A polished concrete floor asks for very little — but the little it asks for really matters. Use the wrong cleaner and you'll etch the densified surface. Do nothing at all and the sheen slowly walks away. Here's the exact routine we send home with every client.
Daily — sweep or dust-mop
Grit is the enemy. A stray sand grain trapped under a chair leg or a shoe will leave a swirl that no amount of mopping fixes. A quick pass with a soft broom or dust-mop each day (or twice a week in low-traffic rooms) is enough.
Weekly — damp mop with a neutral cleaner
Warm water and a pH-neutral floor cleaner. Never vinegar, never citrus, never bleach — all three will etch the densified surface over time and eat into the sheen.
We like a microfibre mop over a string mop for polished concrete — it leaves less water sitting on the surface.
Never use vinegar, citrus, ammonia or bleach on polished concrete. Neutral pH cleaner only.
Spills — deal with them quickly
- Wine, coffee, oil, tomato sauce — wipe up within an hour on a properly densified floor.
- Rust from metal chair legs — remove with a rust remover made for concrete, tested in a corner.
- Grease in kitchen or garage — a warm degreaser wash, then a rinse with clean water.
Every 6 – 12 months — re-burnish or auto-scrub
A high-speed burnish restores the sheen, cleans dulling from foot traffic and reactivates the densifier. Most Sunshine Coast homes only need this once a year in the main living areas.
For commercial floors we run an auto-scrub with a conditioner every 2 – 3 months.
Furniture — felt everything
Felt pads on every chair, every table, every stool. Concrete is hard, but the grit under a leg is harder. This one habit saves more polished floors than anything else on this list.
When to call us back in
- The sheen looks flat or blotchy in high-traffic paths
- Water sits on the surface instead of beading
- Small chips or hairline cracks appear
- You're planning to sell — a re-polish adds real value
Ready to talk about your slab?
A local Sunshine Coast crew, specialist polished-concrete finishers, and a written quote after every site visit.
Frequently asked
- Can I use a steam mop on polished concrete? +
- Occasional steam mopping is fine on a densified, sealed floor. Don't sit the steam mop in one spot — keep it moving.
- How often should a polished floor be resealed? +
- A true mechanically polished + densified floor doesn't need re-sealing — it only needs a burnish. A grind & seal floor typically wants a fresh sealer coat every 3 – 5 years on the Sunshine Coast.
