How to Properly Clean a Garage Floor
The floor of your garage is made to withstand a lot of abuse and that’s exactly what it does. Everyday, it picks up more dirt, debris and oil stains. Although you certainly don’t need it clean enough to eat off, knowing how to clean a garage floor is valuable knowledge for any property owner. That’s because a buildup of grime can be damaging to a garage floor.
Despite its durability, concrete is porous. Gunk can work its way into the nooks and crannies over time and weaken the materials. This leads to pitting, crumbling and cracking that shorten the lifespan of the floor. Understanding how to clean your concrete garage floor will ensure that your property will remain in good condition for many years to come. Here are some garage floor cleaning tips you can put to good use:
Sweep
The best way to clean a garage floor involves first moving everything off of it and giving it a good sweeping. Using a sturdy push broom will ensure that all the dust, cobwebs and dried road salt get swept away, leaving the surface bare and ready for a deeper clean. If your floor is marred by old paint splatters, scrape them up with a putty knife.
Scrub with Detergent
After you sweep, you’ll need to wash your garage floor with a good detergent. Although there are products on the market specially formulated for washing concrete, you can use plain dishwashing liquid mixed in a bucket of water. Use a stiff nylon-bristle brush and some elbow grease to work the suds into every square inch, then rinse with your garden hose.
Remove Oil and Grease
It’s very likely that you’ll have some oil or grease spots left behind after the scrub. If so, you’ll need to work some degreaser into those areas and let it sit for about an hour. Blast it away with your hose and the grease stains should go with it. When you notice a fresh oil spot, throw some kitty litter or sawdust on top of it right away and leave it for at least 24 hours. This should absorb the spill so you can remove it easily by sweeping it up.
Clean Rust Stains
Knowing how to clean garage floor stains includes removing rust. You could use a specially formulated cleanser found at the hardware store, but lemon juice or distilled white vinegar can do the job just as well. Apply it to the spot, let it soak in for about 15 minutes, scrub and rinse.
Keep It Clean
Finding ways to keep your floor from getting dirty in the first place will make the job much easier when it’s time to clean it. For instance, installing a threshold seal from Garadry can block out much of the dirt, debris, vermin and water that can penetrate your garage from the outside. Shop our complete lineup of products today to find the protection you need.