All natural stone, be it marble, sandstone, granite, slate, or travertine, is a wonderful addition to any room. Not only do you add a fashionable aesthetic to your home with these surfaces, but you also get a floor or counter durable enough to last a long time. As strong as these natural stones are, however, they do require a bit of care and consideration from you. Here are the biggest do's and don'ts that you need to know for keeping your natural stone looking its best:
Don'ts:
1. Don't be rough with your stone. Using materials like steel wool, scrapers, harsh cleaners, or even scrub pads on your stone can cause lasting damage. Its smooth surface is easily scratched by all of these things, so use a light hand and soft materials when cleaning your natural stone.
2. Don't buy a cleaner without first reading the label carefully. You never want to use an ammonia, lemon, vinegar, or acid based cleaners on your stone. These have the ability to scar your stone or ruin the surface. Opt instead for something like a water-based cleaner. This is particularly important for limestone, marble, travertine, and onyx floors and countertops.
3. Don't confuse tile with natural stone. Tile and tub cleaner is not meant for natural stone!
4. Don't mix bleach and ammonia when cleaning natural stone. As we mentioned earlier, we don't advise using ammonia in the first place, but if you do happen to use it be sure not to mix it with bleach. This combination produces a toxic gas that you don't want to mess with.
5. Don't mix chemicals. Please don't do this. It's dangerous and there is no benefit to your natural stone with mixing chemicals. Unless the back of the bottle of cleaner specifically instructs you to do so, keep your chemicals to themselves.
6. Don't wipe spills. Doing so will only spread the mess out and stain your stone.
7. Don't use an old vacuum cleaner on your stone floor. Worn out vacuum cleaners can scratch your floors.
8. Don't allow spills to sit on your floor. Clean them up right away to avoid staining and damage caused by said spills.
9. Don't skip any of the tips on the do list!
Do's:
1. Do blot up any spills that happen. As we mentioned earlier, wiping spills is a big no-no, but blotting will get the job done without harming your floor.
2. Do dry/dust mop your natural stone floors regularly. This will keep them looking great and help avoid buildup that might occur on them. Besides that, it will get rid of any grit that might scratch the surface. This is especially important in high-traffic areas of your home.
3. Do choose mild soaps and cleaners for washing your natural stone. These gentle cleaning agents will get the job done without any damage to your stone.
4. Do finish cleaning your natural stone by rinsing and drying it thoroughly. This is particularly important with porous stone surfaces such as sandstone.
5. Do invest in a good sealant when having your natural stone installed. We can help you choose the best sealant for your floor.
6. Do take care of spills and scratches right away. The faster you act on these the better.
7. Do get yourself some area rugs and mats to prevent sand, dirt, grit, and debris from reaching your natural stone floor.
8. Do buy plenty of coasters and trivets to protect your natural stone countertops.
9. Do ask us any questions you may have about caring for your natural stone surface. We are here to help you.
Happy Flooring!