How to Wash a Basement Floor
Unless you have carpet or tile on your basement floor, it is most likely concrete. If the floor is carpet or tile, cleaning should require only vacuuming and moping. For concrete basement floors, cleaning may require a little extra work. Cleaning concrete basement floors is important to keep the dirt and debris from tracking throughout the rest of your house. You can maintain clean basement floors by using the proper cleaning products and methods. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Dust pan
- Garbage bag
- Vacuum cleaner
- Hot water
- 1/2 cup powdered dish soap
- 1/2 cup borax powder
- Vinegar
- Bucket
- Sponge mop
- Bleach
- Scouring pad
Instructions
-
-
1
Sweep the basement floor thoroughly with a broom. Begin at the back of the room you are working on and work your way towards the door. Keep a trash bag and dustpan nearby to place the dirt and debris into. Be sure to get into corners as well.
-
2
Vacuum the basement floor to remove dust and fine particles that the broom may have missed.
-
-
3
Combine 1 gallon hot water, ½ cup powdered dish soap and ½ cup borax powder into a bucket. You can use vinegar and water as an alternative by combining 3 parts water to 1 part white vinegar into the bucket.
-
4
Dip a sponge mop into the bucket of cleaning solution, and wring it out well. It is best to use a sponge mop rather than a string mop as this will be harder to maneuver on concrete basement floors.
-
5
Mop the basement floor in 2x2-foot sections. Rinse and wring out the mop frequently, and mix up a new batch of cleaning solution if the water becomes really dirty.
-
6
Dispose of the cleaning solution once the entire floor has been mopped. Rinse the bucket and the mop, and fill the bucket with plain, warm water. Go over the entire floor with the mop and clean water. Rinse and wring the mop often while rinsing the floor. Allow the floor to air dry.
-
7
Use bleach and water to target any tough stains on the basement floor. Combine 1 tbsp. bleach to every qt. of water you need. Scrub the stain with a scouring pad until it is lifted.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Avoid mixing cleaning products and/or chemicals. The combination could be toxic or fatal.
Wear rubber gloves and protective eyewear when cleaning. Open windows and turn on any exhaust fans to ventilate the area.
