How to Maintain Stone Flooring
It is important to take care of your stone flooring to keep it looking at its best. Learn how to care for and maintain your stone flooring.
Do you have a newly renovated home? Are you considering natural stone flooring and wondering how easy it is to care for?
Stone flooring is an investment that can last up to 100 years with proper maintenance. However, caring for floors of stone is a bit different from conserving traditional floor options.
Here's what you need to know about caring for your stone floor.
The Advantage of Stone Flooring
Stone floors can be a bit more expensive than other flooring options. However, they create a luxurious, elegant look that other materials can't provide. They also work great with rustic or country-themed homes.
Stone floors are quite durable and maintain their good looks even with heavy foot traffic. This is great to know if you have pets or kids and need something that doesn't require extreme delicacy. Stone flooring can also add value to your home.
If you're concerned about the environment, it helps to know that stone flooring is an eco-friendly option. The flooring also offers a decent amount of insulation, so you can keep your home warmer in the summer and cooler in the winter. In the end, this may even save you money on energy bills.
If you have folks in your home with allergies, know that stone flooring does not tend to attract dust, mold, or pollen. It's easy to clean as long as you follow some simple measures.
Seal Your Stone
It's important to seal your stone and have it resealed every 4-5 years, especially if you have a high-traffic home. Floors can be sealed by using a heavy-duty sealer suitable for stone floors and letting it dry for 5-15 minutes. You can then re-seal as needed.
It's important to clean your floor before you seal it. You can also ask a professional cleaning company or manufacturer to apply the sealant for you. If you're applying it yourself, talk to your local hardware store professionals about which product they recommend.
Sealing your stone floors will help to prolong the life and appearance of your floor. It can also protect the stone in case a liquid were to spill on it. The sealant will cause the substance to bead to the surface rather than sinking into the stone and getting absorbed.
Without a sealant, spills can leave surface stains on your beautiful stone tile. This can be a serious problem if you've chosen a lighter color.
Applying a sealant will also make your cleaning easier overall. You can wipe away dirt and grease stains quite easily. This means you will need to apply less effort and time when you have to clean it up.
Regular Cleaning
When daily cleaning your stone floor, you'll want to start by removing any loose dirt and dust. You can do this by vacuuming or sweeping with a soft-bristled brush. It's important to vacuum any debris off the grout as well.
When it comes to actual cleaning, you'll want to find a cleaner that's specially designed to clean stone flooring. You will probably need to mix it with warm water according to the directions before using it. Use a microfibre mop to get your floor especially clean.
If you have a textured stone floor, you may need to use a bristle brush to make sure the grout line gets properly cleaned. If your floor is smooth, you can work methodically from one tile to the next, being sure to ring out your mop regularly.
Once you've cleaned your floor, you can dry the tile and grout lines using micro-fiber cloths. This can ensure that no streaks will be left, and no additional dirt will get stuck on the floor before it's dry.
Removing Stains
If you have an especially busy home, stains can become more than a little bit of a hassle. It's important to take care of them right away in order to avoid permanent staining.
Oil-based stains are common with stone kitchen flooring. These include stains from cooking oil, milk, or grease. They can make your stone darker if you don't remove them immediately.
Use a cleaner specially designed for stone flooring to wipe away these stains. You don't want to use a product that will damage your floor permanently.
Occasionally, you may get a stain from metal on your stone flooring. These can take the shape of the object that caused the stain. Depending on how long the object has been there, you may need to purchase poultices to help you scrub the stain out.
Organic stains can happen in kitchens and bathrooms. These come from things such as tea, coffee, and urine.
If your organic stain happens outdoors, you simply need to remove the source and allow the sun and rain to wash it away. If it happens indoors, a mixture of warm water, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia can help you to eliminate the stain. You can also use a product designed for stone flooring.
If you have water spots or rings on your floor, you may need to buff them with steel wool. Etch marks can be removed by rubbing powder on your stone floor using a damp cloth. Continue buffing until all of the etch marks disappear.
Shining On
Stone flooring is an excellent investment that can make your home class, comfortable, and valuable. Keeping these floors clean, however, requires a bit of care. With the right products and the right precautions, you could be enjoying your stone flooring for decades.
Don't stop getting smart about stone floor care now. For great products that will keep your floor clean and healthy, contact us today at Advanced Sealers and Cleaners.
