How To Clean An Epoxy Garage Floor In Three Easy Steps

If you already have an epoxy floor in your garage, you’ve taken an important step to having a cleaner and more user-friendly garage. Epoxy floor coatings are popular for their beauty, durability, and ease of cleaning, and proper TLC will keep your floor at its best. Learning how to care for and clean an epoxy garage floor will ensure long-term function and satisfaction with your floor. If you don’t have an epoxy floor in your garage, these three easy steps may convince you that it’s time for a new floor from  PremierGarage® and the exclusive line of PremierOne® epoxy floor coatings for any style and budget.

The bigger your garage, the more you need a low-maintenance epoxy floor

Step One: Clear the floor of any loose debris

Remove anything that is sitting on the garage floor so the whole floor is exposed. Sweep or shop vac the floor to remove any dirt, sand, or other debris, including under cabinets, work benches, or appliances. In preparation for step two, secure sandwich baggies over the garage infrared door sensors to they don’t get wet.

Step Two: Cleaning the floor

There are a couple of options for safely cleaning your epoxy floor, a mop or using a power washer. Take extra care as your work, since cleaning solutions can make the floor slippery. An additional consideration is to use bio-degradable and non-toxic cleaners like ammonia or Simple Green so that runoff is not a problem for surrounding areas of grass, plants, or where pets are present.

The continuous, sealed surface makes mopping almost effortless

For mopping, a heavy-duty cotton mop is recommended. A rolling bucket will make the task easier since you’ll want to rinse the mop often as you go section by section. Here are some cleaning solutions that will safely clean and protect the finish:

• A mixture of five ounces of clear ammonia per gallon of water in the mop bucket for a streak-free clean.
• A squirt of mild dish soap in a bucket of warm water.
• A diluted solution of a degreaser like Simple Green or Goof Off, mixed one-half-cup per gallon of water.

Power washer use requires special care to protect the floor’s finish. At full pressure, it could damage the floor coating.

• Use the 45-degree angle tip and keep the spray nozzle at least 18 inches off the floor to lessen impact pressure.
• Use approved cleaners for your specific power washer, avoiding citrus or vinegar mixes for the epoxy floor. Simple Green is one recommended option for power washers that is safe for the floor.

Step Three: Rinse and dry

Use a hose and spray nozzle to rinse the floor. Your garage floor will have a natural slope from the back of the garage to the driveway, so start at the highest point at the back to spray and rinse. Be careful under cabinets to limit splashing water onto wood components. Hose back and sides of the floor to the middle, and then out the door. To quickly dry the floor and ensure no standing puddles of water remain, use a floor squeegee (18 or 24 inches to speed things up) or a clean street broom to move any water out of the garage, using the same back-and-sides-to-middle routine. Remove the plastic baggies from the garage door sensors and you’re done!

General care tips to further protect your epoxy garage floor

As resistant as epoxy floors are to dirt and stains, routine cleaning and maintenance will protect the finish and shine and reduce the number of times you need to do an overall cleaning. Here are some dos and don’ts to ensure best performance from your garage floor.

• DO keep the floor clear of debris. Dirt, sand, or gravel consistently ground into the finish from shoes or tires can begin to scratch or dull the finish. A dust mop makes quick work of removing debris and is an easy way to keep the floor clean. If your floor has contraction joints or saw cuts, a broom or shop vac can clean the crevices of any dirt or sand.
• DO wipe up spills as soon as possible with paper towels or a soft cloth. For oily or chemical spills, it’s a good idea to then wash up any residual product with a spritz of Windex with ammonia or a spray solution of a degreaser like Simple Green to get the spot squeaky clean and streak free.
• DO wash the entire floor every three to four months or as needed if your garage is exceptionally busy.
• DO use mats at workstations, under heavy equipment, and at entry doors.
• DO avoid cleaners that have citrus, acidic, or vinegar solutions as these tend to dull the shine.
• DON’T drag heavy equipment or tools across the epoxy floor, always lift to move.
• DON’T use a Magic Eraser on the floor, it will scratch and damage the shine.
• DON’T use metal implements to scrape up stuck-on dirt or messes.
• DON’T use wire bristle brooms or scrub brushes.
• DON’T leave nails, screws, or other hard elements on the floor to be stepped on.

Live happily ever after with your industry-tough, low-maintenance garage floor

Custom PremierOne epoxy floor coatings

If a new garage floor is in your future, our PremierOne epoxy floor coatings protect and beautify with industry-tough coverage. The permanent, seamless finish cures to twice as hard and thick as most other epoxy finishes. Installation usually takes just two to three days, depending on the style and garage size. Then, with 24 to 36 hours of curing time, your garage is back in service. As the most technically advanced floor coatings in the industry, you’ll enjoy many benefits:

• Nothing sticks to the continuous, non-porous surface so clean up is a breeze.
• Resists chemicals commonly found in garages, like gasoline, auto fluids, and paint thinner.
• Extremely durable, resists chipping, color fading or stains.
• Withstands heat, cold, and wet or dry weather conditions.

Five distinctive styles from solid colors to decorative chips and artisan-look metallic finishes ensure there’s something for everyone

Call 866-712-3404 today or go online to www.premiergarage.com to find a designer near you to schedule a free in-home, or virtual* consultation to talk about any garage organization, storage, or flooring needs you may have. 

*Virtual consultations may not be available at all locations.

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*Updated 10/24/2022