Best Concrete Cleaners

Review & Comparison, Last Update December 16, 2023
Concrete cleaners (usually microbial concrete cleaners) aren't glamorous. But you need one to keep your driveway or garage floor nice and clean. Here, you will find some of the best options on the market today, suitable for all sorts of applications and surfaces. ...Read more ...Read less
Advertiser Disclosure
BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Type
Suitable For
Active Ingredients
Formula
Volume
 
PROS

The cleaner doesn't damage the surface. Thanks to its overwhelming potency, you will not have to scrub the floors in order to remove even the deepest, most stubborn oil stains. Plus, because of how potent it is, you'll need very little powder to completely clean the surface.

CONS

The company recommends covering the area from the sun before using the cleaner. 

OUR VERDICT

TERMINATOR-HSD does not mess around. Though the oil-eating bacteria inside the formula are completely natural and safe for people, these little buggers are able to eat any stain alive with no sorrow or remorse.

detailed parameters
Type

Powder

Suitable For

Concrete, asphalt, porous stone, soils

Active Ingredients

Oil-eating bacteria

Formula

Biodegradable, safe for family, pets, and the environment

Volume

2 lbs

PROS

Aside from removing the stains, the substance also excels at restoring the surface's original appearance. It does not require scrubbing or pressure washing. You don't have to mix it with water. It doesn't have a smell to it. 

CONS

The pack makes it difficult to store the solvent once you open it. 

OUR VERDICT

This EXIMO® product is one of the best cleaners around. What makes it so good is that the formula is just as effective and safe as that of the next cleaner but the product itself is a lot more convenient and practical.

detailed parameters
Type

Powder

Suitable For

Concrete, asphalt

Active Ingredients

Oil-eating bacteria

Formula

Biodegradable, safe for family, pets, and the environment

Volume

0.75 lb

PROS

The product is completely suitable for grout, bricks, granite, wood decks, marble, tile, pretty much anything from plastic to metal. It works as a degreaser for concrete, helping prevent the spread of contaminants into drains and water supplies. 

CONS

You'll need lots of powder to remove some of the stubborn stains. 

OUR VERDICT

ACT Concrete Cleaner is the only product here that we could recommend to practically any customer without knowing his situation and the applications that they have in mind. Considering how versatile it is, anybody could benefit from this cleaner.

detailed parameters
Type

Powder

Suitable For

Concrete, stone, rocks, pavers, flagstone, granite, marble, tile, grout, wood decks, plastic, metal

Active Ingredients

Oil-eating bacteria

Formula

Biodegradable, safe for family, pets, and the environment

Volume

2.5 lbs

PROS

The solution is especially great on porous surfaces. Because of how thick the liquid is, it doesn't really spread out on its own, so you're able to apply it on vertical surfaces. The bottle, with its tight cap, makes it easy to store the cleaner and to apply it as well. 

CONS

The cleaner itself can be a little difficult to remove (wash off).

OUR VERDICT

We could recommend Chomp Pull It Out to DIY enthusiasts and small-time mechanics as well as to professionals, seasoned handymen, and experienced contractors. From garage floors to parking areas and drive-through lanes, there isn't a surface not suitable for it.

detailed parameters
Type

Thick liquid

Suitable For

Concrete, stone, pavers

Active Ingredients

Urea Monohydrochloride 

Formula

Fast-drying, safe for plants and environment

Volume

32 fl. oz. (0.25 gallon)

PROS

There are no dangerous chemicals in the formula and you do not have to wash it off after use. Treat concrete with it on a regular basis and you'll be able to prevent corrosion. The product is just as good for coating as it is at removing stains. 

CONS

There's a very specific smell to it. 

OUR VERDICT

Rust-Oleum does its job and, for the most part, it does it well. The 1-gallon bottle will be enough to cover 500 square feet. You can use it near plants and grass. Plus, it will help you etch concrete.

detailed parameters
Type

Thick liquid

Suitable For

Concrete, stone, pavers

Active Ingredients

Urea Monohydrochloride 

Formula

Safe for plants and environment

Volume

128 fl. oz. (1 gallon)

X

This site is a free online resource that strives to offer helpful content and comparison features to its visitors. Please be advised that the operator of this site accepts advertising compensation from certain companies that appear on the site, and such compensation impacts the location and order in which the companies (and/or their products) are presented, and in some cases may also impact the scoring that is assigned to them. The scoring that appears on this site is determined by the site operator in its sole discretion, and should NOT be relied upon for accuracy purposes. In fact, Company/product listings on this page DO NOT imply endorsement by the site operator. Except as expressly set forth in our Terms of Use, all representations and warranties regarding the information presented on this page are disclaimed. The information which appears on this site is subject to change at any time. More info

TERMINATOR-HSD Concrete Cleaner Concrete Cleaner

Industrial Power for Household Applications

TERMINATOR-HSD was originally designed for industrial and oilfield use. With it, there's hardly a stain that you won't be able to remove. Despite its overwhelming potency, the cleaner safely removes the stains, without doing any damage to the surface. But, thanks to its overwhelming potency, you will not have to scrub the floors in order to remove even the deepest, most stubborn oil stains.

The difference between subpar and quality concrete cleaners usually lies with versatility. Where most cleaners are limited to engine oils, this product is just as equipped to handle hydraulic fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, diesel, and antifreeze. And it isn't just about the oils and similar substances either. Aside from concrete, this thing works on asphalt, porous stones, and all kind of soils.

Sometimes, it can take from 1 to 4 applications completely remove the stone. But, more often than not, the cleaner will be able to tackle any stain and handle it on the first try. Plus, because of how potent it is, you'll need very little powder to completely clean the surface.

Without any further details, TERMINATOR-HSD does not mess around. Though the oil-eating bacteria inside the formula are completely natural and safe for people, these little buggers are able to eat any stain alive with no sorrow or remorse.

Review of TERMINATOR-HSD Concrete Cleaner Concrete Cleaner and Driveway

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $39.99
Stock In stock
ASIN B00OAVXPAM

 

CAF Outdoor Cleaning EXIMO

Doesn't Waste Water

To rephrase the people behind it, EXIMO® is an all-natural waterless solution. Using a time-driven process, as well as nature’s very own biochemistry, the product is capable of completely removing the most unsightly and seemingly impossible petroleum stains from any concrete surface.

What separates this cleaner from its subpar counterparts is the way it breaks down the hydrocarbon chain of oil stains deep within the pores of concrete and asphalt, not just removing the stains but also restoring the surface's original appearance. It does not require scrubbing. You won't need a pressure washer. Using this floor cleaner, you'll be able to make your driveway, garage, sidewalk, or any paver look as good as new.

The formula is as plant safe as it is harmless for you, your family, pets, and the surrounding environment. In fact, we don't really have a single issue with the formula itself. The only thing we have a problem with is the pack. Once you open it, it can be difficult to store the cleaner without losing a good chunk of the powder in the process.

That being said, this EXIMO® product is still one of the best concrete cleaners around. What makes it so good is that the formula is just as effective and safe as that of the next cleaner but the product itself is a lot more convenient and practical.

Review of CAF Outdoor Cleaning EXIMO Waterless Concrete Cleaner

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $19.95
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00CHTDO5K

 

ACT Concrete Cleaner

The Surface Doesn't Matter

Calling this product from ACT a concrete cleaner would be doing it a considerable disservice. Sure, it cleans concrete, cleans it as well as the next cleaner. But that's where the similarities end between the two.

See, with this substance, it doesn't matter the surface. You can use it on concrete, naturally. You can also use it on stones, rocks, pavers, flagstones. It works perfectly fine with granite, marble, and tile. The product is completely suitable for grout, bricks, wood decks, pretty much anything from plastic to metal. It is able to handle stubborn stains without doing any damage to the paint, so you can even use it on painted surfaces.

On top of everything else, it works as a degreaser for concrete, helping prevent the spread of contaminants into drains and water supplies. The cleaner dissolves gum, grease, rust, and antifreeze as well as it handles animal waste and mold.

Is there any spill or stain that it can't handle? Not really. The only downside here, as far as we're concerned, is that it isn't as potent and powerful as our best pick, so you'll have to use lots of powder to dissolve some of the more stubborn stains.

Other than that, ACT Concrete Cleaner is the only product here that we could recommend to practically any customer without knowing his situation and the applications that they have in mind. Considering how versatile it is, anybody could benefit from this cleaner.

Review of ACT Concrete Cleaner Perfect For Your Driveway Garage or Warehouse

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $42.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B006G0PYFE

 

Chomp Pull It Out

Effective With a Capital E

Chomp Pull It Out is a liquid stain remover and cement cleaner. With it, come certain advantages and disadvantages. Starting with the former, you won't have to mix the solution with water. Convenient and effective, the product is equally great for DIY and professional use.

But, again, it isn't without its downsides too. For one, the cleaner itself can be a little difficult to remove (wash off). At the very least, you'll have to brush it away like chalk dust, not the change of pace from the usual deal that you're usually hoping for.

But given how effective it is, especially on porous surfaces, we simply couldn't avoid adding this concrete cleaner to our list. Plus, aside from the clean-up remark earlier, the product is actually surprisingly practical. Because of how thick the liquid is, it doesn't really spread out on its own, so you're able to apply it on vertical surfaces.

The bottle, with its tight cap, makes it easy to store the cleaner and to apply it as well. Finally, the formula doesn't contain bleach, acid, or any other potentially hazardous/harmful material. It acts fast and is capable of making a surface that's home to multiple quarts of oil clean as a whistle.

In other words, we could recommend Chomp Pull It Out to DIY enthusiasts and small-time mechanics as well as to professionals, seasoned handymen, and experienced contractors. From garage floors to parking areas and drive-through lanes, there isn't a surface not suitable for it.

Review of Chomp Pull It Out Stain Remover for Concrete

Additional Info

    Manufacturer

Last updated price $16.97
Stock In stock
ASIN B0046O5YMA

 

Rust-Oleum Rust-Oleum

An Etcher and a Cleaner

As far as we can tell, Rust-Oleum 301242 doesn't necessarily excel in any particular category. But that's not a bad thing. Sure, it would be nice if the product was able to stand out in one way or the other.

Does it have to though? Not really. Besides, it does stand out in the price department. Where most companies offer somewhere between a quarter or half a gallon, the people behind this product send you a gallon for approximately the same price.

Other than that, this is more or less your average concrete cleaner. You can use it on concrete floors, stone, and pavers. The liquid solution is really thick, so you can even use it on vertical surfaces.

The formula is safe for plants and the surrounding environment in general. There are no dangerous chemicals in it and you do not have to wash it off after use. Though the company claims that the solution is odorless, most customers report that there's a slight specific smell to it.

Advertised as an etcher and a cleaner, the product is a little more effective as the former than the latter (though it's not like it is a bad cleaner, not at all).

All in all, Rust-Oleum does its job and, for the most part, it does it well. The 1-gallon bottle will be enough to cover 500 square feet. You can use it near plants and grass. Plus, it will help you etch concrete.

Review of Rust-Oleum Rust-Oleum 301242 Clean & Etch for concrete

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $33.18
Stock In stock
ASIN B071942TP5

 

What Is a Concrete Cleaner?

Engine oils, hydraulic fluids, diesel, antifreeze, transmission fluids, brake fluids, there are so many substances that can stain your driveway, garage, basement, and other parts of your house and your yard. Removing these stains can be incredibly difficult without a proper cleaner.

That's exactly where these cleaners come in. Though relatively different, every product here will allow you to clean concrete (and a number of other surfaces) from different stains. The oil-eating bacteria inside the cleaners are able to effectively dissolve these stains in no time at all.

Without entering the complex chemistry territory, the biggest difference between these cleaners boils down to their state of matter. More specifically, the majority of cleaners usually fall under two categories - powder and liquid. The former, as you would imagine, have to be mixed with water, while the latter, though not without their disadvantages, can be used straight out of the box. There's a little variation when it comes to their formula, so make sure to read our reviews to make the right choice.

Find it difficult to keep your windows clean? Try one of these glass cleaners. Clogged drains, garbage disposals, and tanks is a reoccurring theme at home? Consider our drain cleaners article.

Other reviews
Comments
0 Comments

Your comment was successfully sent

Error! Please try again later

Publish Date: 2019-03-05 12:09:33