How to Clean Your Garage Floor

If you have a concrete garage floor , you might notice at some point that it’s gotten very stained. Concrete tends to absorb oils and other liquids that you might use in the garage, so it can be difficult to clean. Many homeowners prefer to switch over to polyaspartic flooring and other coatings in the garage, as they can simply be swept, mopped or hosed down. If your garage floor is concrete, however, there are some things that you can do to make it look cleaner.

1. Clear out the garage and sweep the floor

Sweeping is your first line of defense, because you don’t want to be adding anything to the dirt that is already sitting on the floor. Just use a stiff broom and sweep it out of there.

2. Apply something absorbent to oily stains

You might have heard the tip about sprinkling kitty litter on a fresh oil spill in your garage. Even if you have old oil stains, though, this can make a difference. Use the non-clumping variety. If you don’t have kitty litter, you can substitute sawdust or cornmeal. Simply pour it on any oil stains and let them sit for several hours or overnight. Sweep it up. If much of it seems saturated, repeat this step.

3. Vacuum up any leftover residue

You’ll want to be sure to get any remnants of cat litter or sawdust off of the floor before beginning the next step.

4. Scrub the floors

This step is probably the most labor-intensive. Start with something mild, like dishwashing liquid and water, to scrub the floors with a scrub brush. Rinse that off, let it dry, and assess the situation. You might need to get a degreaser to remove any lingering or tough stains. Another option is to use a power washer on the floor. Whatever use decide to use, rinse it well.

5. Consider having the garage floor coated

You can do this yourself or you can hire the professionals to do it. Epoxy coating is a great option for those wanting a relatively maintenance-free garage flooring option.

6. Keep it clean

From now on, if you spill anything oily, greasy or sudsy, clean it up right away. Treating a fresh stain is usually easier than trying to remove oil that is months or years old. Also, keeping up with this type of maintenance can help prevent falls by reducing any slipperiness.