A Guide To The Care And Cleaning Of Natural Stone

A Guide To The Care And Cleaning Of Natural Stone

Guide Care And Cleaning Natural Stone

Natural stone tiles are one of the most beautiful additions to any home. They are simple yet elegant and are naturally adorned with beautiful colours and design properties. With proper care and maintenance, your natural stone tiles will be able to last for decades. 

If you would like to learn more about natural stone tile cleaning and the proper care and maintenance of your tiles, then this article is for you! Please continue reading below to learn more. 

Why Choose Natural Stone?

Natural stone is popular for a variety of reasons. Aside from its unique colours and design properties, their most important properties include their hardness, durability, and acid-resistance.

A popular natural stone that is used as surfacing material in many spaces is marble. Marble, which is a metamorphic limestone, is a popular surfacing material because it is durable, looks luxurious, and is pretty easy to clean.

Installing Natural Stone

When installing marble, it is important to have a professional carry out this job. This is to ensure that the marble does not suffer from any damage due to improper handling and management.

Before the natural stone arrives, it must be stored in a secure area to avoid chips and breaks in the handling process. Once the natural stone arrives, a moisture barrier must be placed prior to installation, especially if the stone is installed on a ground-level concrete slab.

A white thin-set or mortar is ideal for laying the stone. Dark mortar or thin-set for light-coloured stones is not ideal since the mortar can bleed through the stone. 

Guide Care And Cleaning Natural Stone

Before installation, the natural stone should have already been sealed on all sides. If it is unprotected, it can be more prone to stains, shadows, markings, and more, all of which can be difficult to remove in the long run. 

Once the stone has been laid, ensure that the floor area is dry, covered, and protected from foot traffic until the site can be cleaned and prepared for the move in.

Cleaning Natural Stone

Because marble is considered a natural stone, it can have conflicting reactions with harsh cleaning chemicals and techniques. Therefore, it is important to employ safe cleaning techniques to help sustain and maintain your natural stone for years to come.

Dirt is considered abrasive on marble and can ruin the look and durability of the stone. Removing dirt by sweeping frequently, using a brush-free vacuum or a dry dust mop is ideal. A small rug or welcome mat can also help prevent dirt build-up.

Ensure that you do not leave spills, most especially vinegar, orange juice, lemonade, wine, yogurt, perfume and tomato sauce to name a few. Wipe up these spills immediately with a cloth or sponge even if your marble has been sealed.

While marble flooring should be dust mopped daily, it should be damp mopped or machine scrubbed (provided it is with a neutral cleaner or stone soap) two to three times a week. 

Before damp mopping, remove all dry debris with a broom or vacuum cleaner. Then, when you begin mopping, make sure that you are using the proper cleaning solution or you can potentially damage the marble’s surface. 

Do not clean your natural stone with a water solution that is a commercially available cleaning solution unless it is specified to be safe on natural stone. Make sure the solution is pH balanced so it will not damage the stone. 

You can then dry the stone with a soft cloth or you can allow it to air-dry.

Guide Care And Cleaning Natural Stone

Maintenance: Sealing Natural Stone

Most natural stone is prone to stains, but this can vary between different types of natural stone depending on their porosity. As such, the first step to maintaining your natural stone is to seal it.

Sealing the stone depends on different factors. It depends on the surface preparation (is the stone polished, honed, or natural?) along with the density and porosity of the stone. These factors determine what kind of sealer is best – whether it be petroleum or water-based. Of course, the type of sealer you use can also depend on your budget.

For the best results, natural stone should be sealed from all sides prior to the installation stage. The first coat of sealer can be applied to one face of the stone during the production process, but the other five faces cannot be sealed in the production process. This is because the production process involves exposure to water. If the stone absorbs too much water, the seal can malfunction.

While sealers are effective, they are not infallible. They can minimise stains but not completely prevent them. Their main purpose is simply to prevent stains from penetrating the stone’s pores.

There are different sealers that are recommended for different uses of the stone. Make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s recommendation of your stone in terms of maintenance and sealing. 

Penetrating sealers, however, are generally recommended for all stones. When used, it does not alter the stone’s appearance. A final coat of color enhancer may also be used to increase the natural color of the stone. 

Natural stone should be resealed from 1 to 3 years for commercial applications and 2 to 6 years for residential applications. Always remember to only use products that are specifically created for natural stone care. 

Summary

If you are unsure how to clean your marble floor times, or need advice on the sealing process, it is recommended to seek help from the professionals

There is a wide range of benefits that come with hiring a professional tile cleaning company. With a certified service, you will be able to keep your marble in tip-top condition by removing etch marks and stubborn stains, maintaining aesthetic appeal, as well as saving money, time, and effort.

By getting professional help, you are guaranteed to get the best results, every time.

That’s why you can reply on SLIQUE for your marble cleaning needs. We are Sydney’s number one authority in all things marble.

For all your marble floor cleaning and polishing needs in Sydney, please call SLIQUE today on 02 9648 0395, or you can leave an inquiry on our contact page.