Natural stone surfaces like marble and slate provide a timeless, elegant look for your home. Cleaning them might seem tough.
But maintaining stone floors might seem like a challenge. Stone is porous and prone to damage by cleaners and food stains.
Fortunately, “natural stone cleaner” isn’t a miracle product. It’s just a basic maintenance regimen that should be easy for you to follow and keep your floors looking their best.
Here are seven tips for cleaning and protecting your natural stone.
- Use a damp, soft cloth or a sponge with a little bit of pH-neutral soap acting as your natural stone cleaner. (Most dishwasher soap should work).
- Avoid using abrasive cleaners, as these can strip away the sealant from your floor and even damage the stone as time goes by. Even the rough side of a sponge may be too much for your floor.
- If you have crusted-on food or soap scum, use a soft-bristled brush and clean making circular motions to prevent scratching.
- Dry your surfaces with a soft towel or blow-dryer as soon as you’ve finished cleaning to prevent spotting.
- Use a damp mop on stone floors to clear away abrasive particles. Make sure you avoid dragging items such as vacuum attachments across the floor.
- Make sure the cleaning products you’ve chosen are designed for natural stone cleaning. If you’re using a glass cleaner to clean a glass surface that’s above a marble surface — say a mirror resting on a vanity — make sure none of the cleaner gets on the stone.
- If you have doormats or rugs on your stone floors, shake them out on a routine basis to keep outside dirt from scratching the stone.
A Word on Sealants
Use caution when using sealant. Yes, it can protect your surface from stains, but it’s not a cure-all. It won’t protect against discoloration or etching — dull marks and little cracks.
Sealant makes cleaning easier but won’t keep you from having to conduct routine maintenance on your stone floors.
Natural Stone Cleaner in San Diego
While it’s a good idea to perform routine cleaning on your floors by yourself, it never hurts to have a professional’s touch.
Under the Rug Floor Care’s stone cleaning professional will conduct a detailed inspection of your stone surfaces before recommending the best natural stone cleaner process.
Contact us today to schedule an inspection and to learn more about our natural stone cleaning options.
