Cleaning A Stone Floor

A stone floor, whether it's marble, limestone, granite, slate, or another material, can be an attractive addition to any home. But to keep your floor looking great long after it's been installed, you need to make time for some basic maintenance, including stone floor cleaning. Cleaning your stone floor requires special techniques because stone is a natural material that can be easily damaged. So read on for 5 tips on safely cleaning your stone floor from the tile cleaning expert.

1. Follow the retailer or manufacturer's instructions. When your floor is installed, be sure to ask if it comes with any special cleaning or maintenance instructions. The retailer or manufacturer may recommend using a certain type of cleaner made especially for stone floors of that type.

2. Take preventative steps. You'll keep your floor cleaner and help it last longer by placing mats and rugs in high-traffic areas. These will capture dirt, keeping it off your floor and preventing it from damaging the stone tile. Also, when your floor is installed, make sure that it is properly sealed. This is a critical step, since stone is porous and applying sealants will help keep potentially damaging substances from staining or scratching the floor.

3. Sweep or vacuum regularly. Dirt and grit that you track in from outside are abrasive and can damage delicate stone flooring. Sweep,
Be cautious when choosing cleaners. Before you begin stone tile cleaning, make sure you're using the right type of cleaner. Generally, you should avoid using acids (such as lemon juice or vinegar) on marble or limestone. You should also steer clear of cleaners with ammonia or other abrasives, since these could damage your floor as well. Instead, clean your floor with soap (not detergent) and water. Be sure to rinse the floor thoroughly after mopping. If you spill something on your stone floor, clean it up quickly, since it may stain or etch the surface, especially if it is acidic, like orange juice, wine or