Top Tips to Maintain Garage Floor Epoxy

If your garage has an epoxy floor, it’s crucial to understand the best cleaning and maintenance for this surface type. This article will cover some of the most beneficial maintenance tips for garage epoxy coatings to ensure your floor lasts for many years.

General Cleaning Steps for Garage Epoxy Coatings

Garage epoxy coatings should be maintained as much as possible by following a few simple steps. 

First, you should clear the floor of any debris before cleaning. If the spill is not large and can be wiped up with a cloth, use a neutral cleaning agent such as ammonia and warm water to clean the surface. You should be careful not to brush too hard as this can cause damage to the epoxy coating. 

Last, you should use a soft broom to remove stubborn stains. Alternatively, you can use a simple green solution. It should lift the stain quickly and gently clean the floor.

Avoid Acidic Cleaners

It is important to use safe cleaning products. Acidic cleaning agents can harm the epoxy coating, so you should use mats or sheets to protect the floor. You should also use plywood under jack stands to avoid damaging the garage floor if you need to perform any automotive work. Last, you should consider purchasing a gentle cleaning product specifically for epoxy surfaces.

Using an acid-free cleaning solution is one of the best ways to maintain your garage epoxy coating. You can use household cleaners or soft deck brushes to remove rust stains. However, steel wool is not recommended for this purpose because it is too abrasive. 

Acidic cleaners can also cause discoloration and weaken the epoxy coating in your garage. Therefore, keeping an acid-free neutralizing agent close by is recommended. You can use it to clean up spills and other liquids without worrying about damaging your epoxy coating.

Use a Soft Dust Mop

Using a dust mop to maintain an epoxy-coated garage floor can be effective for keeping it clean while minimizing surface damage. The best mop for this purpose is a microfiber or hard foam mop. You could also use a scrub pad if the dirt is particularly tough, though scrubbing too hard may damage the glossy finish of your garage epoxy..

You can use a dust mop with a microfiber pad whenever you need to clean the garage epoxy. A microfiber pad will remove dust and other particles without causing any scratches to the coating. To clean the floor or remove stains, use diluted ammonia. The solution should be mixed with a gallon of hot water and then used to wipe the surface.

A dust mop with a high-quality 24″ or 36″ bristle head will handle most cleaning duties. If you cannot get a dust mop of this size, you can use a push broom with a soft bristle. The dust mop should be used only once a week, and be sure to avoid using cleaners with aggressive anti-slip additives.

Using a dust mop to maintain a garage epoxy coating is one of the best ways to ensure that it stays in good shape, as dust and dirt easily encrust the epoxy’s surface. It is imperative to regularly dust mop the epoxy coating to prevent further damage. You should use a dust mop once or twice a week, depending on the amount of dirt and use of your garage.

Remember to Avoid Harsh Chemicals

To keep your garage epoxy coating looking new, you’ll need to avoid any and all harsh chemicals. While a polyaspartic or epoxy coating is stain-resistant, it can still be damaged by battery acid and abrasive cleaners. 

Electric golf carts are notorious for having vents that let acid out, and motorcycles and other small vehicles can also discharge small amounts of acid. Therefore, it’s important to stay diligent and avoid letting battery acid or other highly corrosive agents contact your garage epoxy coating.

If you are dealing with rust stains, use a soft brush or kitchen scrubbing pad. Do not use steel wool or other abrasive materials as they can damage the reflective surface. You should also avoid using acid or citrus chemicals that can break down the epoxy catalyst. 

If you perform automotive work in your garage, you should avoid leaving car-related chemicals on the floor. Instead, use paper towels or shop towels to wipe up any spills.

Try Using a Walk-off Mat

If you have a new epoxy coating on your garage floor, use a walk-off mat to protect it. This mat absorbs moisture and dirt from the footwear and prevents them from affecting the garage epoxy coating. 

Using a walk-off mat is also important for maintaining your garage epoxy coating, as it will prevent dirt and grease from reaching the floor’s finish. While it won’t prevent all damage, the use of walk-off mats can extend the life of your garage floor. You should use long walk-off mats to prevent dirt and grime from sticking to your garage floor in the winter.

Keeping stains at bay is just as important as regular maintenance. While most spills can be cleaned up with a soft rag, more serious stains may require a softer scrubbing pad or a professional-grade compound.

Be Mindful Of Cleaning Products

If your epoxy coating gets dirty, there are a few ways to get it back to its original shine. You can use a hard foam mop and warm water to clean up spills. If you can’t remove the stains with these methods, try using a regular kitchen scrubbing pad and hot water. If this solution doesn’t do the trick, the last solution should be a mixture of water and ammonia. Avoid using steel wool, as it may de-gloss your coating.

To remove serious stains, you should use a lactic acid-based cleaning solution. Mix the solution with water in equal parts and apply it directly to the affected area. Be sure not to let the solution sit on the floor for more than two minutes. Once you are done, rinse the area thoroughly with cold water. You can repeat the cleaning process every six months, depending on the severity of the stain.

Now that you know the top tips for maintaining a garage epoxy coating, you can ensure your floors look good for years to come.