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You are here: Home / Archives for household hazardous waste

Clean Your Garage Floors

July 7, 2017 by Rick Scully

washing garage floorIt’s summer.  The kids are playing in the yard and it’s a day to enjoy being outdoors.  It is finely time to look after one of the renovation projects around the home or garage. One of the maintenance projects is to get rid of the unsightly stains on the garage floor while the children seem to be getting along and entertaining themselves.

Here are some tips to make this unglamorous task simpler and more straightforward.

Clear the Debris & Dust

One of the easiest ways to clear small debris from the garage is to use the leaf blower. As long as this is being done regularly, the leaf blower is a great way to clear dust and debris to the outside. If there’s too much dust around, the leaf blower may not be the best option.

The leaf blower works particularly well if you have a polyaspartic garage floor or floor tiles including the Ribtrax type tiles.  The debris should be blown from rear to front.  With the Ribtrax, it’s the same.  With many channels below the tiles, debris and dust will flow forward and out the front edge when the leaf blower is used.

When bare cement is exposed or the garage floor has not been cleared of dust and debris regularly, there may be a lot of unwanted cement dust and general debris flying through the air.  A lot of the dust will end up on bikes, toys and other storage items.  A better alternative would be to use the shop vac or a dust broom and pan. 

The leaf blower makes the job easy and quick.  There’s no need to move heavy objects out of the way because the blower will dislodge hidden dirt, dust and small objects from behind large items in the garage.  Use a lower setting to start on the leaf blower.

Take some precautions when using the leaf blower.  Use a dust mask to protect your lungs.  Leaf blowers are powerful enough to lift small debris such as nuts, washers and nails.  It can also lift and peel loose areas of a painted garage floor.  All of these objects can become painful projectiles.  Move vehicles safely out of the way and assure your family is safely spending time elsewhere in the yard or house.

Getting Rid of Oil Stains

If you have a polyaspartic coated garage floor, oil spilled won’t soak into the polyaspartic floor.  Instead, it will sit on top of the floor coating.  While polyaspartic floor coatings are highly chemical resistant, look after the floor by cleaning up spills immediately.  Remove oil spills soon after they happen to prevent it from being spread all over the garage or dragged into the house by younger family members walking through the garage. 

To clean an oil stain, start by using an absorbent material to soak up the oil.  Some good absorbent materials include cat litter, saw dust, baking powder and diatomaceous earth.  Cover the entire oil stain completely and leave it there for 24 hours so the oil has a chance to absorb fully.

Once the oil is absorbed into one of these materials, it’s easy to scoop up the absorbent material along with the oil soaked into it. Dispose of them safely at a drop off depot for household hazardous waste.

Finally, a little dish soap and hot water to wash the area where the oil was sitting will eliminate any remaining film.  Dry the area with disposable paper towels and your polyaspartic garage floor should be back to its original condition.

With garage floor tiles, you can just replace specific tiles or use a similar process to clean the tile.  The quality of the cleaning results will depend on the floor tile.

The Ribtrax floor tiles will allow you to remove a single tile or multiple tiles to clean a stain in the concrete floor below.  If you have exposed concrete where the oil spill occurred, start with the steps above.  When using the soap with water, leave it in place for up to an hour.  Then, use an absorbent material to soak up the soapy spot and oil mixture.  A paste can also be made from the soap and water mixture plus absorbent material.  Leave the paste in place until dry.  Always remove and dispose of the paste at a drop-off depot.  If the stain is older or deep, you may have to repeat this process a few times to draw out all of the oil from the concrete.

There are also a variety of non-toxic commercial cleaners such as Simply Green or Oil Eaters which people have found to provide success.  Check manufacturer’s instructions for applicable surfaces and steps to using these products.

Maintenance and General Cleaning of the Garage Floor Surface

Polyaspartic floors are the easiest to clean. A general cleaning of the surface of the typical polyaspartic garage floor is easy to do with a string mop and a bucket of water with any of a wide variety of floor cleaning products such as vinegar, a couple of drops of dish soap, a wide variety of green cleaners and non-toxic commercial cleaners. This can also be done with garage floor tiles as well.  You can also wipe dry any remaining water so the cleaning can be done most months of the year.

With a concrete floor, you may need a long handled scrub brush to remove and lift other types of stains along with a stronger soapy mixture.  Finally, hose down the garage floor with garden hose.  And, you’ll want to make sure you do this on a warm day to give the cement time to dry.  In the GTA, this means cement floors need to be cleaned in the few summer months available.

Cleaning Ribtrax Garage Floor Tiles

This video shows how easy it is to clean Ribtrax garage floor tiles:

The main advantage of the Ribtrax floor tile is that the tile surface is easy to clean with a degreaser spray and a mopping of the surface.  Maintain the tile surface regularly so kids and other family members are not dragging all sorts of oils and chemicals into the house.  When weather permits, remove the debris and dust below to keep the entire system clean.

Make Garage Floor Maintenance Easier

To maintain your garage floor more easily, look after oil stains soon after they occur for improved success and thorough stain removal.  It will make general cleaning of the floor easier.

Of course, the concrete floor is the most difficult part of the floor to clean and maintain.  It is also more difficult to remove oil stains from concrete than some of these other materials.  To reduce the maintenance work, consider garage floor tiles or polyaspartic floor coatings to keep the cleaning task easy and free from concrete dust.  If you’re interested in renovating your garage this summer, the garage floor is a great project to consider.  If you’re looking to upgrade your garage floor, contact our garage renovation specialists for a complimentary in-home consultation today.

Filed Under: Garage Floors Tagged With: Clear the Debris & Dust, degreaser spray, garage floor, garage floor tiles, highly chemical resistant, household hazardous waste, leaf blower, non-toxic commercial cleaners, painted garage floor, polyaspartic garage floor, remove oil spills, stain removal, Swisstrax Ribtrax floor tiles, unwanted cement dust

Six Eco-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

April 19, 2016 by Rick Scully

Earth Day Canada has grown from a small movement 25 years ago to an event six million Canadians participate in each year. Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd by more than a billion people worldwide. However, the true power of Earth Day is its ability to prompt individual action and effect policy changes. With that in mind, let’s look at six eco-friendly ways to celebrate Earth Day this year.

Review Your Recycling Routine

nuvo garage earth day 2016 eco friendly green initiatives garage organization design renovationCanadians generate 31 million tonnes of trash annually, recycling only about 30%. There are 10,000 landfills across Canada. Yet, many are nearing capacity. As the contents of landfills decay, landfill gases—like methane and carbon dioxide—are produced, polluting air and harming the environment.   

Recycling is one of the simplest actions we can take to improve the environment. By complying with the convenient Blue Box recycling program available in most communities, we divert tons of glass, paper, plastics and electronics from being dumped in landfills.  

Review your home and work recycling habits. Create a dedicated recycling zone in your garage, if you haven’t already. Community recycling guidelines change periodically. Re-familiarize yourself with the guidelines at least once each year to ensure you’re in compliance. Maximize your environmental impact by recycling as many items from the list as you can. For an even greater impact, reduce the waste your household generates. For instance, using a water filtration pitcher or a refillable water jug can significantly reduce the number of plastic bottles that end up in landfills each year.

Reduce and Repurpose

We all have a stash of items that have outstayed their welcome lurking in our closets, the basement or the garage. Combine your Earth Day celebration with your annual spring cleaning and purge items you no longer use. Recycle or discard broken or outdated items. Give new life to items that don’t work for you now, by repurposing them.

Organize the remaining items in your garage by installing a wall organization system. Maximize storage by making use of wasted vertical space. Enlist a garage renovation professional to safely install overhead storage racks.

Safely Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste

We often think of hazardous waste in commercial settings. However, the average home and garage are brimming with hazardous substances, like automotive fluids, solvents, pesticides and household cleaners.

Do your part to keep the environment clean. Check with community guidelines to learn how to safely dispose of household hazardous waste in your home and garage. Don’t toss household chemicals or old electronics into the trash or pour used automotive oil down the drain or into the ground. Automotive oil can contaminate the soil and up to two million litres of water. Visit your city’s website to find out how to properly dispose of household hazardous waste.

Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

You’ll reduce reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels, like natural gas, oil and coal by making your home more energy efficient. Start with small, inexpensive changes that quickly pay for themselves in energy savings.

Install energy efficient CFL or LED bulbs in your home and garage. LED lights are ideal for use in the garage. They are resistant to cold and you won’t have to wait for them to warm-up to reach full brightness.

Weatherize your home and garage. Temperatures are rising now, but it’s the perfect time to seal drafty spots in your home. Apply weather stripping around the garage door and to the entrance between the house and garage. Seal around electrical outlets on exterior walls to prevent heat loss during winter and cooling loss during summer months.  

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Most households have multiple vehicles, increasing air pollution and the use of gasoline. If you live in a walkable community, bike to nearby destinations whenever possible. A brisk ride offers numerous health benefits, and you’ll have the added satisfaction of knowing you’ve reduced your carbon footprint. Keep your family’s bicycles neatly stored with a horizontal, vertical or overhead bicycle rack.

Keep tires properly inflated and perform vehicle maintenance, like oil changes and tune-ups, at regular intervals recommended by the manufacturer. When your vehicle is in top form it will run more efficiently, emit less pollution and use less gasoline. Store automotive accessories in a dedicated automotive zone in your garage. It will be easier to keep inventory of essential fluids and you’ll have everything at your fingertips when you need it.

Join Local Earth Day Initiatives

More than six million Canadians will participate in local Earth Day activities. Here are a few events happening in Ontario:

  • Clean Your Commute – On Friday, April 22nd, look for ways to reduce the impact of your commute. Carpool, bike, take public transit or work from home.
  • Earth Ball 2016 – Toast 25 years of Earth Day Canada at the Mill Street Brewery in the Distillery District. Celebrate Earth Day Canada’s impact on the environment through innovative campaigns and programming. Enjoy live entertainment and mouth-watering fare prepared by Chef Michael Stadtlander. Doors open at 7 PM on April 22nd.
  • Toronto Botanical Garden – Looking for a low-key, family-friendly event? Bring the family to the Toronto Botanical Garden on Saturday, April 23rd from noon to 4 PM. Enjoy a stroll in the Edwards Gardens. Take a guided hike. Make a green smoothie with ingredients from the garden, blended with a blender bike. Visit the Teaching Garden and enjoy a scavenger hunt and woodland crafts. The event is free. No registration required.

In light of climate change and other environmental disasters, it’s more important than ever to adopt an eco-friendlier lifestyle. What we do individually may seem insignificant. However, when considered collectively, even small changes to our daily routines make a difference.

Review our past articles on green initiatives for your home and garage. Then visit EarthDay.ca to learn how you can join efforts with fellow community members to increase your positive impact on the environment.

Filed Under: Environmental Responsibility Tagged With: bicycle rack, Blue Box, carbon footprint, climate change, community recycling guidelines, Earth Day, eco-friendly garages, emit less polution, energy efficient, environmental impact, garage renovation professional, green initiatives, household hazardous waste, overhead garage storage racks, recycling zone, reduce carbon emissions, spring cleaning, wall organization system

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