While garage floor coatings are quite resilient, they will require some upkeep from time to time. Luckily, floor coatings are meant to make maintenance more manageable and less time-consuming. Nevertheless, certain things should be taken into consideration when cleaning the coated floor.
In this article, we’ll outline the recommended ways to clean and maintain your garage floor coatings.
Cleaning Basics
If there’s heavy traffic in the garage, the floor should be cleaned three or four times a year, a thorough cleaning, not a weekly mop-up. The tools needed for cleaning are:
- a dust mop or a push broom
- a vacuum cleaner
- paper towels or cloth rags
- a hard foam or microfiber mop
- a cleaning solution
Using a dust mop doesn’t require further explanation, although it’s useful to mention that weekly floor mopping shouldn’t be avoided. Dust and dirt can accumulate. If exposed to moisture, it is harder to remove after several weeks.
Detailed Cleaning
A vacuum cleaner can primarily be used for harder to reach surfaces and corners, but a model with the proper amount of suction could even replace the dust mop. Towels or rags will come in handy for removing smaller drips or leaks, especially when it comes to oily liquids.
Once the finer dust and dirt are removed, it’s time to wash the floor with a cleaning solution. The solution can either be bought or homemade. A vital detail to pay attention to is whether the cleaning solution leaves a film after application. If the packaging doesn’t explicitly state this, it’s best to test it on a smaller section of the floor.
After going over the whole floor surface with a hard foam or microfiber mop, it’s best to leave the floor air-dry. If there’s no time for air-drying, you can use a towel or a dry mop.
Additional Pro Tips
A scrub pad and specialized cleaning products can be useful when removing stubborn dirt and grime. However, these should be used carefully and only when regular cleaning won’t do the job, since there’s a chance of damaging the coating.
Tire marks should be removed as soon as they appear. If left to build up for long, they can become nigh-impossible to clean. The best way to remove tire marks is to soak them with a cleaning solution and leave it for a few minutes. After that, the marks can be scrubbed off with a brush or a scrub pad.
Rust stains can be cleaned with a mixture of rust remover and warm water. Apply the mixture, leave it for no longer than a minute, scrub the rust spot, and rinse with cold water.
Cleaners to Avoid
While the garage floor coating is sturdy and resilient, certain compounds will damage it, especially with prolonged use. That’s why you should avoid vinegar and cleaners with citrus or soap. In particular, soap won’t damage the coating but leave it hazy and diminish the shine.
Keeping It Clean
All of the advice and tips you’ve learned here should make cleaning the garage floor a breeze. Employ the methods regularly, and the garage floor will remain clean and shiny for a long time to come.
Quick Response Garage Floor Coatings specializes in garage floor epoxy coating, as well as flake, solid, stain, and specialty flooring options. We proudly serve residential and commercial clients throughout the Phoenix Valley. Call us today for a free estimate at (602) 892-5165.