1 Clean Concrete Yard
If your yard or patio is made of concrete, follow these steps:
Step 1: Move potted plants, furniture, and other items off the yard.
Clear the space to make cleaning easier and take the opportunity to declutter and clean your potted plants.
Step 2: Sweep the dirt and debris.
Use a stiff broom to sweep away dirt, fallen leaves, and other debris from the concrete surface.
Step 3: Mix a concrete cleaning solution.
Mix 1 cup of bleach (about 240 ml) with a bucket of hot water (about 3.8 liters). Use a spoon or any convenient tool to dissolve the bleach.
Step 4: Add a few drops of dish soap to the mixture.
Add a few drops of dish soap to the mixture from Step 3 to create suds. This will help you clean dirt from the cracks and crevices in the concrete.
Step 5: Mop the entire concrete floor with the cleaning solution.
Use a mop or any convenient cloth to dip into the cleaning solution and proceed to mop the entire concrete floor. This will help the floor absorb and be evenly coated with the solution.
Step 6: Scrub stubborn stains with a stiff brush.
After mopping, use a stiff brush to scrub stubborn stains on the floor. Move the brush in a circular motion to gently remove stains without damaging the color of the concrete.
Step 7: Rinse the floor with clean water.
Use a bucket or spray nozzle to rinse the floor and remove soap and dirt. After rinsing, use a cloth to dry the floor, which will help it dry faster and remove any remaining soap or dirt.
Step 8: Put the potted plants and furniture back in place.
Once the floor is dry, you can let it air dry further before placing the potted plants and other items back on the concrete surface.
2 Clean Wooden Deck
If your yard or patio is made of wood, follow these steps:
Step 1: Move all items off the wooden floor.
Move all furniture, rugs, tables, and chairs off the wooden floor.
Step 2: Sweep away dirt and debris from the wood surface.
Use a stiff broom to sweep away all dirt and debris from the floor, especially in the cracks and crevices of the wood.
Step 3: Mix a wood floor cleaning solution.
Mix 2 cups of oxygen bleach (about 470ml) with 7.6 liters of warm water in a bucket and stir well.
Step 4: Add dish soap to the mixture.
Add 1/4 cup (about 60ml) of dish soap to the mixture from Step 3 to create a foamy solution. This will help you remove dirt from the wood cracks.
Step 5: Use a brush to scrub the wooden floor.
Dip a brush into the cleaning solution (from Step 4) and scrub the wooden floor. Move the brush in a consistent motion to remove dirt and stains from the surface.
Step 6: Let the cleaning solution soak for about 15 minutes.
The oxygen bleach in the cleaning solution needs time to work on the dirt and stains on the wooden floor, so wait for about 15 minutes before proceeding to the next step.
Step 7: Rinse the wood with clean water and let it air dry.
Use a garden hose or a bucket of clean water to rinse away the dirt and soap from the wooden floor. After rinsing, use a cloth to dry the floor thoroughly.
Step 8: Polish the wooden floor with teak oil.
Once the wood is completely dry, use a clean cloth to apply a small amount of teak oil and polish the wooden surface. The oil will help maintain the color and add a new shine to the floor.
3 Clean Composite Wood Plastic Floor
Composite wood plastic is another common material used for yards and patios. It is an artificial wood made from a combination of wood powder and plastic (PE, PVC, etc.) along with other additives with a cellulose or inorganic base.
Here are the steps to clean a composite wood plastic floor, which are similar to cleaning concrete and wooden floors:
Step 1: Move furniture and other items off the floor.
Step 2: Sweep away dirt and debris from the composite wood plastic floor.
Use a broom to sweep away dirt and debris from the floor, paying extra attention to the cracks and crevices.
