Garage floor maintenance improves the durability of concrete floors, helping you make the most of your investment. You can keep the surface pristine for many years with some care. With regular cleaning and some yearly tasks, you can extend the lifespan of the concrete significantly.
This article will look at cleaning your garage floors and the annual maintenance you should perform. Following these tips will keep your concrete slab in great shape for several years.
Your Regular Cleaning Schedule
Clean Up Spills Immediately
Your top garage floor maintenance tip is to clean up spills as soon as they occur, when possible. Soak up as much of the standing liquid using:
- Paper towels for small spills
- Sawdust or cat litter for larger areas
- A mop for water
If you use sawdust or cat litter, make sure to sweep it all up before proceeding. Clear away the liquid and then use warm water with a bit of dish soap to lift any remaining residue.
Aside from the potential stains, spills create a slipping hazard. If you have icy winters in your area, salt and deicing chemicals present another hazard. The water residue from tires may also lead to spalling, making it essential to minimize how long it sits on the concrete.
Sweep or Vacuum Regularly
You should also sweep or vacuum your floors at least once every two weeks to eliminate dirt and debris to avoid the grit scratching of painted concrete or your floor coating.
Your Annual Cleaning Schedule
Deep Clean
Once or twice a year, clean your concrete garage floor by sweeping or vacuuming the dust as usual. Then add a deep cleaning step to your garage floor maintenance routine. You’ll need the following:
- A deck brush
- A low-pressure hose
- A bucket
- Baking soda
- Dish soap
- Laundry detergent
Instead of baking soda, dish soap, and laundry detergent, you can also use a commercial floor cleaning product. If you choose the former, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda and three tablespoons of detergent into a gallon of hot water. Add three tablespoons of dish soap and mix well.
Scrub either your homemade mixture or the commercial cleaner onto a small area of the floor and let it sit for about ten minutes or so. This allows the degreasing and cleansing agents to get to work and begin to lift marks.
Rinse the area with clean water from your garden hose or other low-pressure hose and move on to a new section of the floor. Repeat these steps until you cover the entire area.
Spot Treat Stains
For stains that do not respond to this treatment, you need to add an additional step to your garage floor maintenance routine. Use an acidic cleaner like white vinegar to lift rust stains and a commercial degreaser and stain remover for set-in oil or grease stains.
Fix the Floor
Now that you can see the floor clearly, identify any chips or cracks and begin repairs if the damage is less extensive. If you have cracks that cover a large area of the floor, or the gaps are significant, you’ll need to get professional help.
For minor imperfections, clear out as much of the loose concrete and dirt as possible using your vacuum cleaner. Then fill in the defect using a putty knife and an expansion joint caulk (such as urethane or polyurethane caulk). Carefully scrape over the top to ensure the filler is level with the floor.
Allow it to dry thoroughly, and then sandpaper it to even it out more.
Apply a Sealant
You should reseal the floor every year or so. For the best results, do it after the deep cleaning and repairs. The sealant waterproofs the concrete and helps it resist cracking or staining.
An epoxy coating is a more practical alternative for those who prefer less garage floor maintenance. These floor coatings are far more robust than sealants and bond with concrete. They last for 15-20 years or more without the need for retouching or replacing.
Get Your Free Quote and End Garage Floor Maintenance Woes
Perhaps you don’t have the time for the lengthy procedure we outlined, or maybe there are more fun tasks you’d rather do instead. Either way, the right floor coating rejuvenates and reinforces your concrete, and the floor experts at SLG Concrete Coatings can help.
Your garage floor maintenance doesn’t need to be complicated. Speak to the SLG Concrete Coatings team at (805) 934-3881 about the benefits of floor coatings today.
