Cleaning a Garage’s Concrete Floor
One of the most popular options in the case of garage floors due to their durability, or perhaps you want to give a deep-clean to a floor you’re in the process of redoing, concrete requires a particular manner of cleaning in order to do it justice, and you’ve come to just the right place for your tips.
Though your concrete may not look unclean due to how long it takes to appear visibly dirty, cleaning it as often as possible is important to be able to spot any damage. Garages in particular are susceptible to some of the dirtiest substances like oil and grime that can build up over time.
The Best Cleaning Products for a Concrete Floor
If you happen to be dealing with just a regular DIY spot-clean, all you’ll need is a dry granular cleaner that has many options available on the market, but for tougher stains you’ll need a more targeted solution. In this section, we’ll cover a few of the more common tough stains you’re likely to find in your garage, and how to clean them.
Tire Marks
Marks left behind by tires are going to require a degreaser. We personally recommend an orange citrus concentrate as it’s safe for both you and any children or pets that you may have in the home. Leave your chosen degreaser on the markings for a few hours, then scrub with a brush or broom and rinse with water when finished. If you still see marks on the floor, repeat the process until you’re satisfied with your work.
Muriatic acid is often recommended, but we advise you to leave this hazardous chemical to the professionals due to its high reactivity.
Oil Stains
For oil stains, a typical garage floor problem, put some bleach into a spray bottle and apply to the stain. Let it sit for twenty minutes before scrubbing and rinsing. For particularly tough stains, you may have to repeat this process – just be sure you’re being safe with the bleach.
Grease Stains
For grease, dry concrete is good to absorb it but often isn’t something most people just have lying around the house. Thankfully, you can also use dry cat litter. Whatever option you choose, spread it over the stain on your concrete floor and allow it to sit for three days before sweeping or vacuuming up. If you choose to use dry cement or concrete, do not dispose of it in the sink or down the toilet.
Cleaning After Winter
Depending on what the climate in your area is like, the winter months can bring in road salt up your driveway and into your garage and can cause staining. It can also cause damage called sub-fluorescence, which is when the moisture on the garage floor evaporates and leaves behind the crystallized salt which finds its way into pores of the floor.
The best way of dealing with this is to start by cleaning the entire garage floor to reveal where the salt particles are. Then, arm yourself with a bucket of warm water mixed with vinegar and detergent. Use a broom or scrub brush with stiff bristles to work the mixture into the salt stains and use a mop to remove the excess water. Then, simply rinse the area with clean water and allow it to dry completely.
If you want further tips like this, though. Look no further than Straight up Garage Doors for all these basics and more.
