How To Clean & Repair Epoxy Flooring, Garage Tiles & Mats
Your ArmorGarage floor is designed to stand the test of time. Here's how to keep it looking brand new.
Cleaning Your Epoxy Floor
There is really no maintenance required for your new epoxy floor. The important thing to remember is that this is a non-stick surface β when you want to clean it, all you need is a damp rag or towel. A damp rag under a T-stick lets you clean your entire floor in just a few minutes.
There is never a need for harsh detergents or solvents and we recommend against their use. If the floor becomes extremely dirty, mix some dish washing liquid or Simple Green with water and wash the floor down with a garden hose. Pressure washing is no longer necessary but OK to do if you want β just don't zero-point the nozzle.
A note about vehicle fluids: While vehicle fluids will have no effect on your epoxy floor finish β especially with the military-grade topcoat β it's never a good idea to leave harsh solvents like brake cleaner, carb cleaner, or battery acid on the floor longer than necessary.
Repairing Scratches & Damage To Your Epoxy Floor
Should the unthinkable happen and your floor gets scratched or damaged, don't panic. The beauty of the ArmorGarage epoxy system is that the topcoat absorbs the damage, leaving the base coat and chips (if used) untouched. That's the whole point of our multi-layer system β you should never have to redo the base coat.
Below we've taken an epoxy floor sample with chips and scratched it with a razor knife for emphasis to demonstrate the repair process.
Step 1: The damage β scratches from a utility knife
Step 2: Lightly sand with an extra-fine 3M pad and wipe clean
Step 3: Brush on new topcoat β scratches disappear completely
Notice the difference: The area to the left of the paint brush is fully restored. We purposely left some scratches and sanded areas uncoated so you can see the contrast. This is why you paid a little extra for an ArmorGarage epoxy floor.
Don't have leftover topcoat? Call us for a repair kit and we'll send you a small batch of the topcoat. The repair process is simple: lightly sand with an extra-fine 3M pad, wipe off the residue, and brush on the new topcoat. Done.
Cleaning Garage Floor Mats & Tiles
Maintenance is simple. Wash down your garage mats or garage tiles with water and some dish washing liquid. To make future cleanings even easier and add extra protection, we recommend applying a good-quality household vinyl floor cleaner/wax such as Clean & Shine or Mop & Glow.
Once you've cleaned with one of these products, subsequent cleanups can be done by simply wiping down with a damp rag or mop. A sponge squeegee also works great, and for the most part a simple garden hose rinse will get the job done. No harsh chemicals or power washing should ever be needed β but power washing won't hurt the mats or tiles if you feel the need.
Tire staining (PP6): In recent years, tire manufacturers have added a chemical called PP6 that causes some tires to leach and stain mats and tiles. The best prevention is keeping a good coat of wax on the surface, or Hillway Direct Floor Maintainer for added protection. If your tiles become tire-stained, give us a call and we'll help you out.
Repairing Garage Tiles & Mats
Tile repair couldn't be easier. If you somehow manage to damage one of the tiles β which isn't easy to do β just drill a small hole in the damaged tile, pry it out with a screwdriver, and pop one of your spare tiles back in. Done.
Mat damage is extremely rare. It would require cutting something directly on the mat without protection, or dropping a sharp, heavy pointed object. If you do work with sharp blades or heavy pointed objects, please use floor protection just like you would on any other fine flooring.
If mat damage does occur: For small cuts or punctures, use 3M Seam Weld to fuse the area back together. For more serious damage, give us a call or email and we'll help you out as best we can.
Keep your floors clean and enjoy looking at them for years to come. Visit our Technical Resource Hub for selection guides, application instructions, TDS and SDS sheets. Questions? Call 866-532-3979 or email info@armorgarage.com.