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.
All Stone Surfaces
Floor Surfaces
Bath and Wet or Damp Areas
Vanity Tops
Sealing
Caring for Tile
All glazed ceramic tile requires less maintenance than many other flooring types. Now that your tile and grout have been professionally cleaned, follow these few tips to maintain the beauty of your tile floor.
- Do test cleaners and scouring pads in an inconspicuous area before use.
- Do seal all cement grout to prevent staining
- Don’t combine ammonia and bleaches (or any household cleaners) This can cause toxic fumes which can be harmful or even deadly.
- Don’t use harsh cleaning agents (steel wool or ajax) which can scratch or damage the surface of your floor.
- Don’t seal or wax your ceramic tile. Stay away form products like Mop&Glo. These coatings are unnecessary. They will attract and hold dirt on your floor’s surface.
- Don’t use vinegar or bleach for regular cleaning. These can adversely affect the tile and grout with continual use.
Mopping
Mop your floor lightly at least once a week. For best results, use a microfiber mop and a neutral cleaner designed for ceramic tile. Use cleaner sparingly as more is not often better, and it may leave a soil-attracting residue.
Beware that many “all-purpose” cleaners will leave a residue which will attract soil. Change mop water often. As always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning and rinsing for best results.
Spills
Protect Your Investment
Equip furniture legs with FELT floor protectors. Dirt and sand embedded into plastic or wooden legs act like sandpaper when furniture is moved across your floor.
Place quality rugs or mats both inside and outside of exterior entryways, and near kitchen sinks and dishwashers to prevent impact damage from dropped dishes, pans or utensils.
Avoid foam backed rugs and mats as these tend to “de-laminate” due to moisture or sun exposure and may stick to your floor. The foam can prove very difficult to remove from many surfaces.
After your initial restorative cleaning, Tile Care Inc. recommends an annual professional cleaning. By following the care and maintenance guidelines listed above, the annual cleaning will take less time, therefore costing less.
