You might not be as likely to spill in your garage as you are in your kitchen or on your living room carpet, but the types of liquids and materials that you store in your garage could leave behind nasty stains if a spill does occur. Think about paint, oil, cleaning supplies, and other chemicals that your garage might hold. If you’ve had a spill in your garage, then let’s look at some tips for cleaning it up properly and getting rid of any stains.
What to do when a spill occurs
The most common garage floor material is concrete. Concrete is a porous material, so it will start to absorb the liquid if you spill something on your garage floor. So, you should act quickly to clean it up if you spill something or notice a leak.
The first thing to do is put down something absorbent to soak up the liquid. Paper towels are okay for smaller spills and less damaging liquids like water, but garage spills may require something better like old beach towels or even cat litter if you have a pet cat. Baking soda can be another good option.
Leave the spill to soak up for a few hours and then come back and remove the towels or sweep up and remove whatever material you put down. There are a number of solutions you could try to treat the stain after this, depending on how bad it is, what was spilled, and your floor’s material. Bleach is good for particularly tough stains, or you might be able to use a simple dish soap or laundry detergent to scrub away the remnants. Rinse away the solution afterward and leave it to dry to see the result.
What to do if you find a stain
You may not always notice a stain when it happens. Maybe oil has been leaking underneath your car without you realizing, or maybe a can of paint has been leaking in a corner somewhere. When it comes to oil stains, a degreaser can help you scrub away the residue. A stiff-bristled brush is best for these kinds of stubborn stains.
For all-purpose stain cleaning, a specialized concrete cleaner is a good option, or a range of solvents and cleaning detergents could work too. Power washing is a great way to remove stubborn stains from concrete, and a power washer detergent will help make this method more effective.
Sealing your garage floor
Applying a sealant to your garage floor will help to make the material less porous, helping it resist stains more easily. It’s a good idea to do this after removing a stain to help strengthen the concrete and make future stains less likely.
At Carolina Garage Door, we specialize in garage door installation, repair, and maintenance, so keep your garage and the door looking in great shape all year round with our professional services and support. Get in touch for garage door services around Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, and Kernersville, NC.