If your patio’s looking more ugh than inviting after a long winter, you’re going to love this. I found a concrete cleaner hack that completely brought our outdoor space back to life—and the best part? It’s probably already sitting in your laundry room. After battling stains, grime, and planter rings that wouldn’t budge, this simple trick made cleaning our concrete patio easier (and way more satisfying) than I expected.
Table of Contents
- Why I Needed a Concrete Cleaner That Could Actually Deliver
- The Concrete Cleaner Method that Didn’t Work
- What Did Work: My Bold Concrete Cleaner Move
- Step 1: Protect Grass and Plants
- Step 2: Wet the Stained Area
- Step 3: Apply the Concrete Cleaner
- Step 4: Scrub Like You Mean It
- Step 5: Pressure Wash for a Final Rinse
- The Satisfying Before and After
- Our Patio’s Back—and Open for Summer Fun
- How We Use Our Patio to Gather and Entertain
- Frequently Asked Questions About Concrete Cleaner Methods
Why I Needed a Concrete Cleaner That Could Actually Deliver
After a long, cold, stormy winter, our patio was looking rough. Dirt, leaves, and grime had built up in every corner. So, like any determined DIY-er, I started cleaning our concrete patio step by step.
First up: clearing the debris. I used a push broom, a blower, and then gave it a quick rinse with the hose. It already looked better—but not clean.
Next, I brought out the big guns: my pressure washer. If you’ve ever seen the results in Revive Your Old and Weathered Wood Fence, you know why I had high hopes. And it did help lift a lot of the surface grime… but there were still stubborn stains hanging on for dear life.
These photos are after the pressure washing. Yuck! I knew I was going to have to get creative to get these stubborn stains cleaned off my concrete patio.
The Concrete Cleaner Method that Didn’t Work
Naturally, I went with the conventional wisdom that I found recommended on the internet. I mixed up a solution in my pump sprayer: five parts water to one part bleach. I sprayed it directly on the worst spots, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, gave it a solid scrub with the push broom, then rinsed it off with the pressure washer again.
And… nope. The stains were still there.
What Did Work: My Bold Concrete Cleaner Move
At this point, I decided to go bold. Out came the bottle of straight, undiluted bleach.
But wait! There’s a method to this madness—and a few important precautions.
Step 1: Protect Grass and Plants
Before cleaning your concrete patio with bleach, water any nearby grass or plants. This helps protect them from accidental runoff or splash damage.
Step 2: Wet the Stained Area
Start by wetting the area of your concrete patio that is stained—this helps the bleach spread more evenly and keeps it from soaking in too quickly.
Step 3: Apply the Concrete Cleaner
I poured bleach straight from the jug for some areas, but ended up preferring the pump sprayer for more control. Using the undiluted bleach directly on the stain gave me the results I was after.
Step 4: Scrub Like You Mean It
Grab your push broom and scrub thoroughly. I mean really work that concrete cleaner into the surface.
Step 5: Pressure Wash for a Final Rinse
Once everything’s had a good scrub, rinse the whole patio off with a pressure washer. Not only does this remove the bleach, it gives you that satisfying “sparkly clean” finish.
The Satisfying Before and After
Check out these before and afters—on the left, you can see planter rings and random splotches, and on the right… poof, gone. That deep clean magic? All thanks to this powerful DIY concrete cleaner routine.
Our Patio’s Back—and Open for Summer Fun
Some of you might remember when I hired help from Facebook Marketplace to pour our patio in Install a Concrete Sidewalk (and More!). It’s held up beautifully (honestly, no regrets), but if I could go back, I’d probably seal it to make cleaning easier.
That said, I’m glad I have this method up my sleeve. When it comes to cleaning concrete patios, this has become my go-to trick. Bleach might not be fancy, but it’s hands-down the best concrete cleaner I’ve tried for deep, set-in stains.
How We Use Our Patio to Gather and Entertain
We love using our patio for everything from family hangouts around the fire pit to hosting backyard dinners and celebrations. It’s one of the most-used spaces in our home—especially once the weather warms up! If you want to see how we styled these areas or get all the links and sources, check out this post about our fire pit lounge area and this one with our outdoor dining setup.
Frequently Asked Questions About Concrete Cleaner Methods
Straight bleach (used carefully) worked better than any diluted mixture or store-bought product I tried. Just prep your space and rinse thoroughly afterward.
Used occasionally and rinsed well, it won’t harm the surface. Avoid overuse and always protect nearby grass or garden beds.
It helps a ton for rinsing and getting that final clean look. But even just a strong hose stream can work in a pinch—especially with some solid scrubbing.
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