Cleaning Tips - Cleaning a Concrete Garage Floor

Cleaning your concrete garage floor can be a daunting task especially when you think about the types of stains that often dot garage floors. To avoid permanent stains on your concrete floor you should clean it regularly - but sometimes even this won't help with stains as stubborn as oil, grease and paint. It follows therefore that the methods you use to clean the floor should be in tandem with the types of stains that dot your garage floor.

The materials you may need to facilitate a comprehensive floor cleaning are kitty litter, concrete cleaner, dish washing cleaner, a brush or broom with stiff bristles, a power-hose, squeegee and protective clothing (gloves and goggles).

The first rule of cleaning concrete is speed - most concrete stains can be prevented from holding fast by taking swift action. Immediately wiping off the stain will take care of the stains of many liquids. However, for substances like oil or grease, cover the area with kitty litter for 24hours so that most of the spill is absorbed.

Before you start cleaning, open the garage door and remove all items from the floor before sweeping it clean. Most concrete cleaners are designed to deal with tough stains. But before using the cleaner for the entire floor, do a spot test to see if it removes the stain or creates another. Note though that some stains do not necessarily require concrete cleaners - such stains can easily be removed using a regular dish cleaner.

Place the cleaner on the stain and let it sit for a while - how long you leave it will depend on how stubborn the stain is. Then scrub it clean with the broom or brush before rinsing the floor with the high-powered hose and drying it with the squeegee.