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.
What product can be used over rust oleum rock solid after sanding? Floor is less then a year old and has yellow streaks and spots throughout. These are areas that do not see sunlight. I would like to use a more industrial type coating over the top… any suggestions??
Hi Clint. If the RockSolid is holding down good, we would recommend something like this single-part polyurea here. It is much more durable than RockSolid and it will not yellow (amber) from sunlight.
We just painted our floors with epoxy coating a few weeks ago. Did the proper prep and applied 2 coats. Our cat missed the litter box and the residue is an orange colored stain on the epoxy floor that wont come off. Why is this and what do you recommend to remedy this?
Hi L.C. What epoxy product did you use exactly? Was a clear top coat applied? If so, what product was it?
How do I remove oil stains from an epoxy garage floor please?
Hello Dave. Generally oil should not be a problem for an epoxy coating. However, if it has sat for a while on a well worn or poor quality coating then it may be more difficult to remove. Usually the use of a degreaser and stiff nylon brush can do the trick. If that doesn’t work, Goof Off has been known to remove some tougher stains from epoxy. If neither of those work, then the oil most likely has migrated into the upper surface of the coating and cannot be removed without cosmetically damaging it.
How do you remove battery acid from epoxy floor. The acid has solidified and recommended products will not loosen or dissolve.
Hello Neil. The typical solution for breaking down the reside of battery acid is to mix a paste of water and baking soda. This will help to loosen the residue, but it still may require scrubbing with a stiff nylon brush. Keep in mind that once it is removed, it will have most likely permanently stained the epoxy white. High performance 100% solids epoxy is the most resistant coating to acids, but it is only tested for periods of 24-48 hours. Even these high performance epoxy coatings will permanently turn white if the acid is allowed to sit for an extended length of time.
Our snow blower leaked gasoline on our new epoxy floor leaving a yellowish stain. Any ideas on how to remove?
Hello Candace. The best method is to use a concrete cleaner degreaser on the stain. Lightly scrub with a nylon bristle brush. Don’t use an aggressive scrub pad or you can degloss the finish. If that doesn’t work, then it’s most likely locked into the epoxy. Epoxy will stand up to gas for a limited amount of time, but if it’s allowed to sit for quite a while it can permanently stain the finish. This is more common for the lesser quality epoxy paint kits and not quite as common for professionally installed coatings.
If the shine is fading after cleaning what is a good product to being that shine back?
Hello Nico. You may be developing a thin soapy film on the surface depending on what you have been cleaning it with. Try cleaning with a 1/2 cup of ammonia to 1 gallon of hot water to remove any possible film. If that doesn’t bring back the shine, then most likely it’s due to microscopic scratches from wear. At that point there isn’t much you can do short of recoating.
I moved into a apartment with neglected floors…the scum on them is thick. What’s the best solution to beautify my floors without causing damage…and can they be waxed?….the kitchen is the worst!
Hello Sheila. What type of floors are you referring to? This article is about garage floors.
We just purchased a home with an epoxy garage floor. There is heavy duty adhesive tape on the floor. What is the best method to remove the tape without harming the floor?
Hi Lynn. Use a blow dryer or heat gun to warm the tape, slowly pulling it up as you go. For sticky glue adhesive and tape residue, Goo Gone works well without damaging the finish. Just let it soak for a few minutes before scrubbing it away.
Thank you! We will try it today.
I have 2 questions: we have an epoxy floor that was professionally installed. How do we remove rust? You mentioned CLR, but doesn’t that have acid in it?
There is one very small spot that has bubbled and cracked. How can we fix that?
Thanks
Hello Rose. Yes, CLR has some mild acids in it. You need that to dissolve rust. When using it on a rust stain, you have to use it sparingly and only on the rust. Try not to wipe much of the area around it. What has bubbled and cracked? Is it the coating?
I had a can of black enamel paint leak onto my professionally installed epoxy garage floor. The spot is about 1 foot square. How can I remove the sport without damaging the epoxy?
Hello Randy. We always recommend contacting the installer first to inquire since we don’t know exactly what was used as a top coat. If you can’t get the info from the installer, we recommend dabbing the paint with mineral spirits or MEK. Try to use as little as possible since solvents can degloss some coatings.
Hi I recently put and epoxy flake floor with a polyaspartic topcoat. The topcoat was General polymers 4850. It turn out nice but I miss a tiny spot and after I try mixing a tiny bit of the A and B components to to cover the missed spot. Well the polyaspartic sets in about 15 mins and it has been 2 days and this tiny amount has not set and and I dont think ever will. Now I need to remove it and am not sure as to what chemicals i can safely use to remove it. The data sheet says to clean tools with mek after use…. can i safely use this on my floor to remove the remaining unsolifidified polyaspartic mixture or will I damage the cured product trying to do this? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Hello Bryan. MEK can be used (not mineral spirits) as it tends not to leave a residue. However, it can also quickly degloss a coating so you want to use it judiciously. Clean as much of the uncured coating off first so that you don’t have to use much MEK.
I was trying to remove heavy-duty double sided carpet tape from my concrete floor. I used Goo Gone which removed the majority of the adhesive but resorted to acetone to get the harder to remove areas up. Well………….. you guessed it! I removed adhesive, and the sealer and have exposed concrete in small areas in front of shop entrance. I do not know what product/type of sealant was used on the floor- this was done 10 years ago and before I bought the business. What do you recommend I do to re-seal the areas affected?
Hello Marcie. We’re sorry to hear what happened. Unfortunately, we can’t provide a good solution without knowing exactly what was used. Your best bet is to prep the surface with 40 grit sandpaper and recoat the area with a similar color and product. It won’t look perfect, but it will protect the concrete.
I had a bleach bottle leak on my garage floor. It is epoxyed in dark grey. I have a white spot where it leaked, any way to clean it? Thank you in advance!
Hi Ken. Unfortunately, straight bleach that is allowed to sit for a period of time can do that. It reacts with the epoxy over time and causes a permanent white spot.
I spilled a large amount of latex paint on my epoxy floor. I got most of it up before it dried. There is still a heavy film left. Any suggestions. I hope?
Hi Gerry. Try applying a little denatured alcohol to a small test area and then wipe it with a microfiber towel or pad. You don’t want to scrub hard or you can possibly degloss the finish.
Hi there, after heavy rain our sewer pipe backed up into our garage with its lovely epoxy floor. Ewww!
What is your best advice for cleaning and disinfecting? Thanks so much.
Hi Diana. Yuck, that is unfortunate! We recommend using a bucket of hot water with a teaspoon of Dawn detergent. Spread it out on the floor and mop or scrub as necessary to get it clean first. Then come back and rinse using your bucket of hot water again with a half cup of bleach added to it. This should kill all the bacteria remaining on the surface.
Can Pine Sol & water be used on epoxy garage floors…very very dirty!
Hi Candice. Pine Sol is safe for cleaning the floor, however, it does leave a residue. This residue may dull the sheen a bit and can make the floor extremely slippery if it gets wet. If you use it, we recommend a wet mop rinse afterwards to avoid the residue.
Great article with useful info. The garage must always be kept clean!
Do these directions for epoxy floor cleaning apply equally to garage floors coated with Rust Bullet clear mixed with a polymer grit additive?
Yes they do, Tom.
I have a year old epoxy floor in my boarding kennel with a non skid coating and I cannot get the dirt out of it. I tried ammonia, simple green, microfiber pads, etc etc. Can I sand some of the coating off to make it easier to clean? And how do I do that?
Hi Candice. No, you can’t sand the epoxy. It will degloss and create all kinds of scratches that will make it harder to clean and trap bacteria. Have you tried using a short bristled deck brush when cleaning? Also, what was the exact type of epoxy used?
I have a white, hazy film built up on my epoxy garage floor. Any advice on what to use to restore the floor and remove the hazy film?
Hi Paul. Is the film over the entire floor? What do you clean the floor with? Also, does it have a clear coat and if so, what kind?
Hi Shea! It is on part of the floor, looks like an area where water tends to pool. Used general cleaning soap and water. No clear coat. Tried to use ammonia to clean off film with limited success. Thanks again!
It sounds like you may have some hard water depositing a film, Paul. These can be tough to remove. We suggest trying the ammonia and water again first, but this time, use a solution of hot water. In addition, use a soft scrub sponge and gently scrub it. Test it in a small area first. If that doesn’t do it, then you can try using a solvent such as denatured alcohol. Again, test a very small area first.
I have epoxy floors in my basement. My dog keeps peeing on them. I have used vinegar to clean a few times. I won’t do that anymore after reading this article. Are there any premade cleaners I can use? I have Pine-sol and Windex. Are those good enough? Anything else you recommend? Thank you!
Hello Chandrika. Use the ammonia and water solution that we discuss in the article. Dog urine is slightly acidic and the ammonia solution is slightly basic. It will essentially neutralize the urine and make it easy to clean up.
I have just bought a house with epoxy floors. It has a lot of carpet glue adhered to it, some in very thick globs. I can see from other damaged areas that this epoxy is old and will probably flake off if I try to scrape it. Is Goo Gone enough to remove carpet glue, or should I try another product? And, is there a way to scrape it without pulling off the epoxy?
Hi Dylan. Removing glue residue is never a fun job. Even if you do get it removed from the epoxy it will not have a nice finish afterwards. If that is not a concern, then I recommend using a product by Franmar Chemical called Blue Bear, AKA Bean-e-doo. It’s a safe and biodegradable product that works just as well as the stinky solvent-based glue removers. You can find an example here from Amazon.
I have a 1200SF garage floor with a urethane finish. Are there any issues using a low rpm power floor scrubber on it?
Hi Paul. We generally do not recommend it. The reason is that any type of a buffing action on floor coatings can degloss the finish. We suggest testing an inconspicuous area first if you want to try it.
We run a dog training, boarding and day care facility. We have epoxy flooring with chips for texture/grip in it. We need to be disinfecting it daily (from viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc), cleaning the mud and pet messes off of it. We had been using kennel-sol but it was leaving a residue and after reading your website I switched my staff to using simple green and ammonia, but we still have to use kennel-sol for now to disinfect. Is there a better disinfectant and cleaning process we could be using? We are a large facility so there’s a lot of high traffic floor space to clean every day.
Hi J. The problem with using disinfectants on a floor is that they will always leave some sort of residue – some more than others. We recommend that after you apply the KennelSol, come back where you started after it has begun to dry and follow up with a quick mop of an ammonia and water solution. The disinfectant will have done its job once it begins to dry and the ammonia solution will remove the residue. I know it’s double work and that is what you are trying to avoid, but sometimes it’s necessary when disinfecting comes into play.
Well, we paid a lot to have the garage floor epoxied. Looked great for a few weeks. Then the car tires started picking up the epoxy (don’t know the product brand they used). They came back and re-grinded the spots an re-primed and re-epoxied. The tires again picked up the coating. Called again and the guys who did the work left the state.
My question is whether there is a DIY fix you can recommend (what can I lose?). Alternatively, I’m thinking of putting thin gauge Aluminum Diamond Sheeting cut to cover (20″ x 28″) over the spots where the epoxy comes up.
Any advice/suggestions most appreciated.
Hello Lawrence. It’s unfortunate what you encountered. That is why we have an article on how to choose a floor coating contractor. It helps you to avoid the weekend painters and handymen who think they know how to apply coatings. We can’t advise on how to repair it without knowing exactly what they used. It sounds like it may have been an inexpensive water-based DIY epoxy. Your best quick fix is to cover the area with a garage floor parking mat. Garage Flooring LLC has a good selection and they guarantee the lowest prices with free shipping. You can view them here. We wouldn’t recommend the aluminum diamond plate. It will actually move around when parking on it and will just scratch up the flooring.
We have a filthy 2 pack rumpus floor/garage floor due to neglect and our dog using it too. It has the polyurethaning coating. Can we use a wire broom and is the ammonia/water suggestion the way to go? We tried a scrubbing brush with Jif and made little headway. Sincere thanks
Hi Karen. Are you saying the concrete has decorative resinous (not paint) floor coating that you are trying to get clean as well as remove the urine smell?
Yes
No, do not use a wire brush. All you will do is scratch up the coating. Our guess is that if the floor coating has been neglected and abused, it most likely has developed micro scratching that the dirt has embedded in. When that happens, you are not going to get it looking real clean and glossy again. If you scrub too hard with a coating, it’s going to degloss it and it won’t be easy to clean. This is most likely the same thing that has happened to it over time from being neglected. When dirt and grime collects on the surface and is not cleaned, it acts as an abrasive when you walk on it or drive on it. Our recommendation would be to sand the surface to remove all the grime and then apply a new coat. In terms of the urine smell, we have an article here that discusses methods to remove it. It’s for bare concrete, but the cleaning process applies all surfaces. Also, use a black light as we explain to help determine exactly were the urine is. Don’t forget to check the lower walls as well.