Cleaning Tips For Commercial Epoxy Floors

Epoxy coatings are a way to ensure the floor in your commercial space looks professional and finished. Just as you would with any floor, you will want to keep your commercial epoxy flooring clean. Epoxy floors require some minimal maintenance to keep them in the best shape possible. Even with their need for low maintenance there are some tips that you should follow when cleaning your commercial epoxy floors.

1. Use a Dust Mop on a Regular Basis

Epoxy flooring must be kept clean and dust-free. You can sweep the floor using a dust mop that is about two feet wide. If left on the surface, dirt and dust can damage the epoxy coating, but they can be removed easily with the use of a dust mop. The process of dusting the floor should be undertaken at least once weekly. If you tend to drive machinery or vehicles over the surface of the floor, you may have dirt or grit that embeds itself into the floor if it is not removed. Even though epoxy floor is notoriously durable, it can start to show wear and damage if it is scratched over time. If you have a large surface to clean, you may want to invest in a floor sweep/polishing machine to keep your floor in pristine shape. The amount of times you need to clean the floor is dependent on how much dirt gets onto the floor.

2. Use a Wet Mop Once in a While

At least every four months you can use a wet mop and a specially formulated epoxy cleaner to clean the surface of the floor. This cleaning product is designed to lift dirt and sand from the floor and you will want to rinse out the mop often to remove this dirt and prevent scratching. After you have completed the process of cleaning, allow the floor to dry on its own. Microfibre mops are the best kind to use for the wet mop job, but choose a commercial style mop to ensure that it is durable. Use an epoxy floor cleaner and add ammonia to the mix – about one half cup to one gallon of water.

3. Never Use Soap

If you use floor cleaners that have soap in them it can leave visible streaks and a film on the surface of the floor which will build up over time. Your epoxy coated floor does not need soap, only warm water and a decent mop to remove any dirt or debris. Vinegar or citrus based cleaners will destroy your floor’s shine.

4. Cleaning When Necessary

If something is spilled onto the floor or tracked in on shoes or on tires, you should remove the spilled liquid and any associated dirt using a shop vacuum. After this is completed, use a mop with warm water to clean the floor. It is easy to clean an epoxy floor because it is water-resistant and does not absorb any liquids.

5. Heavily Soiled Areas

If you encounter areas of your epoxy floor that is soiled, you should sweep the area and vacuum it. After the surface has been cleared, use a mop with warm water and scrub the dirt off of the floor. Once this is completed, use ammonia mixed with water to mop once more. If there are stains that cannot be easily removed, avoid using abrasive products such as steel wool or gritty chemical cleaners. Instead, use a sponge and scrub lightly to remove the stubborn stain.

6. Car Chemicals and Oil

Use rags to clean up oil and antifreeze or any other compounds and chemicals that have leaked out of a vehicle engine. You do not want to allow spills from vehicles to sit on the surface of the floor for too long. Any foreign chemical is potentially hazardous and may cause damage to your epoxy floor. Clean up any spills as they happen, particularly gas, because it will definitely cause damage.

Epoxy floors are among the easiest to care for and to clean. You just need to do these simple maintenance steps on a regular basis to ensure that the floor is kept in good condition for as long as possible. If damage occurs, you can repair it with another application of epoxy over that area. This can be a very involved process, so it is better to maintain the floor and keep it as clean as possible. Protect the floor by removing debris and foreign compounds from its surface where possible.

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