How to Clean Epoxy Floors and Maintain it - Advance Industrial Coatings
How to clean epoxy floors?
Floor cleaning and maintenance is a process that is dependent upon the flooring system itself, the traffic conditions, and the type of dirt and debris to which it is exposed. Fortunately, epoxy floors and other resinous floors are easily cleaned since they are highly resistant to dust, dirt, and fluids. Following this simple epoxy floor cleaning and maintenance guide makes cleaning your resinous floor a simple task.
In recognition of the need for regular floor maintenance, the following recommendations will help keep your epoxy floors looking like new. The recommended cleaning products and maintenance program is based on the type of floor you have.
How to clear epoxy floors
Recommended Cleaning Products for Epoxy Floors
As for epoxy floor cleaner, it's highly recommended to use simple green at an 8:1 dilution ratio with hot water.
| Floor Type | Area Description | Recommended Cleaner |
|---|---|---|
| FOOT TRAFFIC | residential home, public areas, health care, dining room/cafeteria, lab, institutional, retail, foot traffic area | Neutral slip-resistant floor cleaner |
| LIGHT TO MODERATE SERVICE AREAS | residential garage, animal care, automotive service center, commercial kitchen/food prep area, patio | Cleaner/Degreaser |
| MODERATE TO HEAVY SERVICE AREAS | bottling plant, factory floor, loading dock, manufacturing/industrial, vehicular traffic area, stadium | Heavy-Duty Cleaner/Degreaser |
| FOOD AND BEVERAGE PLANTS | dairy plant, meat & poultry plant, food processing plant, brewery, winery and beverage plants | Cleaner / Degreaser |
Stay away from acidic cleaning products such as vinegar-based solutions and citrus solutions. These floor cleaners can break down the chemical compound of epoxy floors and introduce wear and tear. They could also slowly de-gloss your epoxy floor finish over time. Cleaners with soap also have the possibility of leaving haze/streak marks on your floor and will increase the likelihood of becoming slippery when wet.
Recommended Cleaning Process for Epoxy Floors
The best method to clean General Polymers floors is a five-step process, using the above recommended cleaning product. The process varies between small and large floors and between smooth and textured floors.
The five steps are:
- Sweeping - Always sweep the floor thoroughly before cleaning.
- Application - The means to put the cleaning product on the floor surface.
- Agitation - Movement of the cleaning product, with a piece of equipment, on the floor surface to aid in the release of foreign material.
- Wait Time - Letting the cleaning product stand on the surface to allow time for emulsifying foreign material.
- Removal - Removing the cleaning product from the surface of the floor.
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The specific cleaning method varies depending on the floor surface type (smooth or textured) and the size of the area being cleaned. Below is a detailed breakdown of recommended tools and techniques for each step of the cleaning process based on your specific flooring situation:
| SMOOTH FLOORING SURFACES | TEXTURED FLOORING SURFACES | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMALL AREA | LARGE AREA | SMALL AREA | LARGE AREA | |
| SWEEPING | broom or dust mop | floor sweeper | broom | floor sweeper |
| APPLICATION | synthetic mop or deck brush | automatic floor scrubber | deck brush or foamer/sprayer | automatic floor scrubber or foamer/sprayer |
| AGITATION | mop or deck brush | automatic floor scrubber | deck brush or rotary floor machine | automatic floor scrubber or rotary floor machine |
| WAIT TIME | 5 - 10 minutes | 5 - 10 minutes | 5 - 10 minutes | 5 - 10 minutes |
| REMOVAL | mop or wet vac | automatic floor scrubber | squeegee or wet vac | automatic floor scrubber |
Cleaning Tips for Epoxy Floors
- Never use a mop to clean a floor that is greasy or oily.
- When using a deck brush, choose a medium/stiff bristle.
- When using a rotary floor machine, use a white, tan or red 3M pad or similar pad.
- When removing solutions with a squeegee, use a soft, neoprene squeegee.
- Do Not use a water spray to remove the cleaning solution from the floor. It will over-dilute the solution, causing greases and oils to fall back onto the floor surface.
- Through proper training and education, unnecessary wear of the floor, such as forklift spin and skid marks, can be avoided.
- Spills should be cleaned up immediately as a safety precaution as well as to prevent staining of the floor.
- Vacuum and remove all sand or dirt on a regular basis
- Surfaces should be adequately protected when moving heavy equipment across the floor.
Remember, your epoxy floor is extremely durable, but is not indestructible. Damage will occur and accidents are bound to happen. Fortunately, most stains can easily be removed, with the right knowledge and some effort.
You should now fully understand the best way to clean your epoxy floor. By sticking to this basic epoxy floor cleaning and maintenance guide, your resinous floor should remain in pristine condition for years to come.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.