Parking garage cleaning in Toronto is mostly a salt problem. Every car that drives in from December to March drips chloride onto the slab, and every spring that salt sits in the concrete, on the traffic membrane and in the sump pits. We wash it out with hot water at membrane-safe pressure and vacuum every drop into our hydrovac tank, one level at a time.
Why Is Road Salt So Hard on Underground Garages?
Chloride from road salt is the main enemy of reinforced concrete. It moves through cracks and porous concrete toward the rebar, and once it gets there it accelerates corrosion. That is how garages end up with spalling ceilings, delaminating slabs and expensive repair projects in the reserve fund study.
Traffic membranes on suspended slabs slow that process, but only if they are kept clean and inspected. A membrane under a crust of salt and grit wears faster, and an engineer cannot assess what they cannot see. Add oil drips that make ramps slippery and sump pits half full of sand, and an annual garage wash becomes basic maintenance, not cosmetics.
What Is Included in Parking Garage Cleaning?
- Drive aisles, stalls and ramps washed with 200F hot water and rotary surface cleaners
- Oil and fluid spots treated with degreaser
- Sump pits and trench drains vacuumed of sediment and oily sludge
- Stairwells, entrances and elevator lobbies at garage level, by request
- Level-by-level photo documentation
We use low-clearance equipment that fits under beams and ductwork, and where a ride-on scrubber suits a finished floor better, we use one. The hydrovac recovers everything.
How Do Garage Washing Contracts Work?
Contract and pricing table
| Option | Scope | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| One-time spring wash | All levels, sumps, ramps | Written quote per level |
| Pre-inspection wash | Levels under engineer review | Written quote per level |
| Annual condo contract | Garage plus entrances and courtyards | Fixed per-visit rate, 12 months |
COI delivery in 24 hours
Garage work is high on every board’s risk list. Our COI shows $2M liability, names the corporation as additional insured and arrives within one business day with WSIB clearance.
Hydrovac wastewater containment (Toronto Municipal Code 681)
Garage wash water is loaded with chloride, oil and grit. It should never go down a floor drain or out to a storm sewer. Our on-truck hydrovac vacuums the water as we wash and pulls the sediment out of sump pits, and the load is disposed of properly. Our sister brand, Hydrovac Toronto, runs the same equipment for larger sump and catch basin programs.
Level-by-Level Scheduling
Residents only need to move cars once. We wash one level per night, starting where traffic is lowest, with cones, signage and notices supplied. Management chooses where cars relocate, often to a visitor level or the level we finished the night before. Elevators and doors stay usable throughout.
When Should a Garage Be Washed?
- Every spring, after the last salting
- Before a membrane or structural condition review
- Before a membrane repair or recoating project, so contractors start on a clean slab
- After a fluid spill, which our 24/7 line can dispatch for
How Much Does Parking Garage Cleaning Cost?
We quote per level or per square foot after a site walk. Clearance, salt load, membrane type, sump condition and how cars are relocated all affect the work. You get the price in writing before we start, and condo corporations can add garages to an annual contract at locked rates.
Common Garage Problems We Solve
White salt crust on drive aisles and ramps
Chloride builds up fastest on ramps and entry levels. Hot water dissolves it and the hydrovac removes it from the slab.
Oil drips under parking stalls
Oil makes ramps and stalls slippery. Degreaser and hot water lift it before the main wash.
Sumps and trench drains full of sand
Winter sand collects in every sump and trench drain. Extraction during the wash prevents backups and odours.
Grimy walls, columns and curbs
Lower walls and column bases collect splash and road film. We clean them at controlled pressure where the finish allows.
Garage Washing Across the GTA
Our GTA exterior cleaning crews wash underground garages at Harbourfront, King West and Liberty Village in Toronto Central, along Yonge Street in Willowdale in North York, around Mississauga City Centre and at Humber Bay Shores. Garage work pairs naturally with strata and condo pressure washing, catch basin cleaning and parking lot power washing, all part of our commercial power washing program.
