Concrete doesn't just get dirty — it absorbs whatever lands on it. Oil, grease, and hydraulic fluid soak into concrete's porous surface, and a general-purpose or pH-neutral floor cleaner glides across the top without touching what's already below it. That's the gap a degreaser is built to close.
This guide covers why concrete needs a dedicated degreaser, how to pick between a direct-spray product and a heavy-duty concentrate, the exact steps to pull an oil stain out of a slab, and what it actually costs to keep a warehouse, garage, or loading-dock floor grease-free.
- Concrete is porous — oil and grease penetrate below the surface, so a degreaser (not a general-purpose cleaner) is required to break the stain out of the pores, not just wipe the top of it.
- JANITORI No.72 MAX concentrate (20 mL per 4 L water, 1:200) covers most concrete degreasing at $0.06 per litre of working solution — one 4 L jug makes 800 L.
- No.71 works full-strength, straight from the jug, for spot oil stains and daily shop-floor touch-ups that don't justify mixing a batch.
- Both formulas are plant-derived and biodegradable, which matters wherever wash water reaches a floor drain, wash bay, or storm sewer.
- Why Does Concrete Need a Degreaser Instead of a Regular Floor Cleaner?
- Which JANITORI Degreaser Should You Use on Concrete?
- How Do You Remove Oil Stains From a Concrete Floor?
- Is a Plant-Based Degreaser Strong Enough for Garage and Warehouse Floors?
- What Does It Cost to Degrease a Commercial Concrete Floor?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Does Concrete Need a Degreaser Instead of a Regular Floor Cleaner?
Concrete is porous, so oil and grease soak below the surface instead of sitting on top of it — a general-purpose or pH-neutral floor cleaner lifts surface dirt but can't break down grease that has already worked its way into the slab. A degreaser is formulated specifically to emulsify oil and grease so they release from the pores and rinse away.
This is also why the same stain can look "cleaned" after a mop pass and reappear a day later — a general cleaner moved the surface film around without touching the reservoir of oil sitting a few millimetres down. Unsealed and lightly sealed concrete (the finish in most warehouses, garages, and loading docks) is the most absorbent; a fully epoxy-coated floor holds oil closer to the surface, but still needs a degreasing agent rather than a rinse-only cleaner to fully lift it.
Which JANITORI Degreaser Should You Use on Concrete?
Use No.71 full-strength for spot stains and daily touch-ups, and No.72 MAX diluted 1:200 for whole-bay floors, recurring maintenance, or heavier carbonized buildup.
| Product | Format | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANITORI No.71 | Direct spray or light dilution | Spot oil stains, daily shop-floor touch-ups, small garages | $42.95 / 4L |
| JANITORI No.72 MAX | 1:200 concentrate (20 mL per 4L water) | Whole-floor degreasing, warehouses, loading docks, recurring maintenance | $47.95 / 4L (also 20L) |
Both are plant-derived, 0% VOCs, phosphates, or petroleum solvents, and part of our biodegradable cleaning products line — made in Montreal since 2010.
Shop Degreaser MAX No.72 — $47.95 / 4L
How Do You Remove Oil Stains From a Concrete Floor?
Apply degreaser to the stain, let it dwell 5-10 minutes to penetrate the concrete, agitate with a stiff broom or scrub pad, then rinse thoroughly with water — repeat once on stains that have set for more than a few days.
- Apply. For a fresh or small spot, spray No.71 directly onto the stain. For a whole bay or an older stain, mop or spray on a 1:200 No.72 MAX solution (20 mL per 4L water).
- Let it dwell. Give the degreaser 5-10 minutes to penetrate the pores and break the bond between the oil and the concrete. Don't let it dry on the surface.
- Agitate. Work the stain with a stiff-bristle push broom, deck brush, or scrub pad. This is what actually pulls the loosened grease out of the concrete's texture — degreaser alone doesn't do the lifting.
- Rinse thoroughly. Hot or cold water both work. Squeegee or wet-vac the rinse water toward a floor drain rather than letting it pool and re-settle into the slab.
- Repeat if needed. Oil that has sat for weeks or months may need a second application — don't scale up the dilution ratio to compensate; a second full cycle at the same ratio is more effective than one over-strength pass.
Is a Plant-Based Degreaser Strong Enough for Garage and Warehouse Floors?
Yes — plant-derived surfactants break the molecular bond between oil and a surface the same way petroleum solvents do, without the VOC off-gassing that makes solvent-based degreasers a ventilation problem in enclosed bays. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety flags petroleum solvents and their vapours as a respiratory and fire-hazard concern under WHMIS 2015 — a real consideration in a closed garage bay or warehouse with limited air exchange.
No.72 MAX is formulated at concentrate strength specifically for heavy, carbonized, or long-set grease — the kind that accumulates on manufacturing floors, loading docks, and vehicle bays — so "plant-derived" describes the ingredient source, not a reduction in cutting power.
What Does It Cost to Degrease a Commercial Concrete Floor?
At 1:200 dilution, one $47.95 jug of No.72 MAX makes 800 litres of working solution — $0.06 per litre. A typical loading-dock or single-bay garage degreasing pass uses roughly one diluted 4L batch ($0.24), which covers several hundred square feet of floor.
| Product | Price | Dilution | Working Solution Yield | Cost / L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JANITORI No.72 MAX | $47.95 / 4L | 1:200 | 800L | $0.06 |
| JANITORI No.71 (direct spray) | $42.95 / 4L | Full-strength or light dilution | ~1,333 sprays | $0.032 / spray |
Ready-to-use degreasers sold by the litre typically run several dollars per litre once you account for the fact that you're paying to ship and store mostly water. Buying a concentrate and diluting on-site is the main lever on cost at scale — independent of the biodegradable question entirely. It also matters for runoff: facilities whose wash water reaches a floor drain, wash bay, or storm sewer should confirm what they're sending downstream. The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment's environmentally preferable purchasing guidance for cleaning products flags phosphates, VOCs, and non-biodegradable surfactants as the three factors to check — all three are 0% in both JANITORI formulas.
Shop Degreaser No.71 — $42.95 / 4L
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a degreaser on sealed or coated concrete floors?
Yes. Sealed and epoxy-coated concrete still needs a degreasing agent to lift oil sitting on or just below the coating — a rinse-only cleaner won't fully release it. Test on an inconspicuous area first, as some sealants react differently to different formulas.
Will a degreaser strip a concrete sealant or epoxy coating?
JANITORI's degreasers are plant-derived and don't contain the harsh solvents most likely to soften or dull a coating, but no degreaser is guaranteed safe on every sealant chemistry. Spot-test an inconspicuous area before treating the full floor.
How often should a warehouse or garage floor be degreased?
High-traffic bays with regular vehicle or equipment use benefit from a scheduled degreasing pass — weekly to monthly depending on soil load — plus spot treatment on fresh spills as they happen. Waiting for oil to set for weeks makes it harder to fully lift.
Is it safe to rinse degreaser into a floor drain?
Both JANITORI formulas are plant-derived, biodegradable, and free of phosphates, EDTA, and petroleum solvents — the factors CCME's purchasing guidance checks for. Always confirm your facility's local discharge requirements before sending any wash water to a drain, especially where it connects to a storm sewer rather than a treated sanitary line.
What's the difference between a concrete cleaner and a concrete degreaser?
A concrete cleaner is built to lift surface dirt and dust; a degreaser is built to break the bond between oil/grease and the concrete pores it has soaked into. Routine floor maintenance uses a cleaner — an actual oil or grease stain needs a degreaser.
Get Degreaser No.71 — Made in Canada
Get Degreaser MAX No.72 — Heavy-Duty
Related Articles
- Best Industrial Degreasers in Canada: 2026 Buyer's Guide
- Commercial Kitchen Hood Degreaser: The Professional's Cleaning Guide
- Food Safe Degreaser for Commercial Kitchens: A Facility Manager's Guide
- Biodegradable Degreaser for Canadian Facilities: A Buyer's Guide
- What Is an Alkaline Degreaser? A Facility Manager's Guide