One place that is especially prone to oil, filth, and dirt buildup that can discolor and accumulate over time is the garage. While it may require some time for a garage to become obviously dirty, periodic cleaning is crucial to ensuring that it remains undamaged.
There are a couple of procedures to follow to ensure you provide your garage with a good cleaning. Cleaning will be a lot simpler the next time around after it is finished, even if it takes an entire day or two.
Prepare the Garage
You will need to complete the dreadful duty of tidying before you begin washing the floors. Our three-step strategy is as follows:
Clear up the Garage
Cleaning is challenging if you have to work around heavy objects. Start clearing the area of bulky objects first, such as bicycles, tools, automobiles, crates, basins, and other obstructions. If objects on shelves are not in the path of hoses, soap, or water sprays, you may leave them there.
Outlets and Drywall From Damage
If exposed, drywall is particularly vulnerable to water damage. It may weaken and soften, losing its structure as a result. When this occurs, mold will start to grow swiftly and pose a health danger to you and your family in your house.
Measure from the floor up and encompass a minimum of three feet of the drywall with a tarp or other covering to avoid this. Also, any plugs that may be situated in the garage should be safeguarded by this.
Clean up the Debris and Dust
Sweep the floors to get rid of any possible dust, filth, or debris. Once you have applied water and detergent, the job will be considerably cleaner.
How to Eliminate Stains
It is time to concentrate on stains once the garage is tidy and the floor has been scrubbed with a broom. These stain removing techniques are among our favorites.
- Time: 15 to 60 minutes
- Difficulty Level: Easy to Intermediate
Natural Acid
Vinegar and Lemon Juice
Two acidic substances that are good for removing stains are vinegar and lemon juice. Due to the presence of metal items like motorcycles and tools, rust is a typical stain in the garage. As a result, when you move metal vaults or standing shelves, you could uncover rust streaks. Rust is quite simple to get rid of, despite the fact that discovering it might be frustrating. Lemon juice or pure white vinegar should be applied directly to the discolorations. Let it rest for around five minutes before utilizing elbow grease. Scrub and wipe the discolorations away using a firm brush.
Muriatic Acid
If this did not work and the rust is still visible, you can try it again or buy a professional treatment. If the discoloration is particularly stubborn, you can also apply muriatic acid. This substance, commonly known as hydrochloric acid, is extremely acidic. Because it is highly caustic, you should use caution when handling it. 10 parts water to 1 part muriatic acid is the recommended ratio.
Precaution
Muriatic acid will burn the skin if it comes in contact with it. The powerful fumes can potentially cause lung and nose burns. Thus, always put on safety gear including gloves, spectacles, and a mask.
Employ a Detergent
The numerous stains you could encounter in your garage can be effectively removed by using plain old powdered detergent. Bring out a container of detergent and a pail of warm water. Till the stain is completely covered, liberally apply the detergent. Scrub the stain with a stiff brush after dipping it into the warm water. To scrub, you will need to exert some pressure. When finished, remove as much of the detergent as you are able to and let it air dry.
Cat Litter
If you frequently notice oil marks in your garage because you have cats, you might just discover another application for cat litter. Due to its great absorption capacity, cat litter can help eliminate grease stains without the use of chemicals. But you will need clay-based trash for this technique to work. Give the stain a liberal covering of the liquid and let it sit overnight. Then, remove the trash the following day, and assess the stain. The next day, there can still be some remnants of the stain. In this case, replace the used litter with a fresh batch and let it sit again overnight. Cat litter efficiently gets rid of both fresh spills and old stains, though it may take a few days.
Commercial Item
There is always the choice of a commercial item if everything else fails. There are numerous oil and grease removers on the market. From concrete, they successfully eliminate oil, grease, brake fluid, and other substances. To be sure you are using the product appropriately, always adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some merely need to be scrubbed and rinsed right away, while some types of products require a long working period of several hours. The best oil and grease removers are, however, left in place until they are completely dry before being taken out.
Taking Off Sealant and Old Paint
Sealants and outdated paint must be removed before applying an epoxy finish to your concrete floor. Sealants and paint can be eliminated with a chemical stripper. As specified by the manufacturer, use your chosen chemical. The spots can easily be eliminated if you would like with a solvent. Keep the door to the garage open because these might have powerful odors and are rapid. Sealants and outdated paint can be removed with a floor grinder. Your neighborhood hardware store may rent one for you. To remove sealant, mastic, and paint, use a specific grind head.
Using a mask and goggles will keep you safe from the dust that the floor grinder may produce. Compared to employing chemicals, this method needs a lot less work on the part of the user. If you are unsure about how to operate a grinder, start small and work your way up until you feel comfortable using it.
Deep Cleaning the Garage Floor
It is time to focus on the entire floor after removing blemishes and stains.
- Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Difficulty Level: Intermediate
What You Will Need
- Detergent
- Bucket of hot water
- Regular broom or push broom with firm bristles
- Power washer
- A buffer
- Gardening hose
- Floor squeegee
Create Your Own Cleaning Solution
Use any item of your choosing to create your cleaning solution. Degreasing products are useful if you frequently have oil spills. If the floor is dirty, ordinary laundry detergent can also be used. A reasonable amount should be combined with warm water according to the degreasing product’s instructions. Using detergent is optional, but here’s how you combine it:
one gallon of hot water into a bucket. Cleansing with hot water is much more powerful than cold at dissolving grime and grease. Make absolutely sure that the detergent is completely dissolved by adding a third of a cup and mixing well.
Use a Broom
Spread the solution evenly across the floor; you might require more than one gallon for this purpose. The cleaning solution will dissolve and absorb oil, filth, and grime if you give the mixture time to settle for around 10 minutes. Then, sweep the entire floor with your push sweeper or ordinary broom. Beginning in the furthest corner of the space, move closer to the door. Push the soap and water out of the garage door as you scrub. When you are through, this will aid in the concrete’s drying process. Once you are done, rinse the area with a garden hose and let it air dry. Use a floor squeegee if you have one to divert the water away from the garage. By doing so, you can get rid of any standing water and hasten the drying process of the floor.
Rinse with a Power Washer
If your garage flooring is particularly filthy, a power washer may be useful in removing stubborn grime. If you do not already have one at home, you can rent one from your neighborhood hardware shop. Pour the cleaning solution on the floor, then let it sit for 15 minutes. Spray the whole floor with the power washer. As you move down the floor, move the nozzle in broad strokes. You should exit the garage through the back, starting from there. A garage door that is open should have water flowing out of it.
Finish with Using a Buffer
Concrete floor restoration is quite successful with a buffer. Nylon works well on concrete in this machine’s potent scrubber. Your neighborhood hardware shop may rent you a buffer. The cleaning solution should first be poured onto the floor. In order to cover the floor, carefully direct the buffer as it runs. Once more, begin your journey from the farthest corner of the garage to prevent stepping on freshly cleaned surfaces. You might be a little taken aback by the potency of a buffer if you have never used one before. However, start with little areas to become acclimated to it. When you feel confident, move on to larger parts. Finally, let the floor dry.
Conclusion
The majority of people do not consider washing their garage flooring as frequently as they do their interior flooring. Unfortunately, all of the filth, grime, oil, and other crud that can accumulate cannot be removed easily. Be sure to read this post to find out how to thoroughly clean your garage.
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