Everything You Need To Know about Maintaining Epoxy Floors (2021)

So you've finally taken the leap and installed a beautiful new epoxy floor in your home, business, restaurant or industrial space huh? Luckily epoxy floors are super easy to take care of compared to other flooring solutions, even with just common household items you may already have.

In this article we jump into how to properly maintain, and clean your new epoxy floor. We also go into how to fix small scratches, our ultimate DIY cleaning solution, and a few sneaky items that you will want to avoid at all costs. You might just be surprised!

Cleaning Epoxy Floors

Dirt and Grit Are Your Enemies

The easiest way to keeping your floor in top shape is removing any dirt, grit, or grime regularly. Dirt and grit particles are tough cookies, and can be hard to even spot. If left unattended, they eventually become embedded into the epoxy surface itself and begin scratching your precious epoxy topcoat. 

Depending on your particular use case, epoxy floors should be cleaned once or twice a week (depending on how much dirt your floor accumulates). For cleaning loose debris, a simple soft brush broom or mop to sweep away debris should do the trick. A  microfiber mop pad, or our microfiber floor care kit work great as well.  In general any of the following tools will safely clean an epoxy floor:

• Vacuum with a soft brush attachment to gently remove any sand, dirt, and grit.
• Any ph balanced cleaners with no abrasives
• Soft Bristle Brushes and Broom
• Damp Mop
• Pressure Washer
• Microfiber towels/mops/cloths

Our DIY Ultimate Epoxy Cleaner

One of the most effective ways to clean an epoxy floor is with diluted ammonia. Dilute 2-3 ounces of ammonia to 1 gallon of hot water and gently apply to the floor with a microfiber mop. A bi-monthly deep clean with a diluted ammonia solution is recommended alongside your regular cleaning regime to remove buildups of grease and residue.

Chemical Spills 

Although epoxy floors are incredibly resistant to chemical spills, they are not completely solvent proof. They will resist stains and damage while isolating the liquid, but not indefinitely. That is why it is important to clean all spills in a timely manner. 

In an industrial setting, oil, gasoline, antifreeze, and other chemicals can be wiped away easily with shop towels or paper towels. In a residential environment, all spills can be wiped up with paper towels or a microfiber cloth.

Fix Minor Scratches With Ease

Believe it or not, scratched epoxy surfaces can usually be fixed relatively easily. All you need is a small amount of furniture polish (dime sized) and a microfiber cloth. Apply the furniture polish onto the scratched area, in even circular motions apply with the cloth. Repeat as necessary until the scratches are blended into the epoxy coating around it. Note that this will not work with extremely heavy scratches or gouging in the surface. 

Avoid These Products!

Epoxy is an amazing material and can withstand a whole lot. There are however some cleaning supplies you want to avoid to ensure that your epoxy floor doesn't wear or fade prematurely.

They Are:

• Citrus Based Cleaners - break down the epoxy and lead to fading and/or cracking over time
• Vinegar - fade epoxy over time
• Soap Based Cleaners - leave residue, creates opaque film, dulls shiny finish. Can also create a slip hazard when wet
• Bleach
• Pure Ammonia (use our Ultimate Epoxy Cleaner solution, and follow the instructions above)
• Steel Wool

Conclusion

Whether your epoxy floor is installed in your garage, living room, or industrial warehouse, a cleaning regime is imperative to the longevity of your surface. Regardless of the amount of traffic the floor sees, maintaining a regular schedule of cleaning will only prolong the life of the surface. If you have any further questions or would like to speak to an EpoxyETC professional , please feel free to reach out at (954)-799-6359.