Natural stone is a valuable home investment. Specialty flooring such as marble, stone, and granite add a high end touch to your home that can last a lifetime.
As with most specialty flooring options, there are special ways to clean and care for them. It’s easy to damage natural stone and even easier to worsen existing problems. Use the information below to protect and care for your natural flooring.
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
There are multiple measures you can take to protect the high end flooring in your home or business. Use these tips to prevent damage to your marble, stone, or granite surfaces:
Use a welcome mat or rug at the entrance to your home or business to catch dirt, dust, and small stones that get into your space on the soles of shoes.
Always place a protective layer between the floor and furniture or other items, such as potted plants. You can use rubber mats, area rugs, or small felt pieces for furniture. This will prevent wear and tear to your floor’s surface.
Frequent dust mopping and sweeping will prevent the accumulation of grit and grime and slow the rate of deterioration from froot traffic.
SPOT CLEANING
Frequent spot cleaning will help you remove obvious dirt or scuff marks in between regular and professional cleaning. Here are some tips for spot cleaning:
- Use a small amount of mild liquid dishwashing soap or specialty cleaning product on a soft cloth with cold, clean water.
- Always gently rub stains or scuffs in the direction of the grain–in a straight line. Avoid a circular motion as it may damage the floor.
- Buff the area dry after removing the mark. This will help to preserve your floor’s shine.
MOPPING
When it comes time to mop your marble, stone, or granite floors–you guessed it–there’s a special way to do that, too! Follow these instructions to give your specialty flooring the good cleaning it deserves:
- As with spot cleaning, use a specialty cleaner or a dishwashing soap with a neutral pH. Add your solution to a bucket of warm water.
- Be sure to use a soft and clean mop. Dip your mop into the bucket and go over the floors with short and gentle strokes. Scrubbing too hard can cause damage.
- Once you’ve covered the entire floor, empty the bucket and thoroughly rinse out the soap. Refill the bucket with warm water only. Mop again to remove soap residue.
- After mopping and rinsing the surface completely, it’s time to buff it dry. You can use a soft microfiber cloth to remove the water. Never let this type of specialty flooring dry naturally or watermarks will form.
CLEANING PRODUCTS TO AVOID
Marble, stone, and granite are sensitive, yet beautiful, surfaces that cannot handle most cleaning solutions. Always use a specialty or pH neutral solution when cleaning these areas. Avoid the following products:
- Conventional or ammonia based floor cleaning products
- Ceramic tile cleaners
- Acidic solutions, like vinegar
- Rough cloths or scouring pads
- Vacuum cleaners
REGULAR PROFESSIONAL CLEANING
Follow up your regular at-home cleaning and maintenance with periodic cleaning from an experienced professional. Carpet Tech is experienced and equipped to care for any natural stone in your home, including marble, travertine, granite, Saltillo, limestone, slate, sandstone, terrazzo, and onyx. Our membership in the Marble Institute of America demonstrates our commitment to providing only the most professional stone care.
If your marble, granite, or any other natural stone in your home appears dull, stained, or scratched, we can make it look new again. Contact our team today for more information and a free quote!