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 5: Prepare the Concrete Stairs

Begin by sweeping the stairs to remove any loose dirt and debris. Next, use a stiff brush and a concrete cleaner or degreaser to scrub away any stubborn stains, grease, or old paint. Rinse the stairs thoroughly with water and allow them to dry completely. For optimal adhesion, consider etching the concrete surface with a mild acid solution (following product instructions carefully) and then rinsing again. Ensure the concrete is completely dry before proceeding to the next step.

Open this step in the guide

Every video in How to Make Concrete Basement Stairs Non-Slip

1. Step 1: Prepare the Concrete Stairs

   • 1:13–1:37 Prepare the Surface
   • 0:28–1:00 Prepare Rough Concrete Steps for Resurfacing
   • 1:13–1:50 Apply Cleaner to Stairs (this video)

2. Step 2: Apply Anti-Slip Coating

   • 2:27–3:10 Apply Paint to Stairs
   • 0:46–0:59 Spray Clear Anti-Slip Coating
   • 0:51–4:06 Apply Adhesive-Backed Anti-Slip Products

3. Step 3: Install Anti-Slip Tread Strips

   • 0:02–0:06 Apply Anti-Slip Strip
   • 0:20–0:45 Peel and Adhere Strip
   • 1:12–1:19 Prepare Steps and Apply Non-Skid Strips

4. Step 4: Apply Textured Paint

   • 2:27–3:10 Apply Paint to Stairs
   • 10:24–11:30 Final Paint and Allow to Dry
   • 0:20–0:31 Painting the Staircase

5. Step 5: Cure and Inspect

   • 1:23–1:32 Allow Coating to Dry and Enjoy the Renewed Surface
   • 1:23–1:28 Allow Coating to Dry
   • 1:49–2:10 Allow Coating to Cure and Verify Non-Slip Property