Epoxy floors are a popular choice for homeowners because they are durable and easy to maintain. However, if you want your epoxy floor to look its best for years to come, you’ll need to take some steps to keep it in good condition.
In this blog post, we’ll share tips on maintaining an epoxy floor. Keep reading for more information! GarageSmart® offers a wide range of garage remodelling solutions to help you get the most out of your space.
A Maintenance Guide For Epoxy Surfaces
An epoxy floor requires some upkeep to ensure it stays in good condition. They require little attention, but you should still use common sense when caring for them. In this article, we will go through the steps you should take to maintain your epoxy flooring.
The Floors Should Be Kept Clean And Dust-Free
If you are driving or moving heavy machines on or off the floor, epoxy floors can be embedded or scratched if dirt and grit are allowed to sit there for too long. And although Epoxy floors are hard, they might start to show damage from many scratches over time if they aren’t regularly cleaned. A shop vacuum fitted with a paintbrush attachment is ideal for this task.
The frequency of vacuuming should be proportional to the amount of dirt and grit dragged onto the floor. To avoid damaging expensive machinery, special care must be taken to guarantee a dust- and grit-free floor when the time comes to transport heavy items across it.
Cleaning With Soap Should Be Avoided At All Costs
Long-term use of soap-based floor cleaners causes a haze on the epoxy surface. Epoxy floors do not require soap or hot water, and a decent mop and deck-scrubbing brush should be fine. However, when dealing with very stubborn messes, you may want to resort to a cleaning agent like mild soap for further scrubbing strength.
Localised Maintenance
If something has been spilt or tracked, you may only have to vacuum and sweep a small section of the floor. A shop vac should remove the spilt liquid and any dirt or debris, and the surface should be mopped with warm water. Epoxy flooring can endure a lot of moisture and is simple to clean up after accidents.
Cracked And Filthy Epoxy Flooring
The following is the recommended procedure for restoring a dirty epoxy floor: Carefully sweep or vacuum every room. First, you must clear a path to the ground of any impediments. After the loose dirt, grime, and grit have been swept or vacuumed away; the remaining embedded dirt can be cleansed using a firm foam mop with warm or hot water. Second mopping should be done with clear ammonia/water (at a ratio of 2-3 ounces of ammonia to 1 gallon of hot water).
Stains
Some rust stains require a gentle scrape using kitchen scrubbing sponges or a gentle deck brush with warm water. If you need to clean something:
- Don’t use steel wool or harsh chemicals like a comet.
- Use a moderately rough scrubbing pad and brush along with a soft scrub.
- Avoid using any acidic or citrus-based cleaning products.
To prevent the epoxy catalyst from degrading, you shouldn’t clean it with anything acidic, such as lemon or vinegar.
Products Used In Automotives, Oil, And Other Chemicals
Shop towels or paper towels should be used to clean up oil, antifreeze, and other automotive chemicals before they are thrown away. Any spills in a car must be cleaned up as soon as possible. Engine oil, with its own set of toxins, presents a threat to epoxy floors. Epoxy floors can be damaged by gas if left to sit for too long after a spill. The spillage of paint, household cleansers, or any other abrasive liquid must be attended to quickly. Use shop towels to clean up any spills quickly.
Keeping An Epoxy Floor Looking Good
If you’ve just finished an epoxy floor, you may be wondering: how can We keep it clean and in good condition? However, cleaning an epoxy floor is a breeze. Epoxy’s resistance to grit, grime, and fluids makes it easy to maintain your floor coating.
Scrubbing The Tiles
If you have an epoxy floor, you may easily maintain it using a dust mop. The best approach to washing epoxy floors and collecting suffocating dust or grime is to use a dust mop about once a week. You can also use a hose to clean your floor and a squeegee to get rid of the water. However, the epoxy floor may need a more thorough cleaning once every three to four months.
This is especially true if your floor is frequently driven on or used by heavy gear or automobiles. To clean the epoxy floors effectively and without leaving streaks, you need a hard foam mop, not a string mop. In addition, floors that get wet from outside sources like rain, sleet, or snow should be scrubbed thoroughly at least once a month.
Chemicals For Housekeeping
Epoxy floors are best cleaned using a solution of simple green to hot water at a ratio of 8:1. A half-cup of ammonia added to the litre of heated air can also be used to clean floors. With GarageSmart® Storage Solutions, you can have the perfect garage for your needs without all the hassle.
You may let the floor air dry after using these solutions, or you can speed up the process using a clean towel. After you’ve finished cleaning, lock all doors and windows so that dust and dirt can’t sneak in.
Even while ammonia or a simple greens solution will perform wonderfully for keeping your epoxy floor clean, you’ll still need to take special care to preserve the high gloss coating in case of stains.
A stiff nylon brush dipped in a stronger basic green solution will do the trick here. However, be careful to use only a little pressure when cleaning, as this could dull the shine of your epoxy floor.
For those who have experienced the intractable nature of salt layers or rusty stains. Any brand cleaner diluted in warm water at a one-to-one ratio. Cleaning the surface requires vigorous scrubbing with a scrub cloth or brush. Spray with cold water afterwards. You should let the solution stay out for a short time on the surface if you want to use this procedure. Your cleaning needs should take at most a minute or two.
The degassing impact some materials in your brewery could have on the floor is usually easily removed with hot water and a deck brush. Most of the supplies you’ll need to maintain your epoxy floor can be bought at your neighbourhood hardware store.
Some cleaning solutions should be avoided when maintaining an epoxy floor. In addition, epoxy floors might lose their lustre if cleaned with citrus-based products like vinegar. Acids in these cleansers might eat away at the shine of your epoxy floor over time. Soap-based cleaners not only increase the probability that your floor would become slippery when wet, but they also leave behind unsightly streaks. Because of this, you should clean your epoxy flooring with chemical cleansers like simple green or ammonia.
Remember that while your epoxy floor is tough, it is not indestructible. That which can be damaged will be, and accidents are inevitable. Thankfully, with some know-how and effort, most stains can be eliminated.
By now, you should be well-versed in properly caring for your brewery’s new epoxy floor and on your way to a spotless, long-lasting surface. If you do routine upkeep and avoid using chemicals that could damage your epoxy, it should look as good as new for many years.
Can You Recommend A Good Cleaner For Epoxy Flooring?
One of the greatest cleansers for epoxy flooring is warm or hot water. However, too strong chemicals can damage epoxy, commonly manufactured by combining resins and hardeners. Therefore, water, a mop, and occasionally a light soap are all required to eliminate filth and dust.
Use a mild cleanser that is non-alkaline so that none of the coatings is removed. Solution: Dilute one-third cup of dishwashing soap in four or five litres of water if your area isn’t very big.
The use of diluted ammonia is another viable approach. Your floor’s epoxy finish will not gradually dull under this cleaner’s influence; instead, it will be well-maintained, and its anti-slip properties may be restored.
If you need to use ammonia, dilute it with hot water, using about half a cup of ammonia for every gallon of water. This moderates the strength of the chemical solution, making it more likely that stubborn scuffs and stains can be removed.
If you want the greatest results when cleaning your flooring, you should sweep the area thoroughly to eliminate debris.
Chemicals That Can Damage Epoxy
Epoxy-coated flooring can’t be cleaned with many common household products. Cleaning products can contain chemicals that are too abrasive for resin flooring to withstand.
The following are examples of common cleansers that should be avoided while cleaning epoxy flooring, as well as ingredients to look out for when making your final cleaning product choice:
- As a rule, soap-based cleansers
- Substitute: citric acid
- VinegarBleach
When working with powerful chemicals, it’s always advisable to dilute them first. Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach if at all possible. Instead, gentle cleaning with some warm water is recommended.
Removing Oil And Chemicals From Your Home
Chemical spills could occur on epoxy-coated floors, depending on the floor used. Epoxy flooring, fortunately, is fairly low maintenance. Paper towels and shop towels will do the trick. However, remember that you must never leave chemical substances on the floor for an extended time.
The compounds often damage floors in motor oils and other substances found in a garage. Do you have a garage that’s become cluttered and unusable? Declutter your garage and organise your space with GarageSmart® Storage Cabinets, Draws, & Work Benches!
Household chemicals, acids, and paint are other hazardous substances that must be cleaned immediately. First, clean up the mess with a shop towel. Afterwards, please give it a good rinsing with clean water to remove any lingering traces of chemicals.
In conclusion, epoxy flooring is a durable and low-maintenance option for residential spaces that requires only basic care to maintain its appearance. Regular dust mopping is essential to remove dirt and grime, and a deeper cleaning every few months using a mild cleaning solution can help preserve its shine. It is important to avoid using harsh chemicals, soap, or bleach, as these can damage the surface or make it slippery. By sticking to water, a mild cleaning agent, and the proper tools, you can ensure your epoxy floor remains in good condition for years to come.
