Limestone Floor Cleaning – How to choose the correct method

Limestone Staircase

When selecting the best method for cleaning Limestone floors, a few initial points should be considered.

1)      Is the Limestone floor a natural or polished finish?

2)      Does the Limestone require a regular surface clean or a deep clean?

3)      Is the Limestone stained?

4)      Is the Limestone worn or pitted?

Once you have established answers to the above points, decide what action to take. Your choices should be based on the current condition of the limestone floor.

If the Limestone is polished, it will be easier to clean and maintain from the start. For regular cleaning of polished stone surfaces, avoid harsh cleaning agents; use a neutral floor cleaner occasionally with warm to hot water. When cleaning the floor surface by mopping or with a cloth, it is essential to change the water regularly. Also, ensure that the mop or cloth is rinsed regularly to remove soiling from the floor rather than spreading it around. On polished stone floors, use a dry cloth or flat mop after cleaning to buff the surface and remove any smears left by the cleaning solution.

If the Limestone has a natural finish and only requires a regular clean, the same method as above should be applied. The surface will be more prone to soiling, and a slightly stronger cleaning solution may be required. It is also worth investing in a flat mop system that has interchangeable floor pads. Using a slightly more abrasive floor pad will provide additional agitation, helping to free surface soiling that has adhered to the stone.

If you establish that the Limestone floor requires a deep clean due to either the polished surface becoming dull and soiled or, in the case of a natural stone, the soiling has penetrated the surface of the stone. It is likely that mechanical cleaning will be required. Then contact a Professional Stone Floor Cleaning Company to deep clean and re-seal the floor.

Limestone Cleaning and Polishing

If you find that the Limestone floor has begun to stain and spillages can no longer be removed by surface cleaning, it is of utmost importance to ensure the stone is treated with a stone sealer urgently. The best type of sealer to use on stone is an impregnating sealer; it will absorb into the stone and form a barrier at the surface, preventing stains from penetrating deep into the stone. It is always better to use this type of seal rather than a topical seal that sits on the stone surface. Topical sealers may alter the appearance of Limestone, making the stone appear unnatural.

If the Limestone floor has been neglected for some period of time or has suffered very heavy wear, the surface of the stone will erode. Once this reaches a certain point, our Stone Deep Cleaning Service, as shown in our photo, can prevent the stone from being fully ground down. Our method can achieve the results above without having to grind off the entire surface. 

To assess the stone's condition and provide an estimate, upload your floor measurements and photos to the form.