How to Use a Floor Buffer to Clean a Concrete Floor

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Things You'll Need

  • Floor buffer

  • Scrub brush attachment

  • Screwdriver or socket wrench

  • Bucket of water or garden hose

  • Soap (optional)

  • Wet vacuum

  • Light-colored towel

  • Buffing attachment

  • Concrete floor wax

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Any bare concrete or painted and sealed concrete floor can be cleaned with a buffer.

Concrete floors are often found in some of the messiest areas of your home, such as garages and basements, where vehicles and other outdoor items are often stored and dirt may be regularly tracked in. When grime begins to build up on concrete floors, they can take on a perpetually dingy and dull appearance. While this may not be an issue on a plain gray concrete floor, if you have decorated the floor with paint, you may want to keep it clean. If you would like to keep your concrete looking its best, you can clean the floor with a floor buffer.

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Step 1

Remove the buffing head from the floor buffer. Although the process for removing an attachment varies with different makes and models of buffers, the basic steps are the same. Make sure the floor buffer is unplugged, and lay it down so you can see the bottom of the buffer pad. Remove the screw or bolts holding the attachment on, using a screwdriver or socket wrench, and pull the attachment toward you to slide it off the buffer.

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Step 2

Replace the buffing head with a scrub brush cleaning attachment. Line up the attachment with the bottom of the buffer and push the attachment to slide it onto the bottom of the unit. Next, replace the screw or bolt in the bottom of the buffer to hold the attachment in place.

Step 3

Wet the floor. If the floor is near a garden hose, you can use a the hose on a light spray to wet the surface. If the floor cannot be reached with a garden hose, pour water over the floor, using a bucket. Add soap to the floor only if the floor has greasy or sticky spots that do not come up with the water and floor buffer alone.

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Step 4

Plug in the floor buffer, being sure not to let the cord come in contact with the standing water on the floor. Turn on the buffer at its lowest speed and move the buffer slowly over the surface of the floor. Press the handle of the buffer just slightly forward. The buffer should do most of the pulling on its own.

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Step 5

Go over the floor with a wet vacuum to remove all of the water from the floor's surface. Wipe the floor with a light-colored towel once the water has been removed to see if any residue remains on the floor. If the towel comes away dirty, go over the floor again with water.

Step 6

Wax interior concrete floors to protect them after cleaning. Change the attachment on the buffer to a buffing attachment, apply a concrete floor wax to the floor's surface according to the directions on the packaging, turn the floor buffer on high speed and push the buffer slowly over the floor, allowing the buffer to do most of the pulling.

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