The do’s and don’ts of cleaning natural stone at home

Maintaining natural stone

Natural stone is especially popular among other building materials. Stone is beautiful, yet delicate.There’s no denying the incredible beauty of natural stone. Of course, the fact that marble and other stone offers a unique look and delivers years of enjoyment adds to its attractiveness in the eye of many home and business owners. Natural Stone StepsIt’s a popular material for fireplaces, floors, patios, stairways, walkways and other outdoor applications — which means it’s exposed to the elements, likely to receive a lot of traffic … and needs occasional cleaning to keep its beauty at its best.

If you make natural stone cleaning a habit, you will not only protect your valuable investments, but also increase the beauty of your home. It takes a little bit of attention, but it’s worth spending time looking at the amount money that you spent on your marble accents. Yet, proper care and cleaning are critical factors in keeping your stone surfaces looking just as beautiful as they did when you first installed them.

 Do’s of cleaning natural stone at home

1. Do dust-mop stone floors or sweep regularly.
2. Do clean stone surfaces with stone soap or a mild detergent.
3. Do completely rinse with clean water after washing and dry stone surfaces.
4. Do blot up spills immediately; time enables them to sink in and become stains.
5. Do use pH-neutral cleaners to remove mold and mildew.
6. Do flush outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas with clear water and a mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss.
7. Use non-slip mats or rugs in high traffic areas and entry ways

Don’ts of cleaning natural stone at home

1. Don’t use cleaners that contain acids such as bathroom or grout cleaners or tub-and-tile products.
2. Don’t use abrasives such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers on natural stone.
3. Don’t ever mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas!
4. Don’t clean soft natural stone with lemon juice, vinegar, or any other acid-based cleaner.
5. Don’t use stone soap on your natural stone. It leaves a deposit that’s difficult to remove.
6. Don’t use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the stone’s surface.
7. Hire a professional tile and grout cleaner, in addition to your day-to-day cleaning to ensure that the floor is properly cleaned and sealed to prevent deterioration, stains, make regular cleaning easier and provide healthy surfaces for the home or workplace.
8. Don’t – place any hot items directly on the stone surface. Be sure to use trivets or mats under hot dishes.
9. Liquids, such as all kinds of citrus juices, beer, wine, coffee and tea, can be very harmful if spilled.
10. Try to avoid a spill vegetable oils and other oil-based fluids.