A garage floor can easily accumulate serious dirt, chemicals and unwanted stains coming from cars, lawn mowers, and related outdoor equipment that may leak fluids. Without regular care and maintenance, grime and clutter can build up over time, leaving the garage in disgusting condition. By learning how to clean a garage floor, you will be armed with the essential strategies on how to remove dirt as well as unwanted stains and chemicals, thereby preventing your garage from wearing away and making it safe for you and your family.
Regarding how to clean your garage floor, the method to use will depend upon the specific type of the floor you have chosen for your garage flooring project. Typically, there are over 5 garage flooring options available: polished concrete flooring, epoxy flooring, rubber tile flooring, vinyl flooring, and stone flooring. We want to focus on how to clean the two main garage flooring options – concrete and epoxy garage floors.
Table of Contents
How to Clean Concrete Garage Floor
Concrete flooring has remained the leading flooring choice for garages because it is generally hard-wearing and resilient. It can stand up to extreme pressure conditions without any issues concerning wear and tear. This flooring option is also less expensive to install, which makes it the most recommended choice for customers with low budgets.
If properly cleaned and maintained, polished concrete surfaces would look elegant and compliment the whole semblance. The good news is; polished concrete finishes are highly stain resistant and cleaning them is a breeze. Concrete garage flooring can easily be cleaned using a scrubber, buffers, powerful washers, and other cleaning solutions.
As we mentioned earlier, occasional grease and oil stains are inevitable in a concrete garage floor. It is best to learn how to clean oil off concrete garage floor to avoid slipping on oil or leaving older stains that are hard to remove. Follow this guide on how to clean oil from garage floor:
How to Clean Oil off Garage Floor Using Concentrated Soap Method – Steps
Necessary Supplies:
- Concentrated soap
- Rags or paper towels
- Garden hose
- Stiff nylon brush
- Soak up the oil stain
For fresh oil stains, blot up as much of the oil as you can using rags or paper towels. Simply place the rags or towels over the fresh oil spill and allow the oil to soak in for 1-2 minutes. Remove the towels and discard them (seek advice from your local authorities for instructions on how to dispose of oily rags or paper towels).
Caution: Avoid rubbing out the oil as this might spread the stain or work it deeper into the concrete surface.
Apply concentrated soap onto the stain
Saturate the stain with the concentrated soap full-strength. Allow your concentrated cleaning solution to sit for 30-45 minutes. This will allow the soap to cut through the oil and break up the stain.
Scrub the stain
Oil stains in a porous material like concrete would call for a bit of elbow grease. To save your arms a great deal of strain, get the right tools for the job, such as a nylon-bristle brush or a heavy duty brush with a strong handle. Scrub the stain with a nylon-bristle brush which won’t scratch or damage the concrete floor surface. Work the brush in a circular motion, reapplying the soap and adding a small amount of water if necessary.
Rinse & repeat the process
How to Clean Garage Floor Oil Stains Using Cat Litter Method – Steps
Necessary Supplies:
- Kitty litter
- Heavy-duty detergent soap
- Broom
- Stiff nylon brush
- Bucket
Absorb the oil stain by applying absorptive litter onto the stained area. Make sure the entire stain is fully covered so as to remove as much of the oil as possible from the spot. You can let the kitty litter sit on the stain for up to 2 days to absorb a lot of the oil – of course, depending on the amount of spilled oil on the floor.
You are recommended to crush and grind the kitty litter into the stain with your feet. Allow it to sit there for as long as possible, and then sweep and discard. Next, saturate the stain with a heavy-duty detergent soap to break up the stain. Allow the cleaning solution to sit for 1 hour.
Wash the area with a stiff nylon brush. Work the brush in a circular motion for deep clean result, making sure to reapply the detergent and add a little water a few times. Finally, rinse the soapy water and repeat as necessary.How to Clean Epoxy Garage Floor
Epoxy is widely considered as the smart and feasible option for existing flooring. It is a tough and durable coating that complements any type of flooring. You can use epoxy on concrete, stone, and other flooring choices to enhance durability and performance of your garage floor.
More importantly, epoxy flooring comes in a variety of attractive colors that are easy to clean. Epoxy floors are not difficult to clean and maintain provided you follow some ground rules. Here is a guide on how to clean epoxy garage floor correctly.
Necessary Supplies
- A dust mop/soft bristle broom
- Vacuum cleaner
- Ammonia
- Hot water
- Hard foam mop
- Stiff nylon brush
Dust Mopping
Start by dust mopping your epoxy garage floor using a soft dust mop. Running a soft dust mop over the floor removes dust and dirt gently. It also prevents scratches and protects the entire epoxy floor. Use a soft bristle push broom to clean a floor with an anti-slip aggregate coating, such as aluminum oxide.
Vacuum
For floors with visible saw cuts or construction joints, use a commercial vacuum cleaner to clear out these marks. We recommend using a vacuum attachment hose with a crevice tool for best results. A stiff bristle broom can be used as a substitute for a vacuum.
Perform a deep cleaning
Deep-cleaning epoxy floor is a sure-fire way to keep it in good shape for some years to come. Before you tackle the deep-cleaning, move all obstacles out of your way. These include vehicles, tools, and other items which may be blocking your way.
Prepare your cleaning solution
There are two potent options for cleaning epoxy floors. You can either choose ammonia or a non-toxic, bio-degradable cleanser like Simple Green. We prefer ammonia as our safest and most effective cleaning solution for epoxy floors. Mix 1 gallon of hot water with ½ cup of ammonia, and then stir the mixture to mix fully. Transfer the mixture into a sizeable bucket.
Mop the floor
Dip a hard foam mop into a bucket of ammonia and hot water mixture. Make sure the mop is completely submerged into the cleaning solution. Wring out your foam mop, and then run it over your epoxy floor.
Scrub stubborn spots
For set in stains, spray those spots with a stronger ratio of ammonia and warm water. Then, scrub with a stiff nylon brush, working in back and forth motions to remove stubborn stains. Repeat this action severally until no more stain is visible.
Rinse the floor
Final Note
Cleaning a garage floor should be less of a chore (and more of fun) with the simple, actionable tips and methods discussed above. If done properly and regularly, your superior garage floors will hold their gloss and finish for many years after the installation. Always refer to these cleaning strategies for quick and effortless garage floor maintenance.
