Your garage will naturally become dirty over time. That’s just the nature of the type of work that you will do in the garage and the types of tools and materials that you’ll store there. Still, if you’d like to keep your garage looking clean and brand new, there is a way you can do that. Even oil and grease stains, the most unsightly messes in your garage, can be effectively removed and cleaned.
Whenever you spill oil or grease, you should immediately begin to clean it. The first thing you should do is try to remove and mop up as much of it as you can. The more you leave on the ground, the more that will seep into the concrete. Once you’ve done this, you will want to use some type of cleaning solution to remove the oil and grease that’s already stained the surface. Fortunately, there are a few different cleaning products that can help.
1. Laundry Soap Solvents
Dry laundry soaps have been used by NASCAR and other professional racing teams for years because when they are used immediately and correctly, they can be extremely effective. Once you’ve removed the oil on the surface, you will want to mix a large amount of laundry soap with warm water, until you have a very soapy liquid.
Pour this soapy liquid directly on top of the stain and then cover the stain and the liquid with a large amount of dry laundry detergent directly from the box. Leave the soapy water and detergent alone for a few minutes, so that it can begin breaking down the stain.
After 5-10 minutes, start scrubbing with a nylon brush that has hard bristles. Push hard into the floor as you scrub and do this for several minutes until you no longer see any progress. Now hose down the area. A high pressure hose works best.
2. Industrial Degreasers
Industrial degreasers are specially designed to fight and break down grease. Apply the degreaser onto the stain and let it dry. This may take several hours. Once it dries completely into a powder, sweep the powder and dispose of it.
These products are usually made of very powerful chemicals, so be very careful and avoid any contact with your skin or eyes when you apply it and when you remove it.
3. Eco-Friendly Degreasers
Eco-friendly degreasers are an alternative that use less toxic chemicals which typically are safer for the environment and for you. Though they are not as powerful as the industrial solutions, they are usually still very effective.
Apply them to the stain and let them dry in the same way. They typically are made out of citrus-based degreasing agents mixed with non-leaching absorbents.
4. Homemade Cleaners
Though these may sound like they’re out of some old wives’ tale, many of these solutions have been proven over time to work. For example, kitty litter and WD‑40 have many supporters who profess to their effectiveness. A mixture of paint thinner and sawdust is another homegrown solution that may do the job for you.
If you don’t have any of these materials in your home, you can try to use mineral spirits to clean the stain. First pour it over the stain and let it sit for three to five minutes before you start scrubbing it with a sturdy nylon brush. Afterwards, lay newspaper or paper towel over the area and let everything dry. Finally, mix a solution of one gallon of water, one cup of bleach, and one cup of detergent. Scrub and wash the stain with this solution before hosing the area down and letting it dry.
Once you’ve got a sparklingly clean garage, you may realize that your dirty old garage door looks out of place. If this happens, feel free to contact us for a free quote on a new garage door.
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