A patio is a great place for outdoor dining, entertaining friends and family, or just relaxing after a long day.
However, maintaining it can be very time-consuming as any dirt will show right away when exposed to the sun.
Unfortunately, many products you could use in order to clean your concrete would also kill grass if used improperly – which means that they are not an option for those who have sod on their lawns.
Not only this but these products are also harmful to other vegetation like trees and flowers so in some cases using them may even violate local laws (applies mostly to public spaces).
Read More: Can You Grow Grass Between Pavers? [And How]
As such we recommend doing it manually with soap and water instead! Let’s take a closer look at what needs to be done:
Cleaning Concrete Patio Without Killing Grass
Things You Will Need:
- Plastic Bucket
- Hose
- Stiff Bristled Broom
- Dishwashing Liquid
- Hot Water
1. First you need to rinse off the patio with a hose in order to remove any dirt, dust, and other debris. You can do this either from top-down or bottom-up – whichever is easier for you!
2. Next step would be using soap (with no bleach) and water in a bucket full strength to wash your concrete surface.
Mix together 2 tablespoons of mild dish soap and 3 gallons of warm water in a plastic bucket. Add the soaps to the bucket gently, stirring with your hands until it is completely mixed.
The best way of doing it is by working on a small area at time concentrating mostly on dirty areas so that they are not left as such while cleaning the rest of the space which should already be clean.
You will know when done correctly because all discolorations should come off easily but still leave a slight sheen after drying.
It’s also important that if possible avoid letting soap dry out before rinsing with water again.
3. Lastly, after the patio has dried off, you should sweep it carefully to remove any residual dirt and dust that might be left on the surface!
4. You could also use boiling water poured over the concrete surface which will break down grease while leaving behind an oily residue that may kill plants if left unattended for too long (or used excessively).
Follow up by mixing dish soap together with warm water before pouring on top of the dry flooring to create suds.
Rub it in using a scrub brush liberally until all dirt is gone – then rinse away!
5. Never leave bleach or other strong chemicals out on the patio as they can damage the grass underneath and contaminate groundwater nearby from runoff caused by rainstorms.
6. If you’re going to use a pressure washer, do so sparingly.
It’s better to avoid it altogether or only use it for about ten minutes at a time as this can suck up dirt that lies underneath the surface of the concrete flooring and cause problems for plants nearby over time.
7. You could also follow up by using an industrial-grade cleaner on top of your freshly washed patio if stains remain visible; be sure not to cover any plant life with these chemicals!
TIP: Use gentle cleansers on your concrete surfaces to protect your grass and plants.
Does white vinegar kill grass?
Spraying entire lawns with vinegar is not an effective weed control technique. It might kill the weeds, but it will also likely kill the grass.
Only apply a small amount of vinegar to your lawn and only if you want to use vinegar as a herbicide.
Here Are Some Of My Top Environmentally Friendly Patio Cleaners
1. Oxy Solve Total Outdoor Pressure Washer Cleaner – Removes Stains, Mold, and Dirt on Patios
Oxy Solve Total Outdoor Pressure Washer Cleaner is a powerful cleaner that combines the power of oxygen with other cleaning agents to make dirt and grime disappear from your patio furniture, decking, outdoor grill, and more.
It can also be used indoors for ceramic tile floors or any other area where you need an extra boost in cleanliness!
Oxygen has been known as being one of the most powerful natural cleaners on earth because it breaks down even tough stains like grease and oil.
This product is truly unique because it brings together these two incredible ingredients into one convenient package.
2. 30% Vinegar Pure Natural & Safe Industrial Strength Concentrate for Home & Garden
Vinegar is a natural cleaner that can be found in most homes. It’s safe for all surfaces, strong enough to cut through even the toughest stains and odors yet environmentally friendly so it won’t harm plants or pets.
Vinegar Pure Industrial Strength Concentrate is made from pure cane vinegar and distilled water with no added chemicals such as ammonia (a common ingredient of many commercial cleaners
3. Safe ‘n Easy Concrete Oil, Grease Cleaner & Stain Remover Spray
Concrete oil, grease, and stain remover spray. This product is a lifesaver! It gets rid of all the oils and stains on concrete with just one quick spritz.
Concrete can be tough to maintain but this greasy dirt cleaner has you covered: it removes oils, grease & grime from both floors and walls in seconds!
Kids being kids means that dirty handprints are constantly showing up on your freshly cleaned surfaces.
The Safe ‘n Easy Oil Stain Remover Spray tackles these spots every time without fail or fuss because they’re made from an eco-friendly formula that leaves no residue behind once dry.
Conclusion
We hope this article was helpful in giving you tips for how to clean concrete without killing grass – as well as other plants around your outdoor space.
We encourage our readers not only to share it but also to visit our blog often because we have a lot more articles coming up about all sorts of different topics related to home improvements like DIY projects or creative ways of using recycled materials!
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