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In General |
- Use walk-off mats or area rugs on either side of exterior entrances. Be preventative! This will help collect loose dirt before it reaches your stone floor.
- Choose a mat with a non slip backing. Certain rubber backed mats can stain or discolor your stone.
- Mats need to be kept clean. So shake, shake, shake! Otherwise, the dirt doesn’t get removed and will make it’s way inside to scratch your floors.
- Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces. This is due to their abrasiveness.
- Floors should be dust mopped frequently. Using a clean, non-treated dry dust mop or broom is the best method.
- Damp mop your natural stone floor. This will help keep it looking beautiful for life. Since one of the advantages of this type of floor is low maintenance, there is no need for heavy mopping.
- Do not use any acids with vinegar or household cleaners. Cleaners that are not specifically designed for stone can permanently damage the stone.
- Do not use products that contain lemon juice, vinegar or other acids. These products should not be used on marble, limestone or travertine. These products can permanently etch the stone.
- Avoid using products that contain abrasive cleaners, cleansers (dry or soft) or any ammonia-based cleaners. These products should not be used on ANY stone. These products will dull its luster.
- Do not use retail grout cleaners, scouring powders or bathroom tub and tile cleaners on your stone.
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Cleaning Basics
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Don’t mix bleach and ammonia. This combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.
Rinse the floor thoroughly and dry the surface with a soft, clean cloth. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Change your rinse water frequently. Dirty water also contains sand that can get in your mop and scratch the floor each time you move it across the floor.
- Always blot spills immediately. A neutral pH detergent or pure soap and warm water, can be used for spills or periodic complete cleaning.
- Vacuum cleaner attachments are also useful for hard to reach areas.
- To remove algae or moss from your stone in outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas, flush with clear water and use a mild bleach solution.
- Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust
mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces
due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an
entrance will help to minimize the potential damage from these
particles. In addition, be careful when using a vacuum cleaner as the
metal or plastic attachments or wheels may scratch the surface.
- It is your responsibility to properly maintain caulking in heavy water-use areas. This will prevent damage once your natural stone is installed.
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Living with your Natural Stone Flooring
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Take care when moving heavy objects across your stone floor. This is
to avoid scratching or chipping. Once a stone floor is chipped, it is
permanently damaged.
Cover furniture and table legs with protectors to guard your floor
against damage. Rolling chairs with wheels should be periodically
cleaned so they do not scratch or damage your new floor.
- Each stone has different levels of susceptibility to staining. Each
stone has its own level of porosity that makes some stone floors more
susceptible to staining than others.
- Sealing your stone is a must. Based upon your lifestyle and the type
of stone you choose, the appropriate stone sealer will protect your
floor from wear and staining. Stone does not have a fired surface like
ceramic and porcelain tile which do not need to be sealed.
- If you accidentally damage or stain your floor, products are available that may resolve your problem. Also, we highly recommend that enough material is purchased so that if a repair is necessary in the future you will have stone from your original order to use.
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Caring for Natural Stone Flooring
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Bath and Other Wet Areas Periodic use of Revitalizer™ will remove any soap scum or hard water deposits that may have formed. In the bath, or other wet areas, using a squeegee after each use can minimize soap scum and hard water deposit buildup.
- What To Do When A Spill Occurs No matter how careful you are, spills are going to happen. A quick response and the right solutions can keep spills from damaging stone or the sealer. StoneTech Professional™ recommends that you only use the cleaning products recommended in this care guide.
- Etch Marks Substances that are highly acidic, such as orange juice, coffee, vinegar, wine, tomato products, mustard and many soft drinks, will “etch” most marble, limestone and travertine - whether the stone is sealed or unsealed. Although sealing allows you time to wipe up a spill, it cannot stop the chemical reaction that may leave a dull area or etch mark in the stone.
In addition, cleaners not specifically designed for natural stone are not recommended. These may etch away the polish, discolor the surface, scratch the stone or degrade the sealer. That’s why selecting the correct cleaning products is so important to the lifetime beauty of your natural stone. Professional refinishing is the best way to permanently remove etch marks and restore your natural stone’s even finish.
- Food Spills Scoop up the food with a plastic spoon. Blot with dry, white cloth. Spray the area with Revitalizer™and wipe dry with a clean cloth.
- Liquid Spills Blot away the excess with a clean, dry, white cloth; turning the cloth frequently. Spray the area with Revitalizer™ and wipe dry with a clean cloth.
- Mud Let the mud stain dry completely. Remove dried mud with a soft plastic or nylon brush. Spray affected area with Revitalizer™. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.
- Oily Stains If you identify the stain as having an oil base (from foods like salad and cooking oils, butter, or some cosmetics) you may be able to remove the stain using a poultice. We recommend StoneTech Professional™ Oil Stain Remover for Natural Stone™ (formerly called “Extract”). This easy-to-use poultice is designed to slowly remove oily stains from natural stone surfaces. Follow the directions on the label.
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Natural Stone reminders
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- DO use coasters under glasses, specially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.
- DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes or cookware.
- DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that may scratch your stone’s surface.
- DO place a small rug or at entryways to trap dirt and sand from normal foot traffic.
- DO dust countertops, islands, vanities and floors frequently.
- DO blot up spills immediately to minimize permanent damage to the stone.
- DO clean surfaces by wiping with clean water or by using StoneTech Professional Revitalizer™ Stone & Tile Cleaner and Protector.
- DON’T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners.
- DON’T use cleaners thatcontain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub and tile cleaners.
- DON’T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
DON’T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for natural stone.
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