Choosing epoxy flooring for your home is a stylish, versatile and highly practical choice. However, as with any other flooring material, it’s essential to keep up with regular cleaning and maintenance practises if you want to ensure your epoxy floors are kept looking their best.
Here are some top tips you can follow to help keep your epoxy floors looking good as new, even in the long-term:
Regular Cleaning
When cleaning epoxy floors, it’s all about consistency. Regularly sweeping and mopping will help keep dirt and debris from building up over time. Consequently, you won’t have to make things harder for yourself later on down the line. When cleaning or mopping your epoxy floor, make sure you use a soft-bristled broom or mop head. This is because stiff bristles have the potential to scratch the floor’s surface. Also, avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners while cleaning, as these can damage the finish. Instead, opt for a mild detergent or cleaner that is specifically formulated for use on epoxy floors.
Stain Removal
If you do find yourself dealing with stubborn stains, there are a few steps you can take to try removing it without damaging the finish. For example, if you find an oil or grease stain on your floor, you can try using a solvent such as mineral spirits or white vinegar combined with baking soda to create a paste that can be used to scrub away at the stain. However, if this doesn’t work, you may need to seek professional help to properly remove the stain from your floor without causing damage.
Protection Against Scratches
In addition to regular cleaning and occasional spot removal treatments, there are other steps you can take to help protect epoxy floors from scratches and different types of damage.
One way is by using furniture pads under chairs and tables so that they don’t cause scratches while being moved around. Consider investing in rugs or mats for areas which can help protect against wear and tear caused by foot traffic in busy areas of your home. Additionally, keeping your pet’s nails trimmed regularly will also help reduce scratching damage caused by animals running across the surface of your floors.
Best Cleaning Agent for Epoxy Floors
One of the best cleaners for epoxy flooring is warm or hot water. Epoxy is typically made from a combination of resins and hardeners, so harsher chemicals can damage it. You’ll only need water, a mop, and occasionally mild soap to remove a build-up of dirt and dust.
Ideally, you should be using a non-alkaline, gentle cleanser that won’t threaten to remove any coatings. As long as your floor area isn’t too significant, diluting one-third cup of dishwashing soap in four or five litres of water should be an appropriate cleaning solution.
Diluted ammonia is an additional option you can use. This cleaning solution does not de-gloss your flooring over time, but rather helps to maintain the epoxy finish and can aid in the restoration of its anti-skid properties.
When using ammonia, mix it with hot water and use only about one-half cup of ammonia per 4L of water. This helps to balance out the chemical impact and dilutes it just enough to ensure that scuff marks and stains are removed.
For the best results, remove any debris and thoroughly sweep the area before attempting to clean your flooring.
What Not to Use on Epoxy Floors
There are numerous cleaners out there that should not be used to clean epoxy-coated floors. These cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to resin-based flooring.
Common cleaners that should not be used on epoxy flooring, as well as ingredients to avoid when choosing a cleaner, include:
- The majority of soap-based cleaners
- Citric acid
- Vinegar
- Bleach
When using heavy chemicals, diluting them is always the best option. Avoid using bleach or other harsh chemicals. Remember; it’s always best to clean with a small amount of warm water.
Conclusion
Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential for keeping your epoxy floors looking their best over time. So, you should always make sure you are using appropriate products when cleaning them. With these tips in mind, you should be able to maintain your beautiful epoxy floors for years to come. If you want to learn more about resin floors and how to maintain them, check out our blog. You can also check out our gallery of epoxy floors that our team have installed.
