you mix baking soda and vinegar. The reaction between these two ingredients can also be quite helpful in removing stains on your driveway. The bonus here is that while some other stain removers may be harmful to kids, pets, or plants, baking soda and vinegar are non-toxic. Just sprinkle the area with baking soda, fill a spray bottle with vinegar, then spray on the stained section. After the bubbles have calmed down, scrub and rinse.

Bleach

If you have a large area that is covered in stains, this may be the best way to go. Fill a bucket with bleach water, then start mopping. Work in sections and always make sure to keep the space well ventilated, in other words, don’t close yourself in the garage with the bleach. Another important thing to remember is not to mix bleach with other household chemicals, as the mixture could become highly toxic.

Concrete Cleaner or Degreaser

When all else fails, it is time to head to the hardware store to pick up some concrete cleaner. This is best for newer stains. It works by loosening up the oil particles and releasing them from the concrete so they can be easily scrubbed away. Older stains do not typically respond well to this kind of treatment.