How to Clean Natural Stone Floors
How to Clean Natural Stone Floors
If you want to maintain the beauty of your natural stone flooring, it’s important to clean it properly. Using a paste of water and baking soda will help you remove oil stains. Avoid using abrasive materials on your stone floors. You can cover them with doormats or rugs to prevent them from being scratched.
Avoid cleaning with vinegar
Natural stone floors can become discolored and stained by spills and other spilled materials. It is important to clean up spills immediately. Do not wipe them away because this will spread the stain. Instead, use a dry paper towel to blot the spill. Once the stain is gone, clean the stone with a mild soap or a natural stone cleaning solution. If the floor gets dirty again, change the cleaning solution and use a microfiber cloth to dry it.
Vinegar has a high acidity level and should not be used on natural stone flooring. This acidic substance strips the colour of the stone and causes it to discolour. It should not be used on marble or Travertine stone floors. However, it can be used on Limestone and Bluestone floors with a little caution.
Avoid using oils or waxes
When cleaning natural stone flooring, it is important to avoid the use of waxes or oils because they will eat away at the stone surface. Use a non-abrasive cleaning solution such as diluted Ivory soap and plain water. You can also use soap flakes made from coconut and vegetable oils.
You should avoid using scouring pads and steel wool pads because they can damage the grout. Avoid using cleansers with ammonia or bleaches because they can cause discoloration in your stone floors. You should also avoid using cleansers containing wax or oil. It is also wise to avoid using sealants and dyes. Before using any of these cleaning products on your stone floors, test the product on a small patch.
Avoid mopping
If you have natural stone flooring, you may want to avoid mopping to keep it looking clean. Although mopping removes dirt, it can cause scratches and leave wet spots. If you have a wet spot, you should try rinsing the area thoroughly with a wet rag. You can also use a stone floor cleaner to protect your flooring.
Stone floor cleaning requires a specific type of cleaner, as proprietary cleaners can cause damage to natural stone’s protective sealant. The best solution is to use a natural stone cleaner designed specifically for stone floors. The cleaner should not contain any soap or other ingredients that could damage the stone’s finish. A soft mops made from closed-loop cotton string or micro-fibre material are best for cleaning natural stone. Avoid mopping with a soap solution because this can leave a film on the stone.
Avoid resealing
Resealing natural stone flooring is important because these floors tend to have a porous nature, so water can get inside them and damage the floor. This can lead to warping, expansion, and cracking of the stone. The trapped moisture can also attract biological contaminants, which will harm the floor’s surface and inner layers. This can also cause premature wear and tear.
Although sealing natural stone flooring can save you labor costs, it is not without risks. A sealer must be applied thoroughly before it can be used. Residual sealer can cause a hazy appearance and can be difficult to remove. Also, it will require more frequent application.
Avoid sandblasting
If you’ve got natural stone flooring, it’s important to avoid using abrasive cleaning tools. They can cause damage to the sealer and cause stains to appear worse. Using a scouring pad can also remove the sealer and cause additional damage to your stone floor.
To avoid scuffing and scratching your stone floors, protect high-traffic areas with rugs or mats. Mats in kitchens and hallways are especially beneficial, as they keep dust and debris from damaging the floor. You should also seal your stone flooring on a regular basis to keep it looking as good as new. You can do this yourself, or get a professional to do it for you.