The garage floor is often the least cared-for area of a home. Oil, grease, and stains can be found on the floor from years of neglect and lack of care. Thankfully, there are a number of cleaning methods that can help you clean up your dirty garage floor so it looks as good as new!
How to remove oil stains from your garage floor
1. You will need a bucket with some water or degreaser, dish detergent or rubbing alcohol, and a sponge.
2. Pour the degreaser or rubbing alcohol on the oil stain and let it react for about 10 minutes.
3. Take your sponge and wipe away the greasy residue left on the garage floor. This should not take anymore than three wipes.
4. Wipe off excess residue with paper towels soaked in soapy dish detergent or diluted rubbing alcohol to avoid leaving any hard-to-clean residue behind on the floor of your garage.
What to use when cleaning up grease stains in a garage
When it comes to removing moderate grease stains from your garage floor, there are a variety of easy methods that can help.
Degreasers like spray degreasers and oven degreasers are designed to remove oil-based soils without the use of water. These can be found at your local grocery store. Different brands’ ingredients vary, so always read the labels before purchasing.
Using dish detergent, shampoo or other foaming cleaners will help lift the grease stain from your garage floor. Apply a generous amount to the affected area and wait for several minutes. Wipe clean with a paper towel soaked in water, dish soap, or hydrogen peroxide that has been diluted with an equal quantity of water.
For those looking for a speedy way to clean up their garage, using automatic cleaners may be more convenient. Automatic cleaners are laced with chemicals that will cause the greasy residue on your garage floor to loosen and dissolve. It may take a few tries to completely get all of the ground in grime off, but it will save you lots of time and effort.
Benefits of using a power washer on your stained floors in the garage
For removing large areas, power washers are great for cleaning up oil stains. Power washers send high-powered water streams that can easily remove stubborn grease stains from your garage floor.
Power washers can be rented at hardware stores and home improvement centers for a fraction of the cost it would take to buy one and clean up your entire garage floor.
What to do with your garage floor after you clean it: seal it!
After you have finished cleaning the oil stains in your garage and scrubbing out grease spills, it is a good idea to apply a new protective layer of sealant on the surface. This will help keep future dirt from seeping into your garage floor and causing you that much more work.
Conclusion
Your garage floor can get dirty and stained due to oil, grease, or other spills that accumulate over the years. Thankfully there is a way to clean up stains without scrubbing with chemicals on your hands and knees!
Power washers also do wonders at removing stubborn oils from garage floors quickly while sealing afterward will help protect against future spills.