Epoxy floors are some of the most popular options in buildings, homes, warehouses, and even in the food & beverage industry. These flooring systems are designed to be durable, easy to maintain, or even serve a decorative purpose. Since use for epoxy floors remains generally functional, it’s crucial to understand the basics of preserving epoxy flooring and ensuring an economic choice for your space.
Many industries have been using epoxy resin as an alternative to paint or bare concrete. More than just providing an aesthetically-pleasing design on the surface, epoxy also provides resistance against impacts, abrasions, and stubborn stains. Additionally, epoxy also adds another layer of protection to concrete floors — once it has cured and settled, its polyamine hardener acts to create a tough surface. This helps prevent cracking and irreparable damage that would’ve otherwise occurred due to concrete expansion.
With all of these benefits, taking care of epoxy flooring is surprisingly simple. Read on below for some handy tips that you can use for your home or building.
Regularly Sweep the Floor
As a general rule of thumb, epoxy floors should be swept free of dust, debris, and other objects that may cause an obstruction. This is done in order to remove grit or any discarded matter that can affect the flooring quality.
In low-traffic areas that don’t house too much equipment/aren’t frequently traveled on, it’s advised to sweep and vacuum the flooring at least once a week. Prior to cleaning, objects such as rugs and furniture should be removed. Begin sweeping in the corners and create smooth and consistent motions toward you. Avoid spreading dirt around by carrying a plastic dustpan as you go.
Once you’re done sweeping, use a vacuum for good measure. This helps trap all the debris that you might have missed during the sweep. Do this at least once or twice a week, especially for high-traffic zones that may need a bit more cleaning.
Mop with an All-Purpose Cleaner
If you have epoxy floors in your warehouse, commercial kitchen, or any similar location, you will need to focus better on the cleanliness of your epoxy floors. These places are prone to spills and damages. Your floors may also experience prolonged stress due to heavy machinery and daily foot traffic.
Aside from the regular broom and dustpan, a mop, a bucket of water, and an all-purpose cleaner is also an effective combination to keep your epoxy floors spic and span. Industrial mops are ideal for this, as it can clean faster and requires less physical exertion.
As much as possible, choose a mop that won’t leave behind any streaks as you clean. Microfiber is a good material, since it’s able to use less water and cleaning fluid compared to standard cotton. Mop the epoxy floors twice a week or more, depending on how frequently they’re used. Be mindful of any grease or oils and clean them promptly in order to avoid slips and falls.
Remove Stubborn Stains
While epoxy flooring is extremely effective at preventing the accumulation of stains, there may still be some stubborn ones that can’t be removed by the traditional mop and bucket. In such cases, there are homemade solutions you can try, using readily-available cleaning implements.
To clean tough stains caused by oils or animal fat, you will need an ammonia mixture. This is a common ingredient present in many household cleaning chemicals and is effective at removing almost any mark on your epoxy floors.
Start by mixing a ¼ cup of store-bought ammonia with equal parts water in order to make a ½ gallon solution. Using a mop or a nylon brush, distribute the solution evenly on the floors, making sure that every area is accounted for. Allow the floor to dry and you’ll have durable epoxy floors, good as new.
Use Rubber Caps
As mentioned before, some epoxy floors are prone to distress due to the weight of furniture or equipment. Chairs when used for an extended period of time, for example, may create small dents on the floor’s surface. Equipment such as forklifts, pallets, or mobile racks may also cause the same problem.
To avoid damaging the epoxy resin, it’s a good habit to place rubber caps on furniture legs. This cushions the object so that they won’t create too much strain on the surface. When rearranging furniture or other equipment, see to it that they’re not dragged across the epoxy flooring. This may cause perforations or gouges on the surface.
Key Takeaway
Epoxy resin floors are durable on their own. But if you want to extend their use, then knowing these tips on preserving epoxy flooring is the key to proper care and maintenance.
As with any floor, you can start with basic cleaning methods. This includes sweeping with a broom or using a mop to apply all-purpose cleaner. Combine these with techniques such as applying an ammonia solution to get rid of stains or by putting rubber inserts on objects to protect the floor from excessive damage.
