Do’s and Don’ts of Natural Stone Floor Cleaning

There’s no denying the positive aspects of natural stone floors in the home. Ranging from elegant to rustic and natural, natural stone floors don’t typically pose many problems in the aesthetics department. When it comes to keeping them squeaky clean, however, there are some do’s and don’ts that apply specifically to natural stone floors you should be aware of.

Mind Your Cleaning Products

A special note of caution that’s worth mentioning first and foremost: avoid using just any old chemical cleaning product sold on your high street. Floor cleaning products can sometimes be versatile for vinyl, wood, laminate, epoxy, ceramic, or other floor types, but natural stone floors are a horse of a different colour so buyer beware! This will be expounded on below.

DO’S

• Lay down rugs or area mats at entrances and high-traffic areas to reduce wear and tear;
• Regularly dust, mop, and vacuum to remove dust, dirt, and debris;
• Dab or blot at stains or spills as quickly as possible to prevent them from setting;
• Use purpose-made stone and tile cleaning products that will not excessively wear out the stone’s colour, and more importantly, its protective coating;
• Apply sealant every 6 months or so to ensure the floor is well-protected. Stone and tile coating sealants are available for many types of stone and tile, such as granite, slate, concrete, indian sandstone, and more, so ensure that the product is friendly for your surface. Many such sealants use a fluro polymer compound that ‘impregnates’ the porous nature of stone and provides superior protection. Keep an eye out for these types of product;
• Hire a professional tile and grout cleaner with expertise in cleaning and treating natural stone floors in particular. One-size-fits-all simply won’t do, so do be picky about your choice of professional cleaner.

DON’TS

• Use harsh chemicals meant for other types of floor. High-alkaline and harsh chemicals can lead to discolouration and early deterioration of the floor’s protective coating;
• Use damaged vacuum cleaners or brushes to clean the floor. Cracks or broken wheels can lead to abrasion and thus scratches and damage to the floor;
• Drag furniture across the floor. Instead, lift up furniture to avoid scratches. Use rugs under heavy furniture or use padding on the feet of tables and chairs to reduce abrasion;
• Hire the first cleaner you find online. Many cleaners excel at vinyl, ceramic, and wood floors, for example, but they may lack the expertise required to properly clean natural stone floors. Instead, hire a professional such as Electrovac;

How Professional Cleaning Services Can Help

Natural stone floors have so many benefits, but they can also be quite costly to install. Unfortunately, they can be even more expensive to maintain if proper precautions aren’t followed and costly repairs or replacement are required.

For this reason, it’s always a good idea to contact a professional cleaner, at least for the first time, so that you understand exactly how to clean, strip, and seal natural stone floors on your own.

Floodcare

The water damage carpet replacement experts at Floodcare provide a wide range of services, including professional natural stone floor cleaning. Enquire about our stone floor cleaning services and how we can keep your beautiful stone floors looking great for years to come.