08 Sep How to clean epoxy floors
How to clean epoxy floors
Maintenance and Care of Epoxy Flooring after Installation
It’s important to know how to clean epoxy floors properly after they’re installed, as proper care will protect the long-term value of the floor.
When should an epoxy floor be cleaned?
After an epoxy floor is installed, the first cleaning should be as soon as the floor is back in service. Typically, an epoxy floor will require 2-3 days of curing time before it can be opened up for heavy-duty use. After full curing and as soon as the floor in use, cleaning should be a daily routine. Not only will this help extend the longevity of the floor, but it will ensure the safety of the people using the floor.
How to clean epoxy floors with cleaning products
When spills or other hazards need to be cleaned from the floor and sweeping isn’t sufficient, the floor should be cleaned using a few different products depending on the type of mess. For light to medium duty messes, typical cleaners from Simple Green or Zep work well. For more difficult to clean spots, heavy duty cleaners or solvents can be used. Be careful when using strong cleaners as leaving a caustic product soaking on the floor for too long can damage the floor. We always recommend cleaning and wiping away caustic products right away. Although epoxy coatings have very good chemical resistance, spills should be cleaned up quickly. For hard to clean spots, a heavy-duty cleaner or a rag with solvent on it works well.
How to clean epoxy floors with tools
To keep your epoxy floor clean, the surface should be swept daily with a broom, dust mop, or sweeper. Mop the floor once per week as a baseline, but depending on the level of use, daily cleaning may be needed. Larger facilities will commonly use floor scrubbing machines to make daily cleaning easier and more efficient.
For example, if the epoxy floor is in a clinic or school environment and has a decorative finish, it would require daily cleaning. If the floor is a solid grey epoxy in a public works garage, you could get away with hosing it down once per week or using a ride-on scrubbing machine.
Best practices for longevity
Regular cleaning is one of the best practices to extend the life of your epoxy floor. Like with all cleaning, it is hard to restore a floor after it has been neglected for months or years without proper and regular cleaning. There is no magic coating or flooring option that doesn’t require daily and weekly care, so if you are looking to protect your investment, it’s important to know how to clean epoxy floors and to be sure to clean the surface of your floor regularly and effectively.