Have you invested in epoxy floor coating? Good move. Epoxy is the ultimate protection. It shields against liquid spills and stays strong under heavy weights – precisely what you want on a busy industrial floor. And if you’ve opted for non-slip flooring, you’re also prioritising safety, which we can certainly get behind!
We know maintenance can be a headache. Some people take the ‘ignorance is bliss’ approach and avoid action unless confronted with a problem. Unfortunately, ignorance only gets you so far. Sooner or later, a crisis will occur and will probably be costly. It pays (literally) to keep your warehouse in good knick.
As durable as epoxy flooring is – and it’s heavy-duty – like most things in the warehouse, it requires maintenance. If you invest in proper maintenance, it will last up to 20 or more years, so you won’t have to find money in the budget to re-do it later.
Here are some tips for caring for your epoxy floors and flake flooring.
How to care for epoxy flooring
Keep floors grit, sand and dirt free
Think because epoxy floors are easy to maintain you can get a little lax with cleaning? Warehouse floor coating is strong, but it’s not magical! Dirt can scratch over time, which can worsen with machinery moving it around. We recommend spot cleaning by sweeping or vacuuming dirt off the floor as soon as it spills or keeping up a schedule to avoid build-up.
Protect warehouse floor coating with mats
Epoxy floor paint is designed to withstand the weight of heavy-duty equipment, such as as forklifts, high-density shelving and conveyors. But cracks, scuffs and pits do happen, especially in action-packed industrial settings. Once cracked, epoxy concrete floors can begin to flake, and this may result in it needing to be replaced. Protect your warehouse floor coating with rubber mats or pads where heavy equipment is used and stored.
Clean chemical spills immediately
Yes, epoxy flooring is chemical-resistant, but if you leave spills for too long, they can break down the gloss. Chemicals can include anything from all-purpose cleaners and paint to battery acid. When a spill occurs, soak up the chemical with a cloth or paper towel and then a wet cloth to wipe the floor. You may also need to neutralise the chemical with an acid or alkali-neutralising powder. Once the powder is absorbed, sweep or vacuum it up then mop the area.
Schedule regular and deep cleans
Remember when we mentioned maintenance? Cleaning is a big part of it. It’s best if you clean epoxy concrete floors regularly. The frequency will depend on your warehouse. At least once a week is recommended. If you work as a mechanic, you may need to clean daily to ensure all oil, grease and chemicals aren’t left on the floor. We recommend scheduling deep cleans at least once every three months, where you move machinery, shelving and tools to clean under them. High pressure cleaning works well for deep cleaning epoxy flooring.
How to clean warehouse floor coating
Clear debris
As we mentioned earlier, all debris must be cleared off the floor, especially before washing it, to avoid scratching. You can use a broom to sweep up dirt or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to prevent damage.
Wash with ammonia
You must avoid harsh chemicals, citrus and vinegar when cleaning. These liquids will break down the polish of the epoxy floor painting. Instead, we recommend mixing ammonia with hot water (refer to instructions) and mopping with a flat mop to avoid unsightly streaks.
Scrub tough stains
Have you noticed tough stains? You can use a soft deck brush to scrub these out. Avoid scourers or hard bristles, as these will scratch the epoxy. If stains don’t lift with water and ammonia, you can try a degreaser for grease marks or a concentrated cleaner (ensure it’s okay for epoxy).
Rinse and dry the floor
Now’s time to wash the cleaning solution off the epoxy flooring or flake flooring. You can hose the floor down or mop the solution with hot water. We recommend drying the floor with a towel.
Epoxy flooring and epoxy flake floor coating stand up to harsh conditions, but maintenance will help to minimise damage and make it last for years.
Is it time to give your warehouse floor coating a deep clean? Get in touch with Kleenit. We get the job done!