We all love that awesome fragrance of Fabuloso and want to have it everywhere, in and around our house. Can it be used to clean concrete though? Can you use Fabuloso to give your driveway a good scrubbing? Read on further to find out.
Can You Use Fabuloso on Concrete?
Concrete is widely used in buildings, driveways, pavements, and other structural applications. Concrete is a hard substance, but it is also porous. Although the pores are minute, they can still absorb water and other liquids.
Fabuloso is designed to clean non-porous surfaces. Using it on concrete is not a good idea. Although it is a pH-neutral multi-purpose cleaner, it can react with concrete and weaken it. However, You can safely use it for cleaning polished concrete.
How Do Fabuloso Ingredients React with Concrete?
We will look at the regular Fabuloso ingredients first and see how they react with concrete:
SURFACTANTS (to remove grime)
• Sodium Dodecylbenzene Sulfonate
• C9-11 Pareth-8
• Sodium C12-15 Pareth Sulfate
• Sodium Laureth Sulfate
• Sodium Chloride – It is a viscosity modifier
• Glutaral – acts as a preservative
• Citric Acid – regulates the pH level of the product
• Colorants – adds color to differentiate the products of the same brand
• Fragrance
Sodium chloride (salt) is harsh on concrete. The bonds holding the concrete together can be weakened if the salt’s acidic properties leak through.
Citric acid causes etching on the concrete surface. However, etching is necessary if you want to paint on the concrete.
The effects of the surfactants on concrete are not entirely known. However, grime and grease will be washed away with their help.
Fabuloso Complete has mostly the same ingredients as regular Fabuloso, but in addition, it also has:
• Lactic acid
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Xanthan Gum
• BHT
• Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer
Lactic acid is bad for concrete. It gets in the spores and combines with the cement making it easy to erode.
Hydrogen peroxide is safe to use on concrete.
Cleaning Concrete the Safe Way!
Even if Fabuloso is not an acidic or high-alkali cleaner, it should not be used to clean concrete as the instructions on each different product state that it should be used on hard, non-porous surfaces.
If you use it to clean concrete floors, you may slowly weaken the floor. This eventually will turn out to be a costly repair exercise. There are other alternatives for cleaning concrete. Dish soap is the most commonly used and it is good for removing oil stains.
Concrete should be sealed to extend its lifespan. Use mild substances if you are unsure of whether it has been sealed or not.
Gather the following cleaning supplies:
- Broom – stiff and soft-bristled
- Stiff brush
- Mop
- Hose or power washer
- Bucket of water
- Dish soap
- Gloves
- Leaf blower
- Baking soda, vinegar, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide (for removing stains)
- Trisodium phosphate – use only for extremely tough stains (1/4 cup in a gallon of hot water)
Cleaning a Concrete Driveway!
STEP 1- Sweep away any dirt, debris, and leaves from the surface. Leaf blowers are useful if the area is big.
STEP 2- Wet the concrete using a hose and first spot clean any stains using dish soap, baking soda, bleach, or vinegar. If there are tire marks, use a degreaser and let it sit for a few hours.
STEP 3- Brush the entire area with a stiff broom, dish soap, and water.
STEP 4- Rinse the area again with a hose and brush off the excess water. Let it dry naturally. If you use a power washer, adjust the settings so as not to damage the concrete.
Cleaning a Concrete Floor!
STEP 1- Remove furniture and other items.
STEP 2- Sweep the floor with a broom or a brush.
STEP 3- Using dish soap, baking soda, bleach, or vinegar., Spot clean any stains.
STEP 4- Mop the floor with water and dish soap.
STEP 5- Rinse and mop the floor again with clean water to remove residue.
Cleaning Polished Concrete!
Polished concrete requires a pH-neutral cleaner, so you can use Fabuloso.
STEP 1- Pour some mild soap or Fabuloso (1/4 cup) into a gallon of water.
STEP 2- Dip the mop in the bucket and make sure to wring it out.
STEP 3- Mop the floor in small sections as you do not want the water to stay on the floor for too long.
STEP 4- Mop the floor again, with just clean water. This is to remove soap residue from the previous step.
Note: Do not use anything metallic to scrub the stains as it will scratch the concrete.
How Do You Make a Homemade Concrete Cleaner?
These are better to use than commercial cleaners. They are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and easy to source.
1- Baking Soda and Vinegar: This is a safe combination to use on concrete.
Sprinkle baking soda on stains and let it remain for 15 minutes. Pour vinegar and allow it to fizzle. Pour a little bit of laundry detergent and scrub the spot using a stiff brush.
2- Bleach: When there is mildew and embedded dirt, bleach can be effective.
Combine bleach, water, and 1/8 cup of dishwashing detergent in a spray bottle. Spray the solution and brush the area. Remember to wear gloves. Bleach however will kill nearby vegetation so use carefully.
3- Distilled White Vinegar: You can mix vinegar and water in equal parts and pour the solution onto the concrete. Scrub with a stiff broom. However, do not leave the vinegar on the concrete for too long. It is good for removing rust, charcoal stains, and mold.
4- Baking Soda and Bleach: Wear gloves and mix bleach (1 part) and baking soda (2 parts) in a bucket and stir. With a stiff brush, apply it to the stains and let it remain for 15 minutes. Scrub the spot with a stiff brush. Rinse the area with the hose.
5- Hydrogen Peroxide: In a gallon of water, put in 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, and ½ a cup of baking soda. Dip a stiff brush and scrub the concrete.
In a Nutshell!
Fabuloso is pH-neutral but should not be used to clean unsealed or unpolished concrete. There are other products that are safer to use on concrete. Do not combine bleach with any other cleaning product (baking soda is okay). Clean up stains immediately before they set in.
