How to Clean and Maintain a Stone Floor
Stone is one of the most durable and beautiful products to use in the home. It can be used in many areas throughout the property, including walls, floors, countertops, and fireplaces. Retailers usually sell it in natural or polished finishes, and it is sealed after installation to protect it from staining.
Like all beautiful things, it requires care to maintain its appearance. Once you have invested in this product and ensured it is sealed, it is simple to look after.
Here are some simple steps to help you clean a stone floor.
As with all natural flooring materials, the best approach to protection and maintenance is prevention. After investing in the stone floor, the first step is to buy high-quality mats or runners for all property entry points.
Most damage to stone flooring occurs gradually through wear. Fine dust and grit transfer from outside onto shoes or animal paws. You may see muddy or wet footprints, but fine grit and dust often go unnoticed. Over time, these build up and act like fine sandpaper, removing polish from polished stone or wearing into naturally honed stone.
For stone cleaning, it is best to establish a cleaning schedule rather than clean on an ad hoc basis. Start by removing surface dust and soiling with a vacuum cleaner. Make sure your vacuum is set for hard floors so the brushes contact the surface; this prevents unnecessary scratching.
After removing loose dust and dirt, clean the floor with a damp mop to lift surface soiling. Soiling can build up in microscopic layers and may go unnoticed. Using warm water and a pH-neutral mild detergent, wash the floor to remove soiling. Make sure you lift the soiling off the stone, not just move it around, by rinsing the mop regularly in clean water. Change the water when it looks dirty.
When mopping, do not leave the floor too wet, or you may get smears as it dries. Some flat mop systems have a buffing head to remove drying smears on polished surfaces.
If you use a stone soap product on the floor, it will contain an additive that helps create a protective layer; however, over time, this may build up and require a thorough surface clean to remove.
If your floor looks like it is starting to absorb moisture into the surface, it’s time to get it resealed before it becomes stained. A professional stone floor-cleaning company can deep-clean and seal your floor and polish the surface if required.