Now that you’ve got an epoxy flooring, all it remains to be seen is how to keep it clean. Like all floor materials, epoxy has its peculiarities too. Although it’s easy to maintain, there are some don’ts when it comes to the cleaning agents and ways. But overall, caring for your epoxy floor is easy and simple.
What do you need to keep in mind when cleaning epoxy floors?
Not all epoxy floors are the same. And they are not all installed in protected areas, like a hardly used garage. In fact, this material is often used in heavy traffic areas, like industries, lobbies, commercial garage floors, et cetera. What does this have to do with the epoxy cleaning process?
Well, you don’t get the same dirt and stains at home as you would in a busy medical facility or industry. At the same time, you need to remember that not all stains are the same. It’s one thing to clean debris and a different story to remove chemical spills.
Of course, the secret to making the job easy is not only to follow the right method of cleaning but also to do it regularly. In fact, some spills must be cleaned fast. Otherwise, they will become hard to remove stains.
How to remove dirt from epoxy floors
Regular vacuuming with a machine that has a soft attachment is the best way to remove dirt and debris from the epoxy floor. A dust mop will also do unless this is an anti-slippery epoxy flooring coating, in which case a broom will make your job much easier.
Mop the epoxy floor with warm water to remove stains, tire marks, and dust.
How to remove chemicals from epoxy flooring
In spite of their durability, some epoxy floors cannot hold well under some chemical spills, car oils, gas spills, paints, and various abrasives and harsh cleaners. And so, if there are such spills, the sooner they are cleaned the better. To do so, use paper towel or a cloth slightly wet to clean the stained area.
How to remove stubborn stains from the epoxy floor
Some stains are hard to remove. And so, you will need more than a wet sponge. You will also need warm water and maybe a brush to gently scrub the floor. Since we are talking about stubborn stains, you may want to add some soft dish liquid to the water for better results.
What cleaners to use for cleaning epoxy floors?
Warm water and some dish liquid will be enough to remove stains. If the stains insist, you can also mix two/three ounces of clear ammonia with a gallon of warm water to clean the floor stains. Avoid any cleaners, which contain acids and citrus because they will hurt the epoxy coatings. Vinegar is often used for cleaning purposes but it shouldn’t be used on epoxy floors since it will – as any other acidic compound, damage the floor. Avoid all other types of soaps too. They may not damage the epoxy floor per se but would create a haze, which will gradually build up and take away the polished epoxy looks of your floor.
Since not epoxy floors are the same and the conditions in different facilities vary too, you may also want to consult with your epoxy flooring contractor about the best cleaning method.
Keeping the epoxy floor in good shape is better than trying to remove old stains. And since this material cannot take too much scrubbing and the choices among cleaners are limited, it’s best to clean stains on the spot and sweep the place often from the dust and grit collected every day.
