How to Maintain a Clean Epoxy Floor

Maintaining an Epoxy Floor is not as hard as it may seem...

After completing your epoxy floor, you might be wondering, how do I clean and properly maintain my epoxy floor? Fortunately, epoxy floor care is extremely easy. Epoxy is highly resistance to dust, dirt, and fluids making cleaning your floor coating a simple task.

Mopping the Floor

For regular cleaning of your epoxy floor, a simple dust mop will work wonders. Applying your dust mop around once a week is the best way to clean epoxy floors and to gather up strangling dust or dirt. If desired, you can also take a hose to wash down your entire floor and then use a squeegee to absorb the residue. Every three or four months a more vigorous scrub may be required to obtain a clean epoxy floor. This is especially the case when your floor is heavily trafficked by vehicles or machinery. You’ll need a hard foam mop, as a string mop will leave streak marks and will not clean your epoxy floors with the most efficiency. If your floor is subject to outdoor elements entering such as rain, sleet, or snow then ensure you clean your floor vigorously at least one time per month.

Cleaning Products

As for epoxy floor cleaning products, it’s highly recommended to use an 8:1 ratio of simple green in a spray bottle mixed with hot water. Another option for cleaning your floors is applying one half of a cup of ammonia to a gallon of hot water. After applying these solutions to your floor, you can let the floor air dry or use  a clean towel to speed up the process. Make sure to close all windows, doors, and entryways once you are done cleaning to ensure no outside elements can enter after a good clean. 

While an ammonia or simple green solution will work wonders to keep your epoxy floor clean, extra care will be required to keep the professional gloss coating in the event of staining. For this use a still nylon brush with a stronger simple green solution. However, if you apply too much force to your cleaning, there is a chance that your epoxy floor might become less glossy, so make sure to take that precaution.

If you have occurred stubborn salt film or rust stains. Using a 1:1 ratio of CLR brand cleaner with warm water. Use a scrub pad or brush firmly to clean the surface. Afterwards douse with cold water. If you have decided to partake in this method, it is advised that you do not let the solution sit for a long period of time on the surface. A minute or two should be all that is needed for your cleaning needs.

Some products that may be kept in your brewery may leave a deglossing effect on your floor, thankfully, this usually can be removed by simply applying hot water and a deck brush. Most of the products needed to take care of your epoxy floor are found at your local hardware store, so there is little difficulty in finding the supplies needed for maintenance.

simple green cleaner

Be warned, when you are cleaning your epoxy floor, stay away from certain products. Using citrus cleaners or vinegar can also cause your epoxy floor to lose its glossy shine. These types of cleaners have acids that can slowly degloss your epoxy floor finish over time. Cleaners with soap also have the possibility of leaving streak marks on your floor and will increase the likelihood that your floor will become slippery when wet. This is why chemical cleaners such as simple green and ammonia are recommended for cleaning your epoxy floors.

Remember, your epoxy floor is extremely durable, but is not indestructible. Damage will occur and accidents are bound to happen. Fortunately most stains can easily be removed, with the right knowledge and a proper amount of elbow grease.

By now you should fully understand the best way to maintain your new floor for your brewery and are on a quick and easy trip to a clean epoxy floor. By sticking to basic maintenance and staying away from products that can be harmful to your floor, your epoxy floor should remain in pristine condition for years to come.

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71 thoughts on “How to Maintain a Clean Epoxy Floor”

  1. We have metallic epoxy floors in our house, which we Love, but mopping leaves a fishy smell, we’ve had the floors for 5 years. Have tried the 8:1 ratio of Simple Green and made it worse. I normally only mop with hot water, and clean the mop and change water very often. I even dry it with a micro fiber cloth to speed the drying. It normally take 12-18 hr for smell to stop.
    Any advise to stop or eliminate the smell?
    I dread mopping because of smell, but have a big dog who slobbers, so a must to mop. Thank you

    1. Hi Tana,

      I woudl suggest a more powerful and concertrated solutiin. Although not ideal an Isoproponal alcohol may work and will not damage the floor.

      Cheers,
      The Brew Floors Team

  2. As you stated, it’s a good idea to avoid using vinegar or citrus cleansers on your epoxy flooring since they’ll make it lose its sheen. Epoxy flooring is something my folks are considering using as they construct a salon. To get rid of salt or rust stains, I will have to share the cleaning solution in a 1:1 ratio.

  3. It was helpful when you suggested that one alternative for washing your floors is to combine one-half cup of ammonia with a gallon of hot water. Because my present floor is already deteriorating, I wish to install epoxy flooring in my living room. I’ll need to get in touch with a specialist who can assist me with installing epoxy flooring in my home. Your cleaning tips for epoxy flooring are quite useful.

  4. I liked when you said that epoxy floors are a superb choice if you want to spend less effort and time maintaining and cleaning your floor while ensuring it looks gleaming every time a visitor enters your facility. My friend is planning to construct a center for his bookstore business. I make sure to mention to him the advantage of using epoxy floors.

  5. It was useful when you mentioned that mixing one-half cup of ammonia with a gallon of hot water is one alternative for cleaning your floors. I want to put epoxy flooring in my living room because my current floor is already decaying. I’ll need to make contact with a professional that can help me install epoxy flooring in my house. Your advice on how to clean epoxy floors is helpful.

  6. I just read your garage epoxy article and wanted to leave a comment. I’ve used epoxy before in my own garage and it’s definitely a great product! It makes the floor so much easier to clean and keeps it looking newer for longer.
    Thanks for sharing your experience with epoxy. I’m sure other readers will appreciate

  7. Such a very beneficial article, thank you for the reminders and advice. I truly appreciate this blog.

  8. Have an epoxy painted floor in our basement but the rest was unfinished. The sheet rock hangers have come and gone. I moped the floor with the very warm water and ammonia solution but still not shinny like it was and where they dragged the sheet rock there are drag marks. Is there anything that I could mop over it to make it shine again? Like a polyurethane ?

    1. Hi Toni,

      You could recoat the floor but you will first need to re prep. Follow these steps and then apply your choice of topcoat. We sell polyurethane topcoats that would work well in this setting although we could not guarantee adhesion as we do no know what the original product uses on the floor is. Use a 3M red pad on a floor buffer to scratch the floor up. If you would like a more aggressive prep then sanding with a 150 grit pad is advisable. Ensure to vacuum and sweep thoroughly and then wipe down with denatured alcohol as the final step. Wait for the floor to dry and re application can begin.

      Cheers,

      The Brew Floors team.

    1. Hi Mark,

      Depends on what type of coating you have on the floor but we would recommend doing a recoat. Do you know what product what originally used on the floor?

      Cheers,

      The Brew Floors Team

  9. I have an epoxy floor in my garage. I noticed an area that is discolored. Is there anything that can be done to take care of that? Is there anyway to touch up small areas?

    1. Yes you can certainly touch up small areas. However these areas do nee dot be properly prepped. We suggest using a 3M red pad on a floor buffer to scratch the floor up. If you would like a more aggressive prep then sanding with a 150 grit pad is advisable. Ensure to vacuum and sweep thoroughly and then wipe down with denatured alcohol as the final step. Wait for the floor to dry and re application can begin.

      Cheers,

      The Brew Floors Team

  10. Epoxy Floor in garage appears to have stains where car tires sit. What is the best way to clean that off?
    Thanks in advance!!

    1. HI Mike,

      First Mix 1 gallon of warm water with about 2 tablespoons of dish detergent and then apply it to the tire marks. Let it to sit for at three to five minutes. If you don’t have dish detergent make sure to wear rubber gloves and pour or spray enough citrus cleaner (super tough on hard to get stains) on the tire marks and cover them completely. Scrub the marks with the rough side of the sponge to remove them from the epoxy floor.Mop the floor with clean water to remove any cleaning residue and allow it to dry.

      That should do the job! 🙂

      Cheers,

      The Brew Floors Team

  11. As you mentioned, it is a good idea to stay clear of citrus cleaners or vinegar when cleaning your epoxy flooring, as this will cause it to loos the gloss. My parents are building a salon, and are thinking of doing epoxy flooring. I will have to share the 1:1 ratio of cleaner to get rid of salt or rust stains.

    1. Hi Jaime,

      We would advise against using both mop n glo and lysol mopping cleaner. They have the potential to ruin your finish.

      The Brew Floors Team

  12. Best Access Doors

    Excellent explanation. Anyone can easily comprehend since it’s simple & focused. Keep up the great work!

  13. Pingback: What is Epoxy Flooring? | Shark Coast Interior Concepts | Blog

    1. A good sweeping can do wonders for the prep process.

      Thanks Trish! We take pride in trying to provide relative and up to date industry news. Glad you enjoyed the blog post.

  14. Sweeping! Always the first defense! Each day, with brooms, dust mops or power sweepers using a soft, bristle brush.
    Enjoy how you reply to the comments, I always appreciate the care taken to answer questions and make suggestions when I’m reading a website. Thanks.

  15. I have epoxy on my front porch. It has some white discoloring on the edge where you step down to our concrete walkway. What should I use to get rid of that discoloration. I can send a pic if you like. Thanks so much.

    1. Hey Terri,

      If the discoloring has been there for some years then it might be tough to remove at this point. An acid based cleaner if most likely your best bet here but this could do more harm than good. Feel free to send over a pic to info@brewfloors.com and I can definitely take a closer look for you.

      Cheers,
      The Brew Floors Team

  16. Ok, so I bought my house a couple years back and it has a nice epoxy coating on the garage floor, It was getting dirty so last spring I went to the local hardware to purchase a cleaner and they sold me a citrus based cleaner.
    .It definitely removed the stains along with the glossy finish. What can I apply to bring back the gloss?

    1. Hi Harv,

      You best bet is probably putting down another topcoat over the epoxy. I would suggest renting a floor buffer and putting a sanding pad on it to give the surface some texture. You want to use a high grit pad (one that is not as aggressive) then vacuum off any excess dirt and debris. We sell a topcoat that works well for garage floors. It’s a 1 part no mix coating that comes with nonskid additive and is very scratch resistant. I will send you an email with more info on it!

      – The Brew Floors Team

    1. Thanks David! This method is one we know to work well and stand behind. We are always looking for other cleaning methods but as it stands today this is the most cost effective and efficient method we would recommend.

      Cheers!

    1. Hi Alex,

      What has proven to work for us is the following method:

      What you’ll Need:
      -Isopropyl alcohol
      -Oxalic Acid Powder
      – Rubber Gloves
      – 2 White Rags (or clean ones work as well!)

      Instructions
      1. Take a white rag or old clean cloth and dampen it with isopropyl alcohol.
      2. Rub the floor stains with the dampened ragged for 1-2 minutes.
      3. Take the oxalic acid powder and mix with water.
      4. Using another clean lightly rub the stains to remove them.
      5. If there is an overbearing odor make sure to open the windows to get ventilation in the room.

      The whole process can be done in under 10 minutes!

      Cheers,

      The Brew Floors Team

  17. What about sterilizing the floors? We have a kennel and I need to sterilize regularly but do not want to strip the epoxy. What is safe to use to sanitize and what is the process that should be followed?

    1. Hi Christa,

      A safe way to sterilize the floors without stripping the epoxy would be to use the following mixture to mop.
      – 1/3 cup dish-washing liquid
      – 5 liters of water

      You can actually use this everyday and the detergent will not have adverse effects on the epoxy.

      1. Would this leave a film, though? Also, sanitizing a kennel area can be a bit trickier. Would dish washing liquid be efficient?

        1. No this would not leave a film. Depending on the use case will of course determine the best cleaning methods. Dish soap is a great alternative as well.

    1. Thanks Ruth! Epoxy floors are a great option for floor covering for a multitude of uses. One just needs to make sure they know how to properly maintain them.

  18. I am really amazed how i got your article at good chances. Such a good piece of article for the maintainence of the epoxy flooring. can this applicable for all types of epoxy flooring too?

    1. Hi David,

      Most epoxy floors are similar in chemical makeup but I would always advise checking with the manufacturer and reading the tech data sheets for any specifics. Some extremely acidic cleaners can cause more harm than good.

      Cheers!

  19. Hello, you say, “to use an 8:1 ratio of simple green in a spray bottle mixed with hot water.” Is that really 8 parts simple green and 1 part water or did you mean 1 part simple green and 8 parts water?

    1. Hello Mark, we suggest using 8 parts water to 1 part of simple green. You can use a more concentrated solution as well this is what we have found works well though.

  20. Will cleaning a epoxy floor with solvent based degreaser and not washing off properly leave a film on the epoxy floor?

  21. We are using black epoxisy but after use that try very dirty because of Epoxy spreading…any solvent for cleaning the Epoxy from fixtures

    1. Hi Shital, have you tried using acetone? we have found that while this is time consuming and quite messy really the only way to clean.

      1. Hey I have some epoxy floors and used a outdoor cleaner on them and it left a comet like Residue how can I get this off

        1. Hi Brian,

          What cleaner specifically did you use on the floor? Some cleaners can actually damaged the floor and result in fading and staining of the coating.

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