It is relatively easy to clean an epoxy floor covering. The easy maintenance is the primary reason many people choose epoxy. Though epoxy is resilient to dirt and stains, the shine requires regular maintenance. Following this cleaning advice will keep an epoxy floor looking great for a long time.

Maintaining An Epoxy Floor

The majority of epoxy floor cleaning can be done with a dust mop. Dust and dirt do not adhere to the floor. Dusting three or four times each week keeps epoxy floors clean.

Use a vacuum or broom monthly to clean debris that has accumulated in contraction points or floors exposed to saw cuts.

Use a soft cloth to wipe fluid leaks that occur from cars and spills. A window cleaner can be used to remove a film that is left behind.

Heavy Duty Cleaning

Epoxy floors, which endure a lot of traffic or dirt, should be thoroughly cleaned every three or four months. Using foam mops is better than string mops for the job. They clean better and do not leave the streaks that string mops do.

Some cleaners can de-gloss or make the shine fade. A filmy residue is left on the surface by others. An approved cleaning solution is Simple Green. It is available in a spray bottle. The ratio recommended is eight parts Simple Green to one part water. A half cup of ammonia in a gallon of water is another acceptable solution.

After spraying sections of the floor, use a damp mop to scrub. When finished, use the mop and hot water to rinse. The method works especially well on de-icing fluids and road salts. Dry the floor with a clean towel or allow it to air day.

Difficult Stains

Rust and salt stains require a little elbow grease. Rust, lime, and calcium cleaner, mixed in a one-to-one ratio with warm water, should be directly applied to tough stains. Use a pad or brush to scrub.

A stiff nylon brush does well on stubborn spots. Green scrub pads work well but should be used with caution. Depending on the epoxy coating quality, they may somewhat de-gloss the surface with scrubbing to hard Rinse with water that is clean and cold. The solution should not be allowed to stay on the surface over a couple of minutes.

The toughest to remove stains are tire marks not cleaned regularly. Soak them in a cleaner such as Simple Green for a few minutes. Use a stiff nylon bristle brush to remove the marks. Sometimes, a bit of scrubbing and a second soaking are required.

Black marks are caused by a process called ‘plasticizer migration.’ When tires heat up from driving the plasticizers in the tires relax and leach from the tires, leaving oily marks that should be cleaned as quickly as possible on epoxy floors.

Do Not!

Citrus of vinegar cleaners should not be used. The acid they contain will slowly de-gloss the finish of an epoxy floor. Soap cleaners should not be used either. Soap streaks and leaves a film that reduces the finish’s shine. Floors that have soap on them are also very slippery when wet.