A high-rise balcony is often seen as a perk, especially in big cities where outside space is rare! A private slice of the outdoor world can be a refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Clean your balcony floor regularly to keep it clear of dirt, debris, and pollution. Most balconies do not have a hose, but it is still possible to clean the floor thoroughly. Either use a bucket and a mop to clean the floor or, if you are unable to use a lot of water, use a spray bottle and a damp sponge.
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Cleaning a Balcony Floor With Water But Without a Hose
Cleaning your balcony floor with water is always preferable over dry cleaning it, since the former can let you complete the job much more effectively in a much shorter time.
Now, just because you don’t have access to a hose, doesn’t mean you can’t clean your balcony floor! You can simply use a good old bucket filled with water.
Remove the Furniture
To thoroughly clean the balcony floor, it will be easier if the furniture is removed. If you do not have room for the furniture inside your home, move all the furniture to one side of the balcony.
Clean the empty side, wait for it to dry, then move the furniture to the clean side so you can clean on the other side.
Sweep the Floor
Start with a broom! Sweep up all the dirt and debris on the floor. Rather than sweeping the dirt over the side onto an unsuspecting neighbor, collect debris in a dust pan and dispose of it in the trash.
Eliminating the loose dust particles beforehand will lead to an easier time during wet mopping.
Fill a Bucket to Mop
Since you don’t usually have access to a hose on a balcony, use a bucket as your water source, instead. Fill a bucket with water and a cleaner. You can just mix your regular dish soap into the water.
If you have stone or tile on your balcony, make sure to use an appropriate cleaner that is formulated for that surface. Concrete cleaners are also available.
Use a heavy-duty or outdoor mop to scrub the balcony floor with water and your chosen cleaner. A mop with a telescoping handle is particularly helpful for hard-to-reach places!
Rinse the bucket and the mop. Refill the bucket with clean water and mop all the soap residue off of the balcony floor.
Dry the Balcony
You can either let the balcony air dry or use microfiber towels to dry the floor. Once the floor is completely dry, put the furniture back in.
How Can I Clean a Balcony Floor Without Any Water?
If you have neighbors directly below you, they may not appreciate the dirty, dripping water from your balcony! If that is the case, use these methods to clean your balcony with minimal water and still make it sparkle!
Clean up Plant Debris
Plants add a natural touch to balcony decor! However, they are known for dropping leaves on the floor.
Pick up all the leaves to save your vacuum from wear and tear. For this, there’s no good alternative to manual labor.
Remove Furniture
As recommended above, remove the furniture beforehand so that you can clean the entirety of your balcony floor without any hiccups.
Vacuum the Balcony
I recommend vacuuming the balcony if you are unable to use much water. Vacuuming will get rid of more dirt than a broom. Also, by vacuuming, you eliminate the risk of pushing dirt onto a neighbor!
A canister vacuum will allow you to reach all the corners of the balcony easily. You may be satisfied with the cleanliness of your balcony after vacuuming! If it needs further cleaning, continue to the next step.
Use a Cleaner in a Spray Bottle
Choose a multi-purpose cleaner that is appropriate for the surface of your balcony. Test a small area in the corner of the balcony before you use the cleaner on the rest of the floor. Using a spray bottle, spray the floor with a light mist of the cleaner.
Wipe with a Damp Sponge or Mop
Wipe up the cleaner liquid with a damp sponge, cloth, or mop. Rinse the sponge and repeat the process until the floor is clean.
More Balcony Cleaning Tips
Clean Top to Bottom
If you are cleaning the entire balcony, always clean from the top of the balcony down. As you clean, you will probably knock the dirt off of the tall surfaces onto lower surfaces, like the floor.
Clean the Railings First
Continuing from the last point, it makes sense to clean your balcony railings first, before you get onto the floor itself. For this, I prefer using some good old dish soap and water.
You can clean the railings with a damp cloth or sponge. For hard to reach places, use a small brush with hard bristles.
Clean the Furniture
Dusty, dirty furniture will leave debris on your nice clean floor! Make sure furniture is dusted and free of dirt before you place it back on the clean balcony.
What About Glass Balcony Railings?
While there are specific glass cleaners you can use, but you can probably save the extra money and shopping time by simply using diluted vinegar to clean your glass balcony railing.
Get some of diluted vinegar (mix it in 1:1 or 1:2 ratio with water) in a sprayer bottle and spray on the glass surface, then simply wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. I’ve routinely done this and this method is no less effective than products that are specifically marketed as glass cleaners.
Clean Frequently
You clean your home frequently, so your balcony should get the same attention! This is especially the case if you live in an area with a lot of pollution. Pollution can stain or even damage the surface of some outdoor living spaces.
Plan to clean your balcony every two weeks, if not more often. Frequent cleaning will take less of your time in the long run and lessen the damage caused by pollution.
I once got busy and didn’t clean our apartment balcony for two months, and the end result was pretty bad. All the dirt and grime had really caught onto the floor. In the end I had to use some pretty strong cleaning chemicals to get it all out. It also needed some aggressive scrubbing!
Initially it was looking so bad to me that I almost thought I’d need the help of a pressure washer.
Final Thoughts
Keep your balcony clean of dirt, debris, and pollution with these tips. A clean balcony will be a quiet escape from the glitzy city life for you to enjoy!
