Garage floors accumulate road salt, oil drips, tire marks, and general grime — especially through Toronto's salted winters. A clean garage floor is easier to maintain, looks better, and lasts longer. Spring is the ideal time for a thorough garage floor clean after the salt season.
Removing Road Salt and Winter Residue
- Sweep and remove all items from the floor
- Hose or mop the floor to dissolve and remove salt residue — salt left on concrete causes efflorescence (white chalky deposits) and long-term surface damage
- For stubborn white efflorescence: mix white vinegar and water (1:1) and scrub with a stiff bristle brush
- Rinse thoroughly
Fresh Oil Stains
- Pour cat litter, sawdust, or baking soda onto the stain immediately to absorb the oil
- Allow to sit for several hours or overnight
- Sweep up and dispose
- Apply a degreaser or dish soap, scrub with a stiff brush, rinse
Set Oil Stains
- Apply a commercial concrete degreaser (available at hardware stores) or spray with WD-40 (which loosens set oil), let sit 15 minutes
- Pour dish soap directly on the stain and scrub vigorously with a stiff bristle brush or push broom
- Rinse with hot water
- Repeat if needed — set oil stains may require 2–3 treatments
- For severe stains: muriatic acid diluted in water (10:1 water:acid) applied with a brush, left for a few minutes, then rinsed — handle with gloves and eye protection, neutralize with baking soda
Pressure Washing
A pressure washer on a concrete setting (1500–2000 PSI) with a wide fan tip is the most effective way to do a full garage floor clean. Work from back to front, directing water toward the door. Use a degreaser sprayed on first for oil stains.
Sealing
A penetrating concrete sealer applied after a thorough clean prevents oil, salt, and water from absorbing into the surface — making future cleaning significantly easier. Apply with a roller every 2–5 years. This is the single best long-term garage floor maintenance investment.