Learning how to clean an epoxy garage floor coating isn’t hard. In fact, one of the primary reasons for having a floor coating is the ease of maintenance. Using the right equipment and cleaners will help ensure a clean, glossy surface for years to come. These cleaning tips apply to polyurea, polyurethane, and polyaspartic garage floor coatings as well.
Though easy to maintain, there are some don’ts about cleaning epoxy garage floors that you need to be aware of. As a result, we will cover cleaners and solutions that you do not want to use. Some of these can leave a hazy film on the surface that attracts dirt and makes it slippery when wet. There are even some cleaners that may de-gloss the shine or cause it to fade.
So let’s take a look at what cleaners to use, what not to use, and some recommended cleaning methods.
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Epoxy floor cleaning and maintenance
As resilient as garage floor coatings are to dirt and stains, they do require routine cleaning to maintain their shine. If left unattended for long periods, some coatings can start to lose their gloss. This is due to the sanding effect caused by loose dirt and grime that gets caught under shoes and tires. Once the gloss of a coating is gone, there is nothing you can do to bring it back short of applying a new top coat.
The first thing we suggest is getting yourself a quality dust mop. You can find these at your local home improvement centers, or you can purchase the one that we recommend here from Amazon
You will find that a dust mop makes quick work of removing dust and loose dirt, accounting for a large percentage of your epoxy floor cleaning duties.
Since dust and most dirt will not stick to the floor, just use the dust mop once a week (or sooner if needed) to keep it clean. It only takes a few minutes. They even work well on floors with an anti-slip additive in the top coat.
If you have a floor coating with an aggressive anti-slip aggregate or you don’t care for dust mops for a particular reason, then a soft-bristle push broom works well.
Amazon has a great selection you can find here.
For garage floor coatings with contraction joints or saw cuts, vacuum them monthly or sweep them clean with a broom.
Spot cleaning for spills or fluid leaks from cars can be easily wiped up with a paper towel, asoft cloth, or a clean rag. A shot of general-purpose cleaner works wonders if the spill has left a film.
Recommended cleaning solutions and mops for epoxy floors
For epoxy garage floor coatings that see a lot of traffic and dirt, it’s a good idea to give your floor a good cleaning once every 3 or 4 months. Of course, you can do it sooner if needed.
Listed below are our favorite mops and cleaning solutions that have proven to get the job done.
Mops
We have found that microfiber mops are one of the best for cleaning floor coatings. As with most floor mopping, frequent rinsing in the cleaning solution is the key to obtaining the best results.
Our absolute favorite is this one here from Amazon. It’s commercial quality and has an 18″ width which helps to cover more of the floor to get the job done faster.
You can also get this mop in a larger 24″ model if you have a very large floor. The only downside is that you lose a little bit of scrubbing pressure due to the larger footprint.
What’s nice about this mop is that it also comes with a microfiber dust mop pad for your routine cleaning maintenance. It’s like getting two mops in one!
Ammonia
The cleaning solution that works best for epoxy and other garage floor coatings is ammonia. Use ½ cup of ammonia to one gallon of hot water in a bucket.
Our favorite is Parson’s ammonia. You can find it here on Amazon.
Apply it using the microfiber mop. Be sure to remove the mop pad and rinse it frequently in the cleaning solution to remove the debris it picks up. This even works well on floors with salt film and residue. You really shouldn’t need anything stronger than this for most jobs.
Windex is another solution that will give you a little bit more cleaning power if it’s needed. Mix 1 part Windex with 3 parts water. The chemicals in Windex will not leave a film on the coating and do a good job of cutting through residue.
For spot cleaning any stubborn dirt that you encounter, a soft scrub pad can be used. Just don’t scrub too hard or you may degloss the surface.
Simple Green
If you have serious cleaning to do, Simple Green is a product that works well for removing grease and other grime.
This really shouldn’t be needed unless you have a cleaning disaster on your hands or a worn, low-quality epoxy floor with many scratches, allowing dirt to get embedded.
Start with a solution of 1 part concentrated Simple Green to 8 parts water. A deck brush helps for scrubbing in this case. We like this lemon-scented concentrate here.
You can mix it stronger if necessary; however, keep in mind that Simple Green can leave a film on the coating. It’s important to use a separate bucket of clean water and a mop to rinse the floor as you go. You can also just rinse clean with a hose if you like.
Use a squeegee or clean push broom to push out any excess water if using a hose. The floor should dry fairly quickly after that.
Tire marks can be the hardest to remove if not cleaned regularly. You can read more about removing tire marks in a separate article here.
For rust stains, we recommend using a 1:1 ratio of CLR and warm water. Apply it directly to the rust spots using a scrub brush or a soft scrub pad, then rinse with cold, clean water. Do not let it sit on the surface for more than a minute or two.
Do not use these cleaners on garage floor coatings
When cleaning your garage floor coating, do not use citrus cleaners or vinegar. These cleaners contain acids that can slowly degloss the finish of epoxy and other floor coatings.
Don’t use soap as a cleaner unless you follow up with a thorough rinse with clean water. This extra step is why we don’t recommend them. If not rinsed clean, soap can leave streaks and a hazy film on the surface, which can dull the finish. The soapy film can also make the floor much more slippery when it gets wet.
Cleaning an epoxy garage floor coating should be easy. Just use these cleaning tips and methods for quick, easy floor coating maintenance. Doing so will help maintain a cleaner-looking floor that holds its gloss and finish for a longer period of time.
I need to clean my garage floor it was painted years ago with a good two-part epoxy it has faded over the years but I really do not want to get into the cost of removing and redoing it so I want to give it good cleaning I have a mechanical buffer/cleaner should I use this, and if so what cleaner should I use?
Hello Paul. Cleaning will not bring back the color or gloss if that is your goal. Mechanical scrubbing or buffing of coatings is not recommended as it will effectively degloss the surface. A light scrub with a deck brush and degreaser is all that is required to clean the surface.
So I put Apoxsee on all my garage floors and I never figure out really an easy thing to use to get what gets on your hands off. Anyone have anything out there that’s worth a crap?
Hi Bryan. Epoxy and other coatings can be extremely difficult to remove from your skin if allowed to cure long enough. Acetone or MEK will work somewhat if you did not wait too long. After that, you may have to wait a week or two while skin cells shed in order for it to loosen up enough to clean off. This is why gloves are a must 🙂
I have a large epoxy covered floor in a grooming shop. We have cleaning crew that mops regularly, but it still has dirt. It’s a large area so I was thinking of using a mechanical floor cleaner. Any recommendations?
Hi Jonathan. We don’t recommend mechanical floor scrubbers for coatings. They are typically too aggressive and will degloss the finish.
Will ammonia work with water? What kind of mop?
Hi Andi. Yes, it will. We discuss this in the article as well as what type of mop to use.
Our business is now epoxy floor and because of the slight pockets, it holds dirt…we found that once a week with just water and a big push broom is amazing. Along the edges I use a regular broom…use a mop to sop up all the dirty water.
Hi Patti. Yes, it’s much easier than people think to keep a good coating clean. Dirt does not like to stick.
My car dripped power steering fluid (or might have been transmission fluid ) and has left a stain. Can I use steam to remove it or if not, what?
Hi Jean. You can use steam as long as the point of contact does not exceed 140 degrees. Most coatings begin to soften at that temperature and can result in hazing or loss of gloss.
Have you any other suggestions for getting the stain out?
A light scrubbing with a degreaser is the first thing you should try if you have not done that already. If it’s a quality coating (not a single coat DIY store bought kit), a little bit of acetone or MEK lightly rubbed with a soft cloth will remove some stains as well.
How best to remove car tire marks on the epoxy / poly floor surface in our garage?
Hello Dean. There is paragraph in the article that discusses tire marks with a link to this article here.
I spilled rust remover onto the floor and it looks as though it has taken out the color from the epoxy flooring. What can I do to stain the floor back to its original color in that spot?
Thank you for the assistance!
Hi Sherri. If it caused the color to fade, then unfortunately there isn’t anything you can do. Epoxy cannot be color stained. Out of curiosity, was this a single coat home improvement store type of epoxy coating?
no, it was done by a pro – Garage envy
Can an epoxy garage floor be resealed? And what would you recommend? I would love to bring a little bit of the shine back to my floor. And cleaning is not doing it
Hi Vicky. Epoxy is already a sealer, so the floor is sealed if the coating is sound. If you want to bring the gloss back, it will require applying a new coat. If there is a clear coat on it, then it will require roughing up the surface and applying a new clear coat. If there is no clear coat, then you will need to apply a new color coat. We have an article here that discusses how it is done.
Good morning, this is very helpful. Quick question, my floor stays clean except where my garage floor goes down. There is an apparent difference where the outside elements hit the floor. I have tried many things but the difference is very noticeable. Anything you recommend?
Thank you!
Hi Leahjane. It sounds like you are experiencing what is known as ambering. It’s when the coating reacts to U.V. light and changes to a slight yellow tint. Once that happens, there is nothing you can do to fix it. This article here explains more.
Hi Shea,
Thank you for your quick response.
Wow, I hate to hear that. I literally just had it done and it turned so fast. Anything you recommend I do?
Again, I really appreciate you responding to my questions.
LJ
Unfortunately, the only thing you can do to prevent ambering is to apply over your current coating the type of coating systems we discuss in the article.
Would a Magic Eraser work on an epoxy floor for removing tough stains?
Hello Steve. Care would need to be taken and testing done on the surface first in an inconspicuous spot. Magic Erasers work like very fine sandpaper. The scrubbing action of a Magic Eraser may cause the surface to degloss.
The home I purchased has an epoxy floor and I don’t think it’s ever been cleaned. Can I use a small steamer mop to clean them? Thanks.
You can, but you need to be careful with steam, Mary. Epoxy can begin to get soft at 140 degrees F. If high temps linger too long in one spot, it can begin to soften the surface.
Some of the epoxy has peeled off. How do I fix this?
Hi Stacey. When epoxy is peeling up it’s an indication that the surface was not prepared properly. Removing the epoxy via grinding the surface will eliminate the poorly adhered epoxy and properly prep the surface for a new coat.
I have stains on my floor from recycling (beer cans). The ammonia and windex don’t work. What should I try next?
Hi Lori. What brand of floor coating was applied? Is there a clear coat or just a single color coat?
Hi great article!!!! We just installed epoxy clear coating to ALL of our floors and it looks amazing!
However, when I rub the floor with my finger or purposely press on the floor with my hand there is a print that makes the coating looks “smeared” or.cloudy…..it washes off, but then walking on the floors let’s say in bare feet leaves a ton of footprints…… any suggestions? FYI the floors have cured for over 72 hours at this point, I’m hoping that after they “fully cure” that is.issue will go away
Hi Ron. What product exactly was used for the final coat?
Coloredepoxies 10002 Clear Epoxy Resin Coating 100% Solids, High Gloss For Garage Floors,
OK. Give it a few more days or so. Though you can walk on it within 48-72 hours, 100% solids epoxy requires 7 days to fully cure.
Thanks Shea!!!! That’s what I was hoping you would say!
The clear coat is peeling/delaminating on my garage floor, especially in areas where the tires sit. How do you remove the clear coat without further damage, recoat with a clear coat that bonds well? Also, is this situation common? Is there a clear coat product that wears/holds-up better to heat from tires?
Hi Phillip. What products were used exactly? We need more information to try and help. It’s not common for a clear coat to peel from the color coat. When that happens, it’s an indicator that the clear coat was applied outside the recoat window and did not achieve a chemical bond. Or, it could be an acrylic clear applied over a better coating.
Thanks for responding Shea. Unfortunately, I do not have product specific information. I was hoping that there could be a solution without those specifics. The history is the floor is 3.5 years old. The clear coat began peeling a year ago. We had the contractor out who sanded the clear coat and reapplied another coat. It looked like it originally did 3 years prior, but began peeling again in the same places within 6 weeks. I was hoping there was a DIY solution because I no longer wish to have dealings with the contractor.
Hi Phillip. It’s hard to make recommendations without knowing anything about the exact product used or what it consists of. The typical requirement for a clear coat that is peeling from a color coat is to remove it via sanding all the way down to the color coat. This will scratch up and haze the color coat in prep for the clear coat (good thing). The surface is then wiped down with denatured alcohol applied liberally to a microfiber mop pad before application of the new clear coat. The problem is that we have no idea the type of color coat that was put down. It could be paint. Most quality clear coats have solvents in them that will soften paint and cause it to bleed into the clear. As a result, you are extremely limited at what can be applied that will still perform fairly well. It needs to be either a water-based product (not a good performer) or 100% solids (no solvents) Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield now makes a 100% solids clear coat that would be safe for your application. You can find it here from Amazon. It should perform better than what was applied previously.
What do I use to get oil based spray paint off my polyurea floor?
Hello Patti. Apply some mineral spirits or acetone to a soft towel and lightly dab and wipe with that. Try not to scrub too hard or you may degloss the shine.
Expoxy flooring…in a clothing store.
Salt and snow..
Cleaned with vinegar and Dish detergent.
Left white streaks.and spots…
How do I restore floor with a Sheen.
Urgent.thank you
Hello Christine. Vinegar is acidic and should not be used on floor coatings or discoloring (white spots and streaking) can occur. Unfortunately, coatings are not like a wax floor and you can’t buff them out. Use a solution of 1 cup non-sudsing ammonia to 1/2 gallon of warm water and lightly scrub the entire area with a microfiber mop head or soft towel. Once you do that, try wiping the spots with acetone or denatured alcohol. If that does not remove the whitening, then there is not much else you can do other than taking steps to recoat the floor with a clear coat.
How do I get battery acid off my coated floor
Hi Mike. Though battery acid will not physically harm many coatings, it can permanently discolor them if allowed to sit for a while. We suggest neutralizing the area first. After that, try light scrubbing with a short bristle brush and a solution of warm water with a squirt of Dawn detergent. Hopefully, that will reduce the discolorization.
very clear and good article easy to understand. Thank you
How do I get the shine back on Opoxy floor were it has lost its gloss?
Regards,
Phil.
Hi Phil. We have an article on that exact topic. You can find it here.
Thanks much. Very helpful
How to remove rust produced by a metal grate on a polyurethane finished garage floor
Hi Judy. Removing rust can be tough. You need to use products that do not contain acids. We recommend trying Evapo-Rust by CRC. It’s water-based and non-corrosive.