Have you ever been forced to clean up after workers because they renovated your kitchen and left without doing a proper cleanup? Workers may be frustrating when they leave a huge mess that requires you to clean before you can use your kitchen. Cement stains can be visually unappealing particularly when you have just completed laying a new tile floor. You may opt to call professional cleaners that offer builders clean-ups, but you can implement some simple cleaning solutions that may leave your tile floor sparkling, and save you money in the process.

Knock with Woodblock:  Large chunks of cement can be removed using a piece of pointed hard wood shaped like a chisel. By knocking the wood with a mallet or hammer, you can remove large chunks of dried cement without damaging the floor. The wood can also act as a scraper for chipping the concrete buildup. When scraping, be gentle so that the concrete sand does not scratch or scrape the floor.

Hydrochloric/Muriatic Acid: When workers leave heavy concrete smears on the floor, scraping cannot effectively solve the problem, at least not when the stains have been on the floor for a long time.  Muriatic and hydrochloric acids are extremely dangerous; hence, caution is needed when using them. You will need gloves and other personal protective gear because of the known dangers of working with acids. The acids can be sourced from selected local stores or hardware outlets. In a plastic container, add one part acid to ten parts water. Do not add water into the acid because of the violent reaction that will occur. Use a bucket cup to slowly pour the solution onto the floor and let it sit for five minutes. Rinse floor surface with water and clean using a cloth and a hard bristle brush. Repeat the process until the stains come off, but make sure not to scratch the floor with the bristle brush.    

Vinegar Solution: Distilled vinegar and other mild abrasives can remove light smears on tiles. This method only works on freshly left concrete stains, but the fact that the ingredients are easily available in your home may save you money. Use gloves to drench a cleaning cloth with vinegar and cover the stains with it. Leave the soaking cloth for two hours, constantly adding vinegar when it dries up. When the cement stains are loose, remove with a scouring pad. Clean the floor with a sponge and soap. Let the floor dry for a polished finish. Immediately after fixing your tiles, you should remove all cement stains because the passage of time makes the bond between the tile surface and the cement stronger and thus difficult to clean.