How to Clean Concrete Steps

Co-authored by Erik Bakirov

Last Updated: November 30, 2021 References

There are a variety of ways to clean concrete steps. For mild cleaning, spot cleaning, and/or indoor cleaning, use a mild dish soap and a stiff bristle brush to remove stains from your concrete steps. For stubborn stains and outdoor jobs, use a concrete cleaner with a push broom or a pressure washer to clean your concrete steps thoroughly.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Dish Soap and Hot Water

1
Sweep the steps. Use a broom to sweep away dirt and debris from the concrete steps. Sweep the steps until they are completely free of dirt and debris. This will prep the concrete for the cleaning process.^{[1]
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- Alternatively, you can use a leaf blower to remove dirt and debris from the steps.
2
Mix one part hot water to two parts dish soap. Use liquid dish soap. Mix the ingredients together in a plastic bucket until they are well-combined.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Erik Bakirov
Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 7 January 2021.}
- To make the solution more potent, mix in one part vinegar.
- The temperature of the water should be at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius).
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3
Pour the solution over the stains. Make sure each stain is completely covered with the solution. Then let the solution set for 10 to 15 minutes. While the solution is setting, make sure it does not dry. If it begins to dry, then just pour more solution onto the stain.
- If the stain is a stubborn or old stain, then you may need to let the solution set for 30 minutes.
4
Scrub the stain with a stiff bristle brush. Do not use a metal scrub brush; these may scratch your concrete. Scrub the stains until they are completely removed.^{[3]
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- If the stains remain, then sprinkle them with a powdered laundry detergent. Let the detergent set for 10 to 15 minutes. After the allotted time, pour hot water onto the stains and scrub them with your stiff bristle brush until they are completely gone.
5
Rinse with hot water. Rinse the steps with the hot water until all of the soap residue and debris are completely gone.You may need to rinse your steps two to three times.^{[4]
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- The temperature of the water should be at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius).

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Concrete Cleaner

1
Remove debris from the steps. Sweep or blow away all the dirt and debris from the concrete steps. Also, make sure to cover up any nearby plants with a plastic covering like a tarp or trash bags.
- Remove toys, decorations, and nearby furniture as well.
2
Mix one part hot water to one part oxygenated bleach. Mix them together in a plastic bucket until they are well-combined. The temperature of the water should be at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius).
- Alternatively, you can use a specially formulated concrete cleaner instead of the oxygenated bleach and water. You can find these at your local hardware store.
3
Spray the steps with the solution. Fill a tank sprayer with the solution. Working from the top down, use the tank to spray the steps with the solution, focusing on the stained areas. Once you have covered the whole area, let the solution set for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Make sure the concrete steps are soaking wet to prevent the solution from drying up while it is setting. If the solution starts to dry, then just spray more solution onto the steps.
- You can purchase or rent a tank sprayer from your local hardware store.
4
Scrub the steps with a long handled brush. You can also use a push broom to do this. Working from the top down, scrub the steps until the dirt and grime are completely removed. Use a smaller scrub brush to clean small crevices and corners.
- Make sure to clean the steps evenly to avoid a patchy look.
5
Rinse the steps with hot water. Fill a gallon bucket with clean, hot water. From the top of the stairs, pour the water down the steps to rinse them clean. Rinse the steps until all of the soap residue, dirt, and grime are removed.^{[5]
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- If the concrete steps are still dirty, then repeat steps one through five, or use a different method.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Pressure Washer

1
Rent a pressure washer. You can rent a pressure washer from your local hardware store. Rent a pressure washer with a flow rate of at least 4 gpm (gallons per minute) and a PSI of at least 3,000.^{[6]
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2
Clear debris away from the steps. Remove dirt, leaves, twigs, and other debris from your steps using a broom or an electric blower. Also make sure to remove nearby plants, toys, furniture, and decorations.^{[7]
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- Make sure to cover any nearby plants that cannot be removed with a tarp or trash bags.
3
Pre-treat the steps. Fill a plastic bucket with one part hot water to two parts liquid dish soap. Mix the ingredients together until they are well-combined. Then scrub the treatment into the concrete using a push broom or a stiff bristle brush. Let the solution set for 15 to 20 minutes.^{[8]
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- Alternatively, you can pretreat the steps with a specially formulated concrete cleaner.
4
Wash the steps. Hook the pressure washer up per the directions on the instruction manual. Use the high-pressure nozzle and rinse mode to clean the steps. With the nozzle facing the concrete, press the trigger. Starting from the top of the steps, begin to clean them in a back and forth sweeping motion.^{[9]
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- Wash the steps until all of the soap, dirt, and grime are removed.
- To ensure your safety, wear close-toed shoes, clothing that can get wet, and safety goggles.
5
Let the steps air dry. Do this once the steps are completely clean. If you are going to apply a sealant, make sure the concrete is completely dry before doing so.^{[10]
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- It may take one to two days for the concrete to dry completely.