Things You'll Need
Stiff-bristled broom
Garden hose
Rubber gloves
Ventilation mask
Bucket
Long-handled spoon
Mop
Warning
Avoid skin contact when working with trisodium phosphate.
Concrete is a stonelike material made from cement, water and stone or sand, which are mixed, poured and cured into various designs. Concrete is often used to make basement floors, patios and driveways because of its durability. Dirty or stained concrete can look unattractive, and difficult stains such as grease or oil won't always come clean with regular detergents. Trisodium phosphate, or TSP, is a strong and effective cleaner for tough stains on concrete surfaces.
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Step 1
Sweep any loose dirt or debris from the concrete with a stiff-bristled broom.
Step 2
Wet the surface of the concrete with a garden hose if it's outdoors, or use a wet mop if it's indoors. Put on rubber gloves and a ventilation mask.
Step 3
Mix 1/4 cup of trisodium phosphate with 1 gallon of hot water in a bucket. Use a long-handled spoon to stir the solution until the TSP dissolves. Use 1/2 cup of TSP if the concrete surface is extremely dirty.
Step 4
Mop the concrete surface with the solution, or pour the solution onto the concrete and scrub it with a stiff-bristled broom.
Step 5
Rinse the concrete surface with a garden hose. If you're working indoors, use a bucket filled with clean water and a mop to remove any remaining cleaner. Rinse the mop in the bucket, and change the rinse water as needed. Allow the concrete to air dry.
Shelley Marie
Shelley Marie has been writing professionally since 2008 for online marketing and informational websites. Her areas of expertise include home, garden and health. She holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration and an associate degree in medical billing and insurance coding, both from Herzing University.