Maintaining a clean epoxy floor is not as hard as it seems…
In fact, one of the primary reasons for having a floor coating is for the ease of maintenance. These cleaning tips are the same for epoxy and Polyaspartic floor coatings as well.
As resilient as floor coatings are to dirt and stains, they do require some cleaning maintenance to keep their shine. If not, some coatings can start to lose their gloss due to the sanding effect of the loose dirt and grime that gets caught up under shoes and tires.
For regular cleaning of your floor, a simple dust mop will work wonders. Applying your dust mop around once a week is the best way to clean epoxy floors and to gather up strangling dust or dirt. Every three or four months a more vigorous scrub may be required to obtain a clean epoxy floor.
TOOLS
The first thing we recommend is getting yourself a quality 24” to 36” microfiber mop.
If you have a floor coating with an aggressive anti-slip aggregate such as aluminum oxide or you don’t care for dust mops for a particular reason, then a soft bristle push broom makes for a great choice as well.
For floor coatings with contraction joints or saw cuts on the floor, vacuum them out monthly or use a broom to sweep them clean of debris.
For spot cleaning any stubborn dirt that you encounter, a soft scrub pad can be used. Just don’t scrub too hard or you may de-gloss the surface.
Spot cleaning for spills or fluid leaks from cars can easily be wiped up with a paper towel or soft cloth. A shot of Windex works wonders if the spill has left a film.
CLEANING SUPPLIES
Our favorite cleaning solution that works well for regular floor cleaning is ½ cup of ammonia to a gallon of hot water in a bucket. Apply it using the foam or microfiber mop. Be sure to rinse the mop frequently in the bucket of hot water to rid it of the debris it picks up. This even works well for floors that have salt film and residue.
Windex is another solution that will give you a little bit more cleaning power if it’s needed. Mix a ratio of 1 part Windex to 3 parts water. The chemicals in Windex will not leave a film on the coating and do a good job of cutting through residue.
If you have occurred stubborn salt film or rust stains, use a 1:1 ratio of CLR brand cleaner with warm water. Use a soft scrub pad or brush to clean the surface, and then rinse with cold water.
Marks left by tires can be the toughest to remove if not cleaned regularly.
Generally, the easiest way to remove these marks is to soak the area for a few minutes first with a good cleaner such as Simple Green or a concrete degreaser. After it has soaked, use a semi-stiff bristle brush to remove the tire marks. Another product that people have had success with is Goof Off. Be careful if using a scrub pad as these will sometimes de-gloss the finish.
A warning for when you are cleaning your epoxy floor, stay away from certain products. Do not use Comet or other abrasive cleaning chemicals on the coatings. Using citrus cleaners or vinegar can also cause your epoxy floor to lose its glossy shine. Cleaners with soap also have the possibility of leaving streak marks on your floor and will increase the likelihood that your floor will become slippery when wet.
TIPS
Use a walk-off mat (welcome mat) inside any entry door to assist removal of snow and water from the bottoms of shoes when entering the garage. Longer mats may be required during winter weather.
Place a computer mouse pad under a motorcycle kickstand to prevent damage to the coating’s surface.
Place pieces of half-inch plywood under jack stands when bearing heavy loads.
Use a welding mat when welding above epoxy coatings.
If you have a car that sits for long periods of time, you may want to park each tire over a small scrap of cardboard, carpet, or any other material that you can discard.
Cleaning an epoxy garage floor coating should be easy. Just use these cleaning tips and methods for your quick and easy floor coating maintenance. Doing so will help to maintain a cleaner-looking floor that will hold its gloss and finish for a longer period of time.
Epoxy Cleaning and Maintenance
Maintaining a clean epoxy floor is not as hard as it seems…
In fact, one of the primary reasons for having a floor coating is for the ease of maintenance. These cleaning tips are the same for epoxy and Polyaspartic floor coatings as well.
As resilient as floor coatings are to dirt and stains, they do require some cleaning maintenance to keep their shine. If not, some coatings can start to lose their gloss due to the sanding effect of the loose dirt and grime that gets caught up under shoes and tires.
For regular cleaning of your floor, a simple dust mop will work wonders. Applying your dust mop around once a week is the best way to clean epoxy floors and to gather up strangling dust or dirt. Every three or four months a more vigorous scrub may be required to obtain a clean epoxy floor.
TOOLS
The first thing we recommend is getting yourself a quality 24” to 36” microfiber mop.
If you have a floor coating with an aggressive anti-slip aggregate such as aluminum oxide or you don’t care for dust mops for a particular reason, then a soft bristle push broom makes for a great choice as well.
For floor coatings with contraction joints or saw cuts on the floor, vacuum them out monthly or use a broom to sweep them clean of debris.
For spot cleaning any stubborn dirt that you encounter, a soft scrub pad can be used. Just don’t scrub too hard or you may de-gloss the surface.
Spot cleaning for spills or fluid leaks from cars can easily be wiped up with a paper towel or soft cloth. A shot of Windex works wonders if the spill has left a film.
CLEANING SUPPLIES
Our favorite cleaning solution that works well for regular floor cleaning is ½ cup of ammonia to a gallon of hot water in a bucket. Apply it using the foam or microfiber mop. Be sure to rinse the mop frequently in the bucket of hot water to rid it of the debris it picks up. This even works well for floors that have salt film and residue.
Windex is another solution that will give you a little bit more cleaning power if it’s needed. Mix a ratio of 1 part Windex to 3 parts water. The chemicals in Windex will not leave a film on the coating and do a good job of cutting through residue.
If you have occurred stubborn salt film or rust stains, use a 1:1 ratio of CLR brand cleaner with warm water. Use a soft scrub pad or brush to clean the surface, and then rinse with cold water.
Marks left by tires can be the toughest to remove if not cleaned regularly.
Generally, the easiest way to remove these marks is to soak the area for a few minutes first with a good cleaner such as Simple Green or a concrete degreaser. After it has soaked, use a semi-stiff bristle brush to remove the tire marks. Another product that people have had success with is Goof Off. Be careful if using a scrub pad as these will sometimes de-gloss the finish.
A warning for when you are cleaning your epoxy floor, stay away from certain products. Do not use Comet or other abrasive cleaning chemicals on the coatings. Using citrus cleaners or vinegar can also cause your epoxy floor to lose its glossy shine. Cleaners with soap also have the possibility of leaving streak marks on your floor and will increase the likelihood that your floor will become slippery when wet.
TIPS
Use a walk-off mat (welcome mat) inside any entry door to assist removal of snow and water from the bottoms of shoes when entering the garage. Longer mats may be required during winter weather.
Place a computer mouse pad under a motorcycle kickstand to prevent damage to the coating’s surface.
Place pieces of half-inch plywood under jack stands when bearing heavy loads.
Use a welding mat when welding above epoxy coatings.
If you have a car that sits for long periods of time, you may want to park each tire over a small scrap of cardboard, carpet, or any other material that you can discard.
Cleaning an epoxy garage floor coating should be easy. Just use these cleaning tips and methods for your quick and easy floor coating maintenance. Doing so will help to maintain a cleaner-looking floor that will hold its gloss and finish for a longer period of time.