Natural stone flooring is beautiful, durable, and an asset to any home or commercial property. However, if you want to keep the floors stain-free and looking great, you must invest in regular care and maintenance.
However, stone floors are unique. What this means is that you can’t use the same cleaning methods and expect quality results. While this is true, you can find some tips and information below to keep your stone flooring looking new, longer.
Best Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining Stone Flooring
When you clean stone flooring, it’s important to remember g is to use a cleaner that isn’t too acid or alkaline on the surface. Both things can remove the shine or finish from the floor. Instead, use a neutral cleaner on any type of natural stone. It’s worth noting that a pH of seven is considered neutral. Anything under the pH of seven is acidic, which may eat the sealant and cause etching. If the pH is over seven, it will work to remove grime and grease but may leave a residue behind if it isn’t neutralized and rinsed properly.
It’s also a good idea to take small steps to maintain your floors every day. This is especially the case if you are dealing with marble. When you care for your flooring daily, it will minimize the possibility of scratches.
Marble is an extremely soft stone and can experience damage easily. Make sure to sweep any high traffic areas each day and use rugs and mats so that the dirt tracked in is on the mat rather than on the floor. When dirt is under your shoes, it has the same effect that sandpaper would on your marble flooring.
Mopping Your Stone Flooring
When cleaning stone flooring, you have two methods when mopping.
The first option is using a spray bottle and floor cleaner with a dry microfiber mop. Spray your cleaner on the floor, let it sit for a few minutes and then mop it up. Using this method reduces the dirty liquid you may get into the holes or grout lines in your stone flooring.
Another option is to use the bucket method. While this can work well, you should make sure to work on smaller areas and dry them to minimize the amount of water left behind. Mopping your stone flooring regularly will help you reduce the amount of dirt, dust, and other debris that build up on the surface.
Cleaning Crevices and Lines
Most stone flooring, unless it is honed, has crevices and dips where dirt can easily accumulate. If you don’t treat these areas, no mopping will remove the dirt. Because of this, you will need to use some type of scrubber to remove the embedded dirt.
When it comes to cleaning natural stone flooring, there are many factors to consider. In some cases, the best option is to hire professionals who can handle the job and ensure that your floors are clean and dirt free.