Apply Cleaner to Stairs

What happens in this clip

Put on protective gloves. Spray the Simple Green cleaner liberally over the entire surface of the concrete stairs, paying extra attention to areas with heavy dirt or mold. Allow the cleaner to soak into the grime for a few minutes before scrubbing. The presenter emphasizes removing all mold to prevent it from bleeding through the new paint.

Goal: Soak the concrete stairs with cleaner to loosen dirt and mold

What's used

Tools

• Protective Gloves

Materials

• Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner

About the full video

This video details the process of preparing and painting concrete stairs with durable exterior masonry paint. It covers cleaning with a drill brush and cleaner, making minor repairs, masking off areas, and applying two coats of paint for a long-lasting, protective finish.

Step 1 of 6: Clean Concrete Stairs

Use a stiff brush or broom to sweep away loose debris. For stubborn stains or grease, a concrete cleaner and degreaser, applied according to the product's instructions, will be necessary. Rinse the stairs thoroughly with water and allow them to dry completely. A wet-dry vacuum can help speed up the drying process by removing excess water.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Install Carpet Treads on Concrete Basement Stairs

1. Step 1: Clean Concrete Stairs

   • 1:19–2:05 Cleaning the Concrete Surface
   • 1:13–1:50 Apply Cleaner to Stairs (this video)
   • 0:00–0:01 Prepare Concrete Stairs

2. Step 2: Measure and Mark Treads

   • 0:12–0:57 Measure and Cut Carpet Tread
   • 0:57–1:16 Measure Treads and Mark Laminate
   • 7:20–9:07 Measure and Cut Carpet

3. Step 3: Cut Carpet Treads

   • 2:09–3:19 Measure and Cut Carpet Pieces
   • 3:07–3:56 Plan and Cut Carpet Pieces
   • 0:37–0:59 Measure and Cut Carpet

4. Step 4: Apply Adhesive

   • 0:05–0:06 Apply Adhesive to Treads
   • 0:09–0:25 Apply Flooring Adhesive
   • 0:34–0:46 Apply Carpet Adhesive to Stairs

5. Step 5: Install Carpet Treads

   • 0:04–0:06 Install Carpet Treads
   • 0:59–2:07 Install First Stair Tread
   • 3:25–4:32 Secure Treads to Stairs

6. Step 6: Allow Adhesive to Cure

   • 3:06–3:19 Project Completion
   • 3:44–4:26 Final Curing and Caulking
   • 0:31–0:38 Inspect and Finish Installation