The Best Way To Clean A Concrete Pool Deck in 2024!

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What Is the Best Way to Clean a Concrete Pool Deck?

You made a wise decision if you went for a poured concrete pool deck. Concrete and steel are the two most used building materials, for a reason. Concrete, reinforced with steel, is exceptionally strong and durable. However, you can not ignore concrete pool deck maintenance. So, what is the best way to clean a concrete pool deck?

The best way to clean a concrete pool deck is to use a 3 step process:

• Sweep, dry mop or vacuum to remove loose dust, dirt & debris
• Identify and remove stains using stain removers
• Power wash the deck with soapy water

Dry Clean your Concrete Pool Deck First

It is very tempting to take out the power washer and be done cleaning your concrete pool deck in 15-30 minutes. Power washing is certainly an option but it should be used sparingly. Why? This is explained in the section on pressure washing your pool deck, further in this post.

If your pool & deck are in the backyard, then they are exposed to the elements. At the very least, you can expect dust, dirt, and dry leaves to cover the pool deck, every single day. Somedays you may even find broken twigs & branches, bird or animal poop or some other nasty surprise!

If there has been no rain and your concrete pool deck is sealed, then the dust & debris are just sitting on the surface. They have not penetrated the concrete pores. Regular sweeping or vacuuming will clear the dust before it settles in. I like to call this step as “dry cleaning” for obvious reasons.

Dry cleaning of the concrete floor can be done by using a 

• Broom
• Dry Mop
• Leaf Blower
• Vacuum Cleaner

When to Use What?

Your weapon of choice, of course, depends on the texture of the pool deck and the quantity & nature of dust & debris on it.

A broom and dustpan will work best on a smooth & sealed surface such as a stamped concrete pool deck. Looking for a heavy duty broom for your concrete deck? Check out Yocada Heavy-Duty Broom on Amazon.

A dry mop is more handy if the surface is a bit rough, such as a brushed concrete pool deck. The mop can get into the crevices and pull out the dust. If you are looking to buy a new mop, why not check out Turbo Microfiber Mop Floor Cleaning System Bundle at Amazon?

A leaf blower can be very helpful if your yard has a lot of trees and you find your concrete pool deck carpeted in dry leaves, every morning. EGO Power+ LB6504 Lithium-ion Cordless Leaf Blower available on Amazon may just be the right leaf blower for you.

A vacuum cleaner makes the job easier if there is a lot of dust, but not much debris, on the deck. To clean your concrete pool deck you need a heavy duty vacuum cleaner such as CRAFTSMAN 16 Gallon 6.5 Peak HP Wet/Dry Vac available on Amazon. Check it out!

How Often Should You “Dry Clean”?

The question that you may have is, how often should you “dry clean” your concrete pool deck? The short & simple answer is whenever it appears to be dirty. 

I know this answer is a bit vague. Specifically, I think that you should sweep or vacuum the deck at least once a week. Twice a week would be better. 

If your deck is pretty large, you might want to divide it into 3-4 sections and dry clean a different section each day or alternate day! 

It is also a good idea to clean your concrete pool deck before a weekend pool party or if you have invited guests for drinks by the poolside. Sweeping or vacuuming will help you find any sharp objects such as nails or broken glass that may be lying on the deck. 

The deck will not only look more presentable; it will be safer too!

How Do You Remove Stains from a Concrete Pool Deck?

In spite of all the care & effort that you put in your concrete pool deck maintenance, stains will happen over a period of time. 

Some will be from the inevitable accidents, red wine spills or sauce oozing out of a burger. Some will be from inevitable growth of algae, mold & mildew.

Sooner, rather than later, you will need to tackle the stains. Actually the golden rule for food & beverage stains is to wipe them clean, as soon as they happen.

TIP: Stains can penetrate concrete as it is porous. Sealing a concrete deck will block the pores and form a protective layer against stains.

Generally speaking, concrete around pools should be cleaned with a pH neutral cleaning agent. (I will get to this in the next section). But stains on concrete require a stronger medicine.

The type of stain remover will depend on the nature of the stain.

How Do You Get Rust Stains Off of Concrete?

Metal patio furniture, BBQ grills or rusty pool equipment standing on the concrete deck can all be sources of rust stains. Rust stains can penetrate into the concrete if the source is metal fence posts or iron railings.

The rust remover that will work has to be acidic. Only an acid can react with the rust and dissolve it. 

Fresh rust stains can usually be removed by lemon juice (citric acid) or vinegar (acetic acid), available in most kitchens. Vinegar is stronger than lemon juice. Here’s what you need to do:

• Clean the rusted area so that the rust is exposed
• Pour the lemon juice or vinegar on to the stain & wait for 10 minutes
• Scrub with a stiff bristled brush
• Clean up with warm, soapy water

For rust stains that have been around for a while, you will need to use a commercial product. They usually contain oxalic acid, a powerful cleaner that can remove even the toughest stains. 

Iron OUT Liquid Rust Stain Remover from Amazon is very effective on rust stains on outdoor concrete surfaces. It is a pre-mixed and ready to use liquid that easily removes rust stains from outdoor surfaces. It can be applied with a tank sprayer, cloth or roller.

Make sure to take the proper safety precautions, including wearing latex gloves and safety goggles.

How Do You Get Wine Out of Concrete?

A wine tasting party on your concrete pool deck sounds like a lot of fun! Just hope no one spills some red wine on the deck. 

If an accident does happen, act immediately and soak up as much of the wine as possible with paper napkins. Pour some water on the stain to dilute the wine and mop it up with paper napkins once again.

The intensity of the stain will depend on how well the concrete deck has been sealed. Try to get as much of the stain out as possible using warm, soapy water and a stiff bristled brush. 

As a final step dab the stain with one of the following:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• Diluted bleach
• Diluted vinegar
• Diluted muriatic acid

Let it sit for 5 minutes and then rinse with cold water.

How Do You Remove Algae from Your Pool Deck?

Algae growth in pools is a problem that many homeowners face. Shocking the pool (superchlorination) is the way to turn a green pool back to blue. Algae can grow on the concrete deck too, especially in crevices which trap dirt.

If you find algae growth on your pool deck, first try to get the spot as dry as possible. Next scrape off the algae with a stiff brush or putty knife. The scrapings should be collected and disposed of.

Kill the remaining algae, if any, by covering the spot with either diluted bleach or diluted vinegar. Leave for 15-20 minutes and then rinse off with clean water.

How Do You Get Black Mold Off a Concrete Pool Deck?

The porosity of a concrete deck can facilitate the growth of mold. Mold is both ugly and a health hazard. You can get rid of black or green mold in more or less the same manner as that used to get rid of algae.

Scrape off the mold, as much as possible, using a stiff bristled brush or a putty knife. Wash with clean water. Smother the surface with bleach such as Clorox HE Performance Bleach and leave for 15-20 minutes. 

The bleach will seep into the concrete pores and eliminate the mold from the root. A white vinegar solution can also be used as an alternative to bleach.

How Do You Remove Mildew from a Deck?

Mildew can grow on a concrete pool deck as it is often wet. Mildew spoils the beauty of the deck and is also unhealthy. You can use a homemade paste to get rid of mildew from your concrete pool deck. 

Here is how to do it:

• Add a quart of chlorine bleach to 3 parts water
• Add 1/3rd cup of laundry detergent powder to the above 
• Apply the paste on the mildew stain with a brush
• Wait till the mildew turns white and then rinse off the paste

Can You Pressure Wash Concrete Pool Deck?

You can pressure wash a concrete pool deck, but it has to be a soft wash and not too often.. 

Pressure washing is not only quicker & easier but also more effective than cleaning a concrete pool deck by scrubbing and rinsing. 

In spite of regular sweeping & vacuuming and the occasional scrub to remove stains, your deck will pick up dirt & grime, moss & mold that only a power wash can dislodge.

Power wash lets you clean your concrete pool deck uniformly so that it does not look patchy. Power wash also ensures the entire deck has no more slippery spots and is completely safe, even for kids full of energy.

But power wash can easily be done in the wrong manner. There are two common mistakes that are often made.

1. Blasting the concrete surface. You want to remove the caked dirt & grime clinging to the cracks & crevices, but certainly not the sealer and the top layer of the concrete. Concrete overall is very strong, but the top layer is weak and can be damaged by a hard blast of water.
2. Overdoing the power wash. Even a soft power wash will erode the sealant and the concrete to an extent. You should reseal the concrete deck after a power wash. Power wash & reseal once a year. Do this at the beginning of the pool season.

How Do You Pressure Wash a Concrete Deck?

Complete your sweeping or vacuuming & stain removal steps before pressure washing. To clean your concrete pool deck effectively with a power wash:

1. Soak the section that you plan to clean with a garden hose
2. If the section still has biological growth stains of moss, mold or mildew, spray bleach diluted with water on the concrete surface. Let the mixture sit for 15-20 minutes
3. Next attach a surface cleaner to the wand of your pressure washer. Go over the concrete surface in a slow straight sweep. Overlap the next sweep by 30-50%
4. Rinse the surface with clean water, while it is still wet and before the scoured dirt & grime can cake again

If you have a large deck you may want to entrust the job to a professional. In case you prefer to do it yourself you should purchase a pressure washer and a surface cleaner. 

Karcher K1700 Electric Pressure Washer 1700 PSI with 11″ Surface Cleaner is budget friendly and good enough for occasional use.

You can use the above on patio, driveways, concrete garage floors in addition to the pool deck. Use it with or without attachment on vertical surfaces such as fences and garage doors too!

How Often Should You Seal A Concrete Pool Deck?

Concrete, strong as it is, has two disadvantages. It is porous and the top layer is mostly cement which can crumble into powder. The most effective way of ensuring the longevity and stain resistance of your concrete pool deck is to seal it.

To learn more please check out my earlier post Do Concrete Pool Decks Need to Be Sealed? (Yes, It’s Important!).

Every time you clean your concrete pool deck with a power wash you are taking away a bit of the topical sealer. You should check the effectiveness of the concrete sealer after the power wash by sprinkling a few drops of water on the dry surface.

If the water drops do not bead and get absorbed, you need to reseal. Here are two of my recommendations for the best sealer for concrete decks.

Foundation Armor SX5000 Water Based Silane Siloxane Penetrating Concrete Sealer.

The Armor SX5000 WB is a water-based Department of Transportation approved Silane-Siloxane penetrating concrete sealer. It penetrates deep into the substrate where it chemically reacts to form a hydrophobic barrier within the pores that reduces the absorption of water by up to 95%.

Protects concrete, from within, without changing the look or feel of the surface. 

Foundation Armor AR350 Solvent Based Acrylic Wet Look Concrete Sealer.

The Armor AR350 is a solvent based acrylic wet look sealer that is designed to seal, enhance, and protect a variety of interior and exterior concrete and concrete paver surfaces.

The Armor AR350 penetrates deep into the surface where it chemically bonds to the pores of the concrete and pavers, creating a long lasting, non-yellowing, breathable finish that enhances dull or faded surfaces by creating a darkened wet look, and low gloss finish.

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.