Three No-Hassle Tips for Cleaning Your Swisstrax Garage Floors

When it comes to flooring for your garage, you have more options than the traditional concrete that can be harsh on your joints and feet. Instead, try Swisstrax garage flooring. The soft surface is easier on your feet, extra traction reduces your chances of slipping when rain gets tracked in, and cleaning up spills is super simple.

Swisstrax floors definitely need to be kept clean. Here are the three tips to keep in mind to maintain your new floor:

• Remove Large Debris
• Deep-Clean With Soapy Solutions
• Maintain Your Tiles

Here’s everything you need to know about caring for and maintaining your new garage floor.

To start with, remove any large pieces of debris using a broom.  Another option is using a shop vac or even a leaf-blower. Use whatever you have to clear most of the dirt from the floors before adding water or a cleaning solution.

Once you have swept, blown, or vacuumed out most of the big stuff, take your garden hose and give it a thorough spray. This isn't going to remove stains or get every bit of dust out of your floor, but it's a fast, easy, and effective way to remove most of the grime and get you back on track.

In some cases, this might be enough! If your rubber tiles are still looking a bit drab, keep reading for the next step.

For a more thorough clean, turn to a familiar solution: hot, soapy water. Adding soap to your cleaning practice will work away dirt and grime far better than water alone. Hunker.com recommends using dishwashing liquid (the kind you hand-wash dishes with, not dishwasher detergent!).

Want to try making your own? The Spruce offers several options for DIY cleaners that are safe on rubber floor tiles. One is to "mix 1 cup of white vinegar into a gallon of hot water."  If you don't like the vinegar smell, no worries: the scent will dissipate once the floor is completely dry. Once your floor is clean and well-rinsed, just let it air-dry.

One Important Tip: If you use any sudsy solutions, be sure to rinse your floors completely with clean water.

To keep your rubber tiles looking great, periodic sweeping and hosing are generally enough. This is a garage floor, however, and sometimes there will be spills and stains. Addressing spills quickly will help prevent them from setting in, getting underneath the tiles, and causing the mess to spread.

Swisstrax tiles are generally stain-resistant. If you do spill something greasy, clean it up as well as you can with a damp cloth, then scrub it with dishwashing liquid, water, and a brush or non-scratch sponge. Another way to safely degrease rubber tiles is with a vinegar and baking soda solution, as noted by mindbodygreen.com. This lightly abrasive mixture can often remove scuff marks; just be gentle to avoid scratching the floor.

What you want to be sure to avoid is the use of harmful chemicals that contain acids or acetone. Turpentine can also damage your floors. Sharp or highly abrasive products (such as steel wool pads) can leave permanent scratches, too, says The Spruce. Rubber tiles can stand up to a lot, but they are not able to tolerate harsh chemicals.