What Is Our Natural Stone Cleaning Process?

Do dust mop floors frequently. A dust mop is the best way to remove dog hair, lint, dust, and surface dirt. Most dust mops today are micro-fiber, which means the have a static charge which allows them to clean without the use of liquids or heavy cleaning products.

Do clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap. A ph neutral natural stone soap is ideal to remove grease, spills, and surface haze created by daily use. A PH neutral cleaner is ideal for marble and granite countertops as well as all natural stone flooring and showers.

Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface with clean, clear water after washing. The most important step in the daily maintenance and care of your natural stone is a 2nd final rinse with water only. Most cleaners still leave a residue or film after the initial cleaning. Its important to wipe the area a 2nd time, to remove any remaining cleaning agents which may still be present our your counter top or floor.

Do blot up spills immediately. Regardless if your natural stone is sealed or not, certain spills or liquids with acidic properties will eat threw the sealer and damage the surface of the marble, granite, limestone, travertine, or slate surface. Sealers are designed to protect the floor from sills and liquids, however if they will break down with a steady dose of acid or bleach based agent.

Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and countertop surfaces with coasters, trivets, or placements. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand, if you want to keep something looking new, then you need to care, maintain, and protect it from things which can hyper increase its aging or condition. This logic is no different for natural stone. Even rocks need love too!

Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice, or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine, or onyx surfaces. We all love urban legends and myths. These days its shocking how many people belief the myths are reality. In the case of vinegar being a good cleaner for natural stone is a prime example. Vinger is an acid which will dull, etch, and open up the pores in the natural stone , compromising the look and destroying the finish.

Don’t use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners, or tub & tile cleaners. Porcelien tile cleaners are designed for porcelain not natural stone. Man made tiles such a ceramic porcelain have a machine finish or factory coating applied to clay fired tile. This man made machine coating is designed to be super durable is not the same material as a natural stone.

Don’t use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers. Abrasive cleaners are designed to scrub grease a grim off of a factory coated clay tile like porcelain or ceramic. They are not designed to clean a polished stone like marble or granite. These abrasive cleaners will scratch the surface of the natural stone.

Don’t mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas. Cleaning can turn toxic when these 2 chemical agents are combined. Lets practice save environmentally friendly cleaning practices, and not try and kill our selves in the process.

Don’t use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the stone's surface. Cleaning a natural stone floor should be executed with a dust mop and ph neutral cleaning solution.