How to Clean an Auto Repair Shop Floor

An auto repair shop floor takes more abuse than almost any other. Oil, grease, brake fluid, coolant and tracked-in grime build up daily, creating both an unsightly mess and a real slip hazard. A regular degreasing and scrubbing routine keeps the floor safe and professional.

Daily Debris and Spill Control

Start by keeping up with the daily mess. Sweep up debris, and treat fresh oil and fluid spills immediately with an absorbent before they spread and get tracked across the shop. Quick spill response prevents the slick, stained floor that shops are known for.

Degreasing the Floor

Grease and oil bond to concrete and require a degreaser to break down. The process:

1. Sweep the area to remove loose debris
2. Apply an industrial degreaser and let it dwell so it can break down the grease
3. Agitate with a floor machine and a stiff scrub brush, or a scrubber with an aggressive pad
4. Recover the slurry with the scrubber or a wet/dry vacuum
5. Rinse so degreaser residue does not stay slippery

Routine Scrubbing

Between deep degreasing, regular scrubbing with an auto scrubber keeps grime from building up. A scrubber lays down cleaner, agitates and recovers the dirty water in one pass, which is far more effective than mopping a greasy floor. Recovering the water also removes the slip hazard rather than spreading it.

Consider Sealing the Concrete

A sealed shop floor resists oil staining and cleans up much faster than bare concrete, because fluids sit on top instead of soaking in. If your floor stains constantly, sealing it is the upgrade that reduces daily cleaning the most. Some shops add a coating for an even more cleanable surface.

Keep It Safe

A clean shop floor is a safety issue as much as an appearance one, since oil and water create fall hazards. Stay on top of spills, degrease on a schedule and recover wash water promptly. Equip the job with our auto scrubbers and floor machines.