How to clean microcement at home: the best tips
Whether you are thinking about renovating your home with microcement or it has already made its way into your life (and your home), this article is for you. The wide range of colours, resistance and durability of this material have won you over but, do you know how to care for and clean microcement correctly?
In this article, we answer the million-dollar question. Don’t panic: cleaning microcement is so easy that you will wish you had renovated your home with it much sooner. No other material is as simple to maintain. Promise.
Pay attention to our tips for caring for and cleaning microcement at home, so your walls and floors stay as spotless as on day one. Your dazzling microcement will impress every guest.
4 tips for cleaning microcement at home
Let’s get straight to the point: you have finally finished renovating your home and you are more than happy with the microcement you have applied. That said, to keep a good result after application, you need to take some precautions when cleaning microcement.
1- Do not clean microcement during the first week
Now that the microcement is applied and ready, you can walk on the floor during the first week, but only with extreme care.
The reason is that the microcement has not yet fully cured and, since you cannot clean it without altering its properties, any stain can be a real problem.
What you can do is air the room to help it set, as long as temperatures are not extreme.
2- Use only water to clean microcement after the first week
If you have made it through the first week and resisted (with difficulty, we know) the urge to clean the microcement, congratulations!
To avoid any stain, it is best to protect the floor with paper and cardboard, preventing any substance from sticking and any scratches. You can now clean the microcement, but only with water and very gently, without any other product.
3- Water and neutral soap to clean microcement two weeks after applying the sealer
After at least two weeks, ready-to-use microcement will have reached its maximum hardness and resistance. From then on you can clean the microcement, but only with water and neutral soap or with a specific microcement cleaner.
How often and with which tools? You can clean microcement with a vacuum cleaner or dry mop, as well as a wet mop or cloth with neutral detergent, between 1 and 3 times a week.
This way you will remove any type of dirt while respecting its properties.
4- No abrasive products to clean microcement
Abrasive or aggressive products such as metal brushes, sandpaper, acids or ammonia are completely off-limits, as they can damage the microcement floor permanently, creating stains and wear on the affected surface. Put them all in a box and keep them out of your everyday cleaning cupboard.
Day-to-day microcement cleaning with Smart Cleaner
If cleaning microcement correctly and choosing products that will not damage it feels like a struggle, we have the definitive solution to remove all kinds of dirt, even the stubborn kind: Smart Cleaner.
Best of all, this specifically formulated detergent cares for the microcement while its composition with biodegradable, low-environmental-impact elements helps reduce polluting residues. A home free of harsh chemicals is possible.
The most surprising part? Despite being a product specialised in cleaning microcement, it is easy to use. Simply dilute it in water, apply it with a mop and rinse.
Keep in mind that this microcement cleaner should only be used at least 2 weeks after the application of Smart Varnish.
6 foolproof tricks to keep microcement looking like day one
If the microcement in your home is already spotless, it is time to get to work on its protection. Microcement maintenance is vital to keep it looking new for much longer.
With these tips, keeping your microcement as good as new will be really simple:
1- Do not drag items that can scratch the surface and undermine microcement maintenance
After moving the furniture around twenty times, anyone would be tempted to drag it across the floor. Do not make this mistake: move your furniture by lifting it completely. This way you will avoid any marks and support proper microcement maintenance.
2- Furniture with protective pads, prevention for microcement maintenance
Using protective pads on your furniture can save you a lot of headaches, especially when it comes to microcement maintenance. These small pieces of transparent silicone, felt or cork let you move furniture day to day with total peace of mind and without damaging the microcement.
3- Microcement maintenance by keeping damaging elements out
Using a doormat at the entrance is a great option to stop grit or small stones from entering the home or premises, preventing possible erosion of the surface. Microcement maintenance while keeping dirt out: a two-in-one.
4- Clean up spills straight away for proper microcement maintenance
Some products, such as vinegar or lemon juice, may seem harmless, but when spilled on microcement they can leave slight marks due to their acidic composition. The best solution is to clean them up as soon as you notice, since irreversible stains usually set in after 2 hours.
5- Visually check the surface to spot the first signs of wear
Visual inspection is a key part of microcement care, as it allows you to detect possible signs of wear in time, before deterioration progresses. Even if the surface looks in good condition, it is worth checking periodically for duller areas, loss of shine, colour changes, marks in high-traffic areas, water absorption, stains, darkening, whitish areas caused by damp, blistering or peeling.
In wet or heavily used areas, such as bathrooms, showers, kitchens or floors with heavy foot traffic, we recommend carrying out this check every 6 months. In rooms with less wear, such as living rooms, bedrooms or indoor areas with little contact with water, it can be done once a year. If you spot any of these signs, it is important to act as soon as possible and bring forward the renewal of the sealer to stop the problem from getting worse.
6- Renew the microcement sealer as part of preventive maintenance
The microcement sealer, such as Smart Varnish, is responsible for sealing the surface and protecting it against moisture, stains and wear. With use, this protection can gradually lose effectiveness, especially in busier areas or those exposed to water.
That is why checking the surface is important, but it does not replace renewing the microcement sealer within the established maintenance periods. Even if the surface appears to be in good condition, the protective layer may have lost part of its effectiveness against wear, damp and contact with water.
Depending on the use and conditions the surface is exposed to, the time frame for renewing the sealer coat can vary. In wet or heavily used spaces, such as bathrooms, showers, kitchens or floors with heavy foot traffic, we recommend renewing the sealer, at most, every 2 years.
In rooms with less wear, such as living rooms, bedrooms or indoor areas with little contact with water, renewal can be carried out every 3 or 4 years.
If you notice loss of shine, marks appearing or greater absorption of liquids, it may be necessary to apply a new coat of Smart Varnish to keep the surface in optimal condition.
Periodic microcement maintenance with Smart Wax
If, besides keeping your microcement spotless, you also want to strengthen it and restore its natural shine and properties, Smartcret has developed the definitive product to do it easily.
Smart Wax microcement wax has a special formula that enriches and supports microcement maintenance. Do you know why that matters? Because it helps extend the life of your microcement in perfect condition for longer.
And best of all, you will not need any special tool to apply it, just a mop and water to dilute it. Bear in mind that it is not a permanent treatment, so you will need to repeat it from time to time or whenever you consider it necessary.
And just as when cleaning microcement with Smart Cleaner, the application of Smart Wax must take place at least 2 weeks after the application of Smart Varnish to ensure it sets correctly and avoid damaging the microcement.
And if microcement floors are your thing, their guide covers advantages, rooms and a step-by-step.
By following these small steps, your microcement surfaces will stay as good as new, keeping all the properties that made you fall in love with this material. Microcement care is finally within everyone’s reach.
Frequently asked questions about cleaning microcement
How do you clean a microcement floor?
Day to day, with a vacuum cleaner or dry mop. For deeper cleaning, a mop or cloth with water and neutral soap (or Smart Cleaner), between 1 and 3 times a week. The only things off-limits: bleach, ammonia, acids, sandpaper and metal scourers, which damage the sealer that protects the microcement.
Can you mop microcement floors?
Yes, without fear — from 2 weeks after the sealer has been applied. Use a well-wrung mop with neutral detergent and avoid leaving standing water on the surface.
How do you make microcement shine?
The shine comes from the sealer, not the microcement. If the surface has lost its lustre, Smart Wax restores it in the simplest way (dilute in water and apply with a mop); and if there is also wear or marks, it is time to renew the coat of Smart Varnish. No abrasive waxes or generic polishes.
What are the most common microcement problems?
Almost all of them come from poor application or a worn-out sealer: cracks, absorbed stains or premature wear. We go through them one by one, with prevention and solutions, in our guide to microcement problems.
Reviewed by the Smartcret technical team.