Prolonging The Charm Of Your Natural Stone Floors
These stones – the likes of marble, granite and their agglomerates – are stylish, yet delicate. They have a tough structure, yet sensitive to the pH of products used on them. To keep your natural stone floors elegant for the long haul, and preserve their structural integrity, there are strict rules and measures that need to be observed. Getting the installation was already pricey, and you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re forced to undertake expensive repairs. Let’s break down what you should be on the lookout for:
Tips For Taking Care Of The Natural Stone Floors
– Invest in a quality sealer. While they are durable floors, additional protection is still required, especially against spills. Marble and other natural stone floors have a porous structure. The slabs will quickly absorb liquids that wind up on them. This in turn translates to more problems, from staining caused by the spills, to deeper corrosion within the structure due to the chemical reactions between the liquid and the stone in question. This can sprawl out into a problem that floor cleaning alone won’t be able to resolve, and you end up being required to have extensive repairs carried out. So as a bare minimum, you should have the floor sealed with a quality formulation that has been developed for the particular type of natural stone floor. This will ward off the liquids.
– When there are spills, they should be cleaned up as quickly as possible. Simply blot the spill – not rubbing it. The floor cleaning products that you use here should have been specified to be safe for natural stone. Note that applying sealers and other floor protection agents is not a leeway to allow spills to remain on the surface. The longer that the liquids are allowed to dwell on the surface, the greater the threat to the structure.
– Certainly, the floor cleaning should be done regularly. Dirt and grime are a daily concern, from the particles accumulating on the surface from the surrounding airspace, to the soil and mud that gets tracked into the building under people’s shoes. These particles are grinded against the floor surface under people’s shoes. Sure, the natural stone is strong, but with the soft nature of the surface, it causes it to be susceptible to scratches. As more gritty dirt particles accumulate – and people continue walking around the premises, the resultant effect is like having tiny bits of sandpaper being used on the floor. Then there are the health risks involved, where the higher build-ups of grime contribute to unsanitary conditions. Having the vacuuming and floor cleaning done on a regular basis prevents things from getting out of hand.
Additional measures can be put in place to reduce the rate of dirt build up in the premises. For intake, having welcome mats at the entrance of the building will enable people to wipe off the bulk of the soiling from their shoes before proceeding to walk into the rest of the space. In fact, you can go ahead to outlaw the wearing of outdoor shoes inside the house, instead having separate pairs of indoor sandals or flipflops that family members and guests can use.
– Get specialised floor cleaning agents for your particular kind of natural stone installation. The conventional detergents around the house can end up opening up a Pandora’s Box of problems when used on the floor. All-purpose cleaners are not automatically suitable for these installations. Get a formulation that has been particularly formulated for marble, limestone, or other type of floor that you’re dealing with. This is to ensure that the dirt and grime can be got rid of without putting the structure at risk
This also means that you should stay away from acidic products. These are the likes of vinegar and lemon juice, as the formulations would end up ‘eating away’ at the natural stone. Even highly alkaline agents like bleach are not ideal for the situation. Get neutral or mild products that have been specified to be safe for the natural stone.
– Abrasive floor cleaning tools should also be avoided. This is due to their tendency to cause scratches on the stone. It ends up taking away the appeal of the installation. While still focusing on scratches, for households with pets – specifically cats or dogs – these furry little guys can be a menace to the floor. Their sharp claws can easily create scratches. Here, trimming the claws of your pet can go a long way in protecting the floor. Speaking of pets, urine stains may be an issue that you will end up facing at one point or another. Ensure that the urine stain removers you get will be suitable for use on natural stone installations, since these products tend to be very strong.
– Next are the shower stalls. Here, you will need to regularly pay attention to the grout and caulk lines in order to address any issue as soon as it crops up. The shower stalls need to be cleaned daily, spraying the floor and walls with the appropriate cleaner, then squeegee afterwards. Here, work with a soap film remover that has been developed to deal with the soap scum and mineral deposits – that will still be safe for the natural stone. This also applies when selecting the products that you will use to remove mildew stains. Definitely, this means that you should avoid generic mildew stain and soap film removers, as well as self-cleaners and harsh disinfectants, as these will be a threat to the natural stone.
– Caution should also be taken when working on surrounding areas as this may affect the floor. For instance, if the toilet floor is made of marble or other kind of natural stone, you shouldn’t just use any conventional toilet bowl cleaner. These tend to be highly acidic. While they will get rid of the stains in the toilet bowl, they will ruin the stone floor. In such a case, ensure that you only clean the bowl using a non-acidic product.
– You should avoid placing hot items directly on the floor. This puts a strain on the structure, weakening it further.
