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Natural Stone
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Restoration
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Care
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Caring for Natural Stone
Natural stone is an investment that will give you many years of
beautiful service. Stone is a natural product and does require some
simple care and maintenance to retain its beauty. These are some
recommendations supported by the Marble Institute of America.
- Do dust mop floors frequently
- Do clean surfaces with cleaner
designed specifically for use with
your stone.
- Do thoroughly rinse and dry surface
after cleaning.
- Do BLOT up spills immediately.
- Do protect floor surfaces with
quality mats or area rugs, and stone
tops with trivets or placemats.
- Don't use vinegar, lemon juice
or other cleaners containing acids
on stone surfaces.
- Don't place cleaner bottles that
contain acids such as toilet bowl
cleaner, grout cleaners or tub and
tile cleaners on stone surfaces.
- Don't use abrasive cleaners such
as dry or cream cleansers.
- Don't mix ammonia and bleach (or
other household cleaners) as these
combinations can create toxic and
deadly fumes.
Precautions
Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus
juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull
the stone surface. Use trivets or placemats under china, ceramics, silverware
or other objects that can scratch the surface.
All stone surfaces
Clean surfaces with a neutral cleaner made for use on stone and warm water.
For best results use a microfiber mop or cloth. Do not use too much soap in the
water as it may leave a residue which can cause streaks and attract soil. Do not
use products with lemon, vinegar or acids on marble or limestone. Rinse
thoroughly after washing with the cleaning solution and dry with a microfiber
cloth. Change your rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or
creams, these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.
Floor surfaces
Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean, non-treated dust mop. Sand,
dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their
abrasiveness. Quality mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will
help minimize the sand, dirt and grit coming into the home. Avoid using
foam-backed mats or rugs as they tend to "delaminate" and leave foam stuck
to the floor. This foam can prove quite difficult to remove and may cause
damage to the surface. If possible do not wear shoes used outdoors in the
house. Mop your floors once a week as described above. Do not use vacuum
cleaners with beater brushes on stone surfaces as they may scratch the stone.
Do not wax or use products that advertise "shine as you clean", as these will
leave a coating on the surface which will attract soil and grit. These products
are totally unnecessary.
Bath and wet or damp areas
In the bath or shower, rinsing and using a squeegee after use can help
minimize soap scum buildup. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap
scum remover. Remember to always test any cleaner in a small spot to
determine if it will adversely effect the surface.
Vanity tops
Many products used near the vanity contain acids. These may etch or dull the
surface. Wipe the surface immediately after use to minimize adverse effects.
Sealing
Many polished stones actually can not be sealed contrary to popular advertising.
When a stone is polished, the pores are closed so tightly that sealer (or
most other substances) can not penetrate the surface. There are exceptions. A
good test to see if your stone needs sealing is to create a small puddle of water
on the surface. Leave for 15 minutes and wipe the water off. If the stone has
darkened where the water was left to sit, then your stone will accept a sealer.
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