Cleaning a garage floor is no easy task, especially when you don’t have a pressure washer to use – so let’s learn how to clean garage floor without a pressure washer in this article.
Our favorite method is to first remove any objects that are in the way, followed by vacuuming to remove any loose dirt. You can then tackle any stains using our homemade cleaning solution recipe followed by wet mopping to clean the entire floor.
Let’s jump into the guide where we explain each step in detail so you can achieve the same finish as you would with a pressure washer.
Do You Need A Pressure Washer To Clean A Garage Floor?
Pressure washers are incredibly useful to clean garage floors, but they are not absolutely necessary.
A pressure washer will save you a lot of time and effort, but you can achieve a similar result by following the steps laid out below.
Cleaning A Garage Floor Without A Pressure Washer: Step by Step
If you follow through the 5 steps below you will have your garage floor looking like new in no time at all.
Move Items Out The Way
The first step to cleaning a garage floor is to remove any items out of the way.
We all know how cluttered garages can get, but it is important to clear the floor space so you can reach every part during cleaning. There is no point doing half the job, and if you leave any areas then dust or debris can be transferred quickly onto the clean areas which will make the whole process pointless.
You can also easily damage a vacuum if there are sharp objects in the way, which is another thing to consider.
This can also be a good excuse to give your garage some much-needed attention, who knows what you might end up finding?
Vacuum
Once any items are out of the way use a vacuum to remove any dust and dirt.
This step is quite simple, just make sure that you are using the right attachment for your vacuum and you should have no issues. You can also change the attachment to a smaller head to vacuum the perimeter of the garage where the floor meets the baseboard or wall if you want to be thorough.
Tackle Stains
There are a few common types of strains that you will find in your garage, so we’ve listed them below alongside the best methods for removing them.
Paint
Paint stains can be especially hard to get rid of, but the first thing to do is to scrape away any excess paint using a putty knife.
Sweep away the removed paint and prepare a solution of trisodium phosphate(TSP).
To do this, ventilate the area completely and wear long-sleeve clothes, gloves, goggles and a ventilator. TSP is toxic, so you need to take extreme care when using it.
Mix 1/2 cup of TSP with 2 gallons of water if the paint stain is particularly stubborn, otherwise miz 1/4 cup TSP instead, in a bucket and use a sponge to apply the solution to the paint stains. After scrubbing with the sponge for a couple of minutes you should notice the paint has disappeared entirely.
If you are worried about your floor becoming marked then test the solution on a small area of flooring first to see if it has any effect.
Rust
Rust is a lot more common than you would think in garages, and our personal favorite choice for removing it is to use WD-40.
The method is very simple:
- Spray a generous amount of WD-40 over the affected area.
- Scrub with something abrasive, like a floor scrubber or brush, to lift the rust from the floor.
- Remove the residue with paper towels and repeat the process if the stain is still there.
Other Stains
You can technically use TSP for just about any stain in the garage, but we usually reserve it for paint only because of how difficult it can be to work with.
Most other small stains can be removed by scrubbing with a solution of dish soap and warm water. We recommend using a floor scrubber for this application.
Wet Mop
Once you’ve got rid of the necessary stains it’s time to mop the entire area using a wet mopping technique.
Fill your mop bucket with warm water and a suitable floor cleaner for your garage. A pH-neutral cleaning agent is suitable for most common types of flooring in garages like concrete but check the label beforehand to make sure.
Rinse the mop out regularly to make sure you don’t leave the floor dirtier than before you started, and work in straight lines to cover the entire floor.
If you’re uncertain about mopping, check out our guide to make sure you do a great job.
Allow The Floor To Dry
Once you’ve finished mopping allow the floor to dry properly before placing any items back into place.
This is so you can identify any areas that might need to be cleaned again before you put everything back into the garage.
Final Thoughts
We hope you have a good idea of how to clean garage floor without a pressure washer after reading this guide.
If you have any other methods that you like to personally use, then please let us know here!