How to Clean Concrete (the Easy Way!) – Porches, Patios, Driveways + More

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Dealing with a dirty patio or driveway? Thankfully, the solution may be much easier than you can imagine! Here’s everything you need to know about how to clean concrete the EASY way.

And, even better? You likely already have everything you need right at home!

Can I humble brag for a moment? Over the past 15 years of homeownership, I’ve cleaned more concrete than you can imagine. And I’ve gotten to be really, really good at it. 😉

From removing rust stains on concrete garage floors to scrubbing stains of concrete patios, and even cleaning concrete countertops in our kitchen, I LOVE a good concrete cleaning.

I’ve also had the opportunity to try a lot of methods—from vinegar to laundry detergent and even cat litter (seriously). Today, I’m sharing what works and how to clean concrete FAST. Let’s go!

Psst….Dealing with a particular issue? Use the table of contents to skip ahead!

There are a ton of ways out there to clean concrete, but I like to use what I have on hand and do things the easy way! Here’s how to clean concrete (the easy way!).

Supplies Needed

• Push broom
• OxiClean – this is my preferred method, but you can also use Castille soap and water for a more natural solution.
• Scrubbing brushes
• Large bucket
• Water hose
• Gloves
• Cat litter – you only need this if you have tough stains like oil, grease, or wine (hey, we listen, and we do not judge!). Clumping kitty litter tends to work best.

How to clean concrete

Once you have your supplies in hand, it’s time to get to work!

1. Clear off your porch (or driveway)

First of all, you’ll need to clear off your porch. Move all the furniture, potted plants, door mats, etc.

Warning: You all are going to be grossed out when you see what was hiding underneath all your things. Here’s visual proof!

2. Remove all debris

Next, you’ll need to use a push broom to sweep off all the dirt, leaves, and debris from the porch. You want the surface to be as clean as possible before you begin.

Don’t have a push broom? Use what you have on hand. Just get as much gunk as possible off your patio or driveway!

3. Mix up the cleaning solution

Now, it’s time to make your cleaner.

Fill your bucket with water, then add OxiClean. The amount of cleaner you need will depend on your bucket size. You really only need a small amount for it to work.

We used a Home Depot 5-gallon bucket, filled it about halfway, and added a half scoop of the cleaner.

Give it a good stir to make sure the powder is fully dissolved. Ideally, the water would be warm, but we used water from our hose, and it worked just fine.

I’ve gotten to work with a lot of cleaning agents and products over the years, and I promise you guys—this was the best-smelling one!

Both Scott and I were joking that our porch was going to smell like fresh laundry, which is never a bad thing!

4. Apply the cleaner

Once you have your solution mixed, you will want to work in small areas at a time. This is really important – you don’t want the cleaner sitting on your concrete too long since concrete is super porous.

Pour some of the mixture on the porch and then use these scrubbing brushes to scrub the stains and dirt off. This method does take a bit of elbow grease, but it’s not bad!

Check out this brush—yikes!

5. Rinse with water (carefully!)

Once you finish a section, use your hose to dilute the cleaner and rinse off your concrete.

Since we had just put in a bunch of new plants, we were careful not to allow any runoff into the garden. Instead, we used the broom to push most of the water down the stairs.

It took us about 30 minutes to scrub down the entire porch, but yours will take more or less, depending on the size and how dirty it is. 

Check out how much better things were looking already!

After we let the porch dry a bit, things were looking much better…but we weren’t quite done yet!

Here’s a before vs “after” to see the difference so far.

6. Remove stains (if needed)

As you can see above, there were still a few stained areas on the porch. Stains can be extremely difficult to get out of concrete since it’s a highly porous material. Thus, you have to draw them out.

There are many methods you can use to remove stains, depending on what caused them. Here’s a list to try:

Stained concrete

If you aren’t sure what your stains are from, this is what I would recommend starting with.

Try scrubbing with detergent or soap. You can use your preferred liquid laundry detergent or use plain old soap! Apply it to the stain, then use that scrub brush with plenty of elbow grease. Rinse and repeat!

Or, you can make a thick paste using OxiClean—it should be the consistency of gritty peanut butter.

Spread the paste mixture onto the stain and let it sit for 1-2 hours, then scrape it away and rinse. Repeat as necessary. This is what we did for our own patio, and it worked so well, as you can see in these pictures.

Oil stains

Oil stains are easiest to get out when they are fresh, but even older oil stains can be removed with the right methods.

First, try cat litter. Cover the area with cat litter to absorb as much grease as possible. Let it sit for 24 hours, then sweep it away and scrub with a degreaser or dish soap solution.

Don’t have cat litter? You can also use cornstarch! Apply it the same way—sprinkle it on and let it sit for 24 hours before removing and scrubbing the stain.

Then, it’s time for more scrubbing. Mix dish soap with hot water and apply it to the stain. Use a stiff brush to scrub the area thoroughly, then rinse with warm water.

Removing Rust Stains

Rust is tricky but not impossible. Start with using lemon juice and salt paste.

To make it, combine lemon juice and salt to create a paste. Apply it to the rust stain and let it sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing. Rinse well with water.

For persistent rust stains, you can try an oxalic acid-based cleaner. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and wear gloves for safety.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Here are some common issues and how to fix them when cleaning your concrete patio or driveway.

What should I do if my patio has a white powdery residue?

The white residue, known as efflorescence, is caused by salts in the concrete coming to the surface.

Use a white vinegar solution (equal parts vinegar and water) to dissolve the salts and scrub gently.

Want to prevent future efflorescence? Your best bet is sealing the concrete.

Help! My patio has streaks and discoloration.

Uneven cleaning can leave streaks or patches, which is why I recommend working in small areas using circular strokes. Make sure to use overlapping strokes when scrubbing or rinsing to keep it nice and even!

Do I need a pressure washer?

I’ve heard pressure washers are a great way to clean concrete (and everything else, too!), but I don’t have one and didn’t want to go buy one just for this. I did figure out how to clean concrete without a pressure washer, though!

I recommend following the process above of scrubbing the concrete with a cleaner and then rinsing.

To create a more pressurized rinse using a hose, you can either use the jet setting on your hose’s nozzle (this hose and nozzle works really well).

If you don’t have a nozzle, just use your thumb to direct the spray forcefully. 

How do I clean concrete steps?

Cleaning concrete steps is easy! You follow the same exact steps!

1. First, sweep and rinse them down to remove all debris.
2. Then, create a cleaning solution using a mix of Oxi Clean and water.
3. Use a hand brush and scrub the steps, then rinse with a hose. 

Do I need to seal my concrete patio after cleaning?

You don’t have to seal it (I usually don’t, hah), but it would be the best practice if you have the time for it.

A concrete sealer adds a protective layer that prevents stains and keeps your concrete clean! And you really only need to reseal your patio every 2–3 years.

So, now that you know how to clean concrete, what do you do with your concrete once it’s clean?

You can do what I did and paint your concrete with this easy DIY concrete painted rug! It’s super easy…and super cute!

More Outdoor Projects

• How to Build an Outdoor Swinging Bed
• Patio Floor Ideas
• DIY Sunroom – Convert a Porch to Sunroom!