Epoxy floors are the Marilyn Monroe of flooring, but that’s not the only reason we adore them. That’s not even the primary reason. We prefer these flooring for several reasons, one of which is that they are simple to keep clean and maintain. Epoxy floors are durable. Regardless of whether it was installed in the garage, the living area, an industrial setting, a commercial center, or high-traffic hallways, however, particular attention to detail must be paid to ensure that the epoxy floor is kept clean at all times. This is the case whether it was installed in the garage or the living area. This is the case irrespective of the location in which it was installed. By reading this article, you will gain knowledge on how to clean and maintain epoxy floors, as well as how to keep them looking dazzling for a significant amount of time in the future.
Table of Contents
Step-by-Step Instructions on How to Clean Epoxy Floors
It is sufficient for you to perform routine maintenance cleaning on your epoxy floor to keep it clean, make it sparkle, and ensure that it lasts for a long time. And the following is the procedure for doing that:
It is important to keep the surfaces clean and free of grit
If you let dirt and grit sit on your epoxy floor for an extended period, they will eventually become embedded in the epoxy and scratch the floor covering. This is especially important to keep in mind if you’re frequently moving heavy machines or vehicles across epoxy garage floors. To keep this from happening, clean the epoxy floor regularly with a dust mop or a shop vacuum equipped with a soft brush attachment. This will remove sand, dirt, and other loose debris. Depending on the quantity of filth that accumulates on your epoxy garage floor, you can perform this task once or twice every week. If the formulation of your epoxy garage floors includes an anti-slip aggregate (such as aluminum oxide), then you should use a soft bristle push broom rather than a regular dust mop. This is because a soft bristle push broom is more effective at removing dirt from floors that have an anti-slip aggregate. Although the surface of epoxy flooring is robust, resilient, and resistant to abrasion, this does not imply that continuous exposure to dust, dirt, and grit cannot damage it over time. Therefore, if you want your flooring surface to last for a longer time, you should take additional care to ensure that your epoxy floor is always clean.
Localized cleaning
Because epoxy flooring has strong water resistance, any liquid that might spill on the floors is very easy to clean up. This makes epoxy flooring an excellent choice for floors in commercial and industrial settings. When water, spills, or dirt require immediate attention, you do not have to wait until the next scheduled date to clean the entire commercial, garage, or industrial floor. This is especially true in situations in which you need to act immediately. Because of this, you can clean the floor with a mop if you want to. A little bit of spot cleaning here and there can work wonders, and it’s pretty easy to do. Utilizing a shop vacuum will make it simple for you to pick up not just the spilled liquid but also any debris that may be found in the surrounding area. Following that, the area should be mopped using some warm water and a mop. In addition, if the affected area is not too huge, you can get away with using a moderate scrub pad. This is only the case if the size of the affected area is not too great. However, to avoid scratching or otherwise marring the surface of the epoxy, be careful not to brush too violently.
Cleaning automotive chemicals
It is common knowledge that, in comparison to other types of resin flooring, epoxy floor solutions have a lower level of resistance to a variety of chemicals. For example, engine oil is known to include chemical compounds that, if exposed to an epoxy coating, might cause damage to that coating. Because of this, among other reasons, you shouldn’t let this or any other chemical sit on your epoxy floor for an extended period. Therefore, to preserve the integrity of your epoxy floor coating, clean up the following liquids and chemicals as quickly as possible using a shop towel or some paper towels:
- Engine oil leaks
- Gas leaks
- Paint
- Antifreeze
- Harsh products for cleaning the house
- Abrasive or gritty liquids
If you want to make sure that your epoxy will last for a long time, the best thing that you can do is to clean it as soon as it comes into contact with these chemicals. It is also recommended that you store a substance that can neutralize odors in your garage. You might begin by neutralizing the chemicals, then wash them with water, and finally, use a gentle cloth or squeegee to drain the liquid off of them. Always ensure that the epoxy floor is clean to prevent these chemicals from discoloring the floor and possibly reducing its effectiveness.
Epoxy flooring must be cleaned of any stains
To remove stains such as rust, you can try cleaning the area with warm water, a kitchen scrub sponge, or a deck brush with a gentle bristle. However, for the greatest results, you should only give it a gentle scrub. Additionally, you should not use steel wool or harsh chemicals like Comet.
Performing a Thorough Cleaning on Your Epoxy Garage Floor and Removing Any Tough Stains
You should make it a goal to give your epoxy floor coatings a thorough cleaning once every month. To accomplish this, you will need to relocate your equipment, cars, and any other items that are in the way so that you can access any secret locations. If you follow these steps, you’ll be able to keep the epoxy on your garage floor in good condition and extend the surface’s lifespan. If you just use a mop, you won’t be able to remove all of the stains and streaks on the floor. In circumstances like these, you are going to require something more potent. But first, what kind of cleanser may be used on epoxy flooring without causing damage? What kind of cleanser works the best on epoxy flooring? Ammonia that has been diluted is the most effective cleaning solution for epoxy floor coatings, and it’s quite easy to create. Whether you’re cleaning your home or your workplace, you may produce this cleaning solution by mixing a half cup of ammonia with a gallon (3.8 L) of hot water (that is, 2 – 3 ounces of ammonia per gallon of hot water). When used in conjunction with this preparation, this cleaning does not pose any risk to the epoxy floors you have.
Diluted Simple Green
Diluted Simple Green is yet another epoxy floor cleaning solution that has proven to be very effective. Just mix a half cup of Simple Green with one gallon of hot water and you’re good to go (that is, 1 part of Simple Green to 8 parts of hot water). This cleaning is likewise risk-free; however, you should make sure that it is not overly concentrated because doing so could cause a film to be left behind on your epoxy floor.
Windex
And finally, Windex is yet another excellent cleaning product that may be used on epoxy floors. Combine Windex and water using the following proportion: one component Windex to three parts water. This will perform extraordinarily well in cutting through residue while leaving the surface of your epoxy floor uncoated with a coating. In a container of your choosing, combine equal parts of the cleanser and water and stir thoroughly. However, first things first, you’ll want to relocate any furniture or other objects that would prevent you from cleaning something fully. After that, use a broom to sweep away the excess dirt, and after that, vacuum it up. After that, you may use either a microfiber mop or a hard foam mop to apply the solution to your epoxy floor. After that, remove the detergent by rinsing it off with clean water and allowing it to air dry or dry it with a gentle cloth.
Use a stiff nylon brush to remove stains that are resistant to removal.
Now that you have your homemade cleaner, you can clean the tough stains and spots on your epoxy floor using either your Simple Green solution or your ammonia solution. The floor should then be scrubbed with a dense nylon brush. Repeat the process until all of the stains have been removed, then rinse the area with water and pat it dry with a towel.
Use a cleanser that contains lactic acid to remove stubborn rust spots
To remove all of the rust, you might need something more than just a cleaning sponge and some water. To clean this, you will need to make a solution that uses lactic acid as the cleaning agent. To get your epoxy floor clean, you will need to apply this solution directly to the area that needs cleaning and scrub it with a scrub brush. To provide the best results, the cleaner SHOULDN’T be left on your garage floor for more than two minutes, and then, cold water should be used to rinse the area thoroughly.
On the surface of your epoxy floor, you may also use this cleaning solution to remove the salt film and grease that has accumulated there.
- Use a degreaser to get rid of the tire marks.
- Tire ruts on the floor of your garage are an extremely typical occurrence. If you are familiar with the process, though, removing them should not be too much of a challenge.
- The only catch is that you will need to remove the marks as soon as they are formed because it will be impossible to remove them if they are allowed to remain on the flooring for an extended time.
- Apply a concrete degreasing product generously to the region where the tire marks are located and allow it to sit for anywhere between five and ten minutes. After that, scrub the area very vigorously with a nylon bristle brush that has stiff bristles. If the stain is still present, you will likely need to reapply the cleanser and scrub the area a couple more times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Epoxy flooring?
A hard, flexible, and long-lasting form of floor coating is epoxy flooring. Garage flooring, sunroom floors, heavily trafficked corridors, pathways, and factory floors are just a few of the places they can be used. Even when these large, heavy things are continually moved around on the epoxy floor in various positions, the surface will retain its exceptionally high luster. Epoxy flooring is relatively easy to clean and maintain as long as a few rules are followed.
How can my epoxy flooring be sterilized without removing the epoxy?
By soaking the floor with a solution of 1/3 cup of normal dish soap and 5 liters of warm water, epoxy flooring can be sterilized quickly and safely without having to remove the epoxy coating. This won’t leave a film or remove your epoxy, and it is perfectly safe.
Can epoxy garage floors be pressure washed?
You can, indeed. However, since epoxy flooring is simple to maintain, you do not need to. Cleaning can be completed using a mop and a bristle brush.
How to care for your Epoxy floors?
To keep an epoxy floor in good condition, you should do at least basic maintenance. Even if they require little maintenance, you should nevertheless take care of them with common sense. We’ve provided a list of the top methods for maintaining epoxy floors in this blog.
How to maintain the shine of highly-used places on Epoxy Floor?
Especially if you are bringing and taking away equipment or vehicles from the floor. If left on an epoxy floor, dirt and grit will embed or damage it. Keeping your epoxy flooring clean is a good idea since, despite its durability, it might eventually begin to show the effects of repeated scratches. Using a shop vacuum with a soft brush attachment is the best method for doing that. How much grit and debris are tracked onto the floor will determine how frequently you vacuum. Take special care to ensure that the floor is dust and grit free before moving heavy machinery across it.
Can I use soap-based cleaners?
Because soap-based floor cleaners are used so frequently, the epoxy flooring eventually becomes covered in a haze. Cleaning epoxy flooring requires simply warm water, a quality mop, or a deck-scrubbing brush, but no soap of any kind. If you need something with a little more scouring power, try using something like mild soap to help clear the tougher messes.
What is Spot Cleaning?
In most cases, only a small section of the floor needs to be swept if there has been any spillage or tracking in. Before using a mop and warm water to clean the area, it is necessary to use a shop vacuum to remove the spilled liquid and any debris. Epoxy floors are resistant to water and easy to clean in the event of a spill.
How I can clean extremely dirty epoxy floors?
It’s important to thoroughly sweep and vacuum the whole room. To reach the ground, you must first clear away any obstacles. After that, a second mopping with a clear ammonia/water mixture is in order.
What about Rust Stains?
A brief scrape with warm water and a gentle deck brush or kitchen washing sponge will remove some stains, including rust. Avoid using steel wool and other abrasive materials like a comet. Combining gentle scrubbing with the use of a reasonably abrasive scrubbing pad or brush should get the job done. Citrus or acid-based cleaning products should never be used.
How I can get rid of Oil, chemicals used in automobiles, and various other compound stains?
Use shop towels or disposable paper towels to wipe off oil, antifreeze, and other automotive chemicals before throwing them away. The most important thing to keep in mind when dealing with spills in a car is to not let them sit there for too long. The chemicals in engine oil, for example, may damage an epoxy floor if they were to get on it. Spilling gas should be cleaned up immediately, as letting it rest for a lengthy period will degrade the surface of an epoxy floor. Abrasive substances such as paint, home cleaners, and other chemicals demand immediate cleanup. Use shop towels to wipe them off as quickly as possible after a spill occurs. The benefits of epoxy floor coatings include their durability, longevity, and low maintenance needs. The versatility of epoxy flooring as a floor covering makes it a great choice for several domestic and light industrial applications. Your floor will require minimal attention, but you should do this often.
Conclusion
The ease with which epoxy floors can be maintained has been demonstrated. Maintaining a regular sweeping routine can have remarkable effects. Even better, keeping your epoxy floor in good condition is as simple as following these tips. The floor will also hold up better than you think it will. In addition, professional epoxy floor cleaners are available to help if you don’t have the time to do the cleaning yourself.