Negligence in the maintenance and regular cleaning of your garage might lead to negative consequences. This can leave dirt marks and unwanted stains on the floor, which might be a hassle to remove. Thus, if you want to prevent such a situation, it is advised to include the garage cleaning in this week’s to-dos list. This article offers a detailed guide on how to clean a garage floor using lemon, vinegar, cat litter, baking soda, and paint stripper to remove rust, paint, and oil spills. And when it comes to routine cleaning, a good vacuum cleaner for the concrete floor will do wonders.
How To Clean a Garage Floor?
Identification of Impurities
The first step towards cleaning your garage floor is the shifting of all the stuff from the garage. Once you have successfully emptied the surroundings, it is time to look for the extent of cleanliness required. This depends on the condition of your target site. Look for impurities, including grease stains, rust stains, dirt marks, paint, and other pollutants.
After you have carefully analyzed the situation, identify which of the impurities can be cleaned easily and enlist those that are hard to remove and time-consuming. There are various methods that can be used to clean a certain type of impurity in the region. Thus, you will have to clean each before thoroughly purifying the whole area separately.
Removal of Rust Marks
After you have categorized the impurities into various stages, let us begin with rust stains. Such marks leave a visible reddish or brownish mark on concrete floors and are extremely hard to remove. Various materials like hammers and nails are associated with rust marks if they remain in one place for a long time or are exposed to water.
Water can rapidly cause the metal to rust, especially if it is exposed for a long time. You might find it hard to clean such stains with the help of regular detergent or water. Therefore, we suggest using lemon on them to get the job done.
Using Lemon or Vinegar
Lemon is renowned for its strong acidic nature and works remarkably well against stubborn stains. Alternatively, you can also choose white vinegar if lemon is not available; it will also display similar results but might impact the polish of the flooring surface. Apply lemon over the target area and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Afterward, use a nylon bristle brush to scrub the area and rinse with water. Repeat until it wipes off completely.
Using Baking Soda
Apart from lemon, another way for the elimination of stubborn rust marks includes the use of baking soda or detergents containing the mentioned ingredient. Mix it with a little bit of water to create a thick paste and apply it over the damaged area. Let it sit for an hour or more.
However, remember to keep the paste wet by applying it over and over again after some time. The dry and hard paste will display inefficiency and will not help in the removal of rust spots. After an hour, scrub the region with a nylon bristle brush while applying water, and you’re good to go.
Removal of Oil and Grease Marks
Oil and grease are other most commonly found marks in a garage. Leakage of fluids from cars and other vehicles is inevitable and will definitely leave spots if not addressed in time. Hence, it is recommended to immediately clean oil spills as leaving them over time would definitely make it difficult to remove them. Below mentioned techniques can be adopted to resolve the problem.
Use of Cat Litter
This method is highly effective against fresh oil spills and grease spots. It can immediately absorb the fluid and leave a dry area that can be rinsed with water to remove slipperiness. Sprinkle the cat litter on the affected area and leave it for a day or more for an efficient result. After the specified time, sweep away the waste and dispose of it. You will observe a dry yet slippery surface.
The slipperiness and remaining oil residue can be eliminated by using dishwashing soap or detergent. Pour some liquid soap on the spot, and after around 45 minutes to one hour, use water and brush to scrub the region. It is advised to scrub gently and prevent leaving scratches on the floor. Take 15 minutes rest in between and let the soap spread on the spot. Then scrub again.
Once the stain has been cleaned, rinse off the area using a power jet wand, and you are done with the task. The same solution can also be used for older oil spills which are extremely difficult to remove. However, you might have to scrub harder over longer time intervals to remove stubborn stains from your garage floor. Similarly, apart from regular soap, you can use a degreasing detergent to clean the flooring surface.
Removal of Paint
Paint spots can be a hassle to remove for the majority, especially when they dry out and become hard. It is advised to use a putty knife to scrape off the upper hard surface of the paint. After a desirable amount has been scraped off, you can sweep the area using a broom. The leftover paint can be dealt with, with the help of water and TSP solution.
You just need to pour the solution over the paint and scrub it. Remember to wear gloves while doing so in order to prevent any damage to your hands. Then, rinse the region with water. If you still see any remaining spot, scrape it off, and your task is complete. You can also choose a paint stripper for the removal of tougher paints.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I remove dirt from my garage floor?
For the regular maintenance and removal of dirt and other impurities from your garage floor, it is advised to use a mixture of baking soda and water. Baking soda does wonders against impurities and can remove them completely. Prepare the paste and apply it over the target site. Use a brush to scrub the area and rinse with water.
What does vinegar do to concrete?
Vinegar is highly effective in removing rust spots from the concrete floor and can act as a perfect cleaning agent. However, it might impact the concrete to a certain extent as well. The damage caused by the vinegar will not affect the cement but might harm the polishing over the floor. Thereby making it look dull and old.
How do you make the concrete look new again?
There are a variety of ways to make your old concrete floor seem polished and new again. They include a power wash which is perfect for the removal of grime and dirt from the floor. Furthermore, the inclusion of stain and sealing coats and resurfacing are also good options in this regard and will make your garage look brand new.
Related Cleaning Guide: How to clean concrete basement floor | How to clean concrete floors
Wrapping Up
You might witness stubborn dirt, paint, rust, and oil stains on your garage floor from time to time. However, I do not want to go through the hassle of cleaning them because the process requires effort and time. This article offered some of the cost and performance-efficient techniques for the removal of these impurities using lemon, vinegar, cat litter, baking soda, and paint stripper. Thus, next time you encounter a stubborn mark, use your knowledge and deal with it.
