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 on a range of surfaces, from walls and floors to countertops or fireplaces. Retailers usually sell it in a natural or polished finish, and it is normally sealed after installation to protect it from staining.
Like all beautiful things in life, it requires care to maintain its appearance. Once you have invested in this product and ensured it is sealed before use, it is relatively simple to look after it.
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. Having spent a lot of money on the purchase and installation of the stone floor, the very first step is to purchase some high-quality mats or runners to place at all points of entry to the property.
Most of the damage to stone flooring occurs gradually through wear. Fine dust and grit are transferred from outside the property on shoes or the paws of animals. You may well see muddy or wet footprints on the floor; however, the fine grit and dust often go unnoticed. Over time, these can build up on the surface and act like fine sandpaper, removing the polish from a polished stone or wearing into the surface of a naturally honed stone.
For cleaning the stone, it is best practice to establish a cleaning schedule rather than attempting the task on an ad hoc basis. The cleaning should start with removing surface dust and soiling using a vacuum cleaner. Ensure that your vacuum cleaner is set for hard floors so the floor brushes are in contact with the surface; this will prevent unnecessary scratching of the stone.
After removing loose dust and dirt, the floor requires cleaning with a wet mop system to remove any soiling that has stuck to the surface. Remember that soiling can build up in microscopic layers, so you may not always notice it. Using hot water and a pH-neutral mild detergent, you can wash the floor to remove any soiling. It is important to ensure you are lifting the soiling off the stone floor, not just moving it around, by regularly rinsing the mop in clean water. If your water begins to look dirty, it’s time to change it.
When mopping the floor, do not leave it too wet; otherwise, you may get smears as it dries. Some flat mop systems provide a buffing head so you can go over polished surfaces to remove any drying smears.
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 will be able to deep-clean and seal your floor, and polish the surface if required.