Best Cleaning Products and Practices for Stone Tile and Slab

Would you like to know the BEST cleaner to use on your marble countertops or your travertine floors? Do you ever wonder how to get stains out of certain stone surfaces?

After seeing all the #Cleantok videos on TikTok, are you using Fabuloso or other harsh cleaners in your home?

I have a few tips and recommendations for you today.

I attended a seminar a few weeks ago, as many designers have to if they are affiliated with ASID, NKBA or they are registered as interior designers in their state.

Continuing education is part of the expectations for keeping up your memberships, so while we need a certain amount of hours on HSW (Health, Safety and Welfare) some of it is just general education in the field.

This topic is something I always want more info about, as products (even natural materials) change all the time. As they are lived with in homes over a period of time, more experience is gained with maintenance and performance, etc.

Clean as a Whistle cleaning company presented this seminar and they are in Houston area homes every day cleaning surfaces of all kinds, indoors and out. They have a lot of personal experience and were sharing their expertise. If you need a professional stone cleaning and are in the Houston area, I’d definitely recommend them!

My blog contains affiliate links. Any purchases, at no additional charge to you, render me a small percentage, are most appreciated and make this blog possible. 🙂

Inherent qualities of Stone materials

In order to clean stone properly, you really need to understand the make up of your stone and how it will perform in your home.

I have a post (from another CEU I took a few years ago) that digs into the makeup of certain stones and their natural qualities. It’s great for helping you choose the stone that will require the kind of maintenance level you want in your home. Here’s the link, below.

The Scoop on Natural Stone Countertops

Basically, Calcareous stone reacts to chemicals (acid) and Siliceous stone does not.

Calcereous stones are marble, dolomite, onyx and travertine. Acidic foods and liquids like citrus, wine, sodas, tomato sauce and acidic cleaners will etch Calcereous stone.

Siliceous stones are granite, quartzite, slate and soapstone. They are not affected by acid but it is still not a good idea to use a harsh cleaner on any natural stone. When cleaning anything, it is a best to start with the mildest product possible and work your way to something stronger if needed.

Sealers

It is always wise to seal a natural stone product, whether a floor, countertop, or tiled walls.

There are penetrating sealers and topical sealers. They don’t make your stone bullet-proof, but they will help with absorption and permanent staining.

A penetrating sealer is usually best as it is absorbed into the stone and grout. It protects the stone through the material and allows water vapors to pass through.

If your stone has a polished finish, then it is likely less porous than if it was a more matte finish. The act of polishing sort of fills in the pores so your stone is getting some protection that way.

Top Tools For Cleaning Natural Stone Materials

If you are mopping, change your mop water frequently. A basic go-by that they shared in this presentation is to toss a penny in the bottom of the bucket. When you can no longer see the penny, it is time to change the water.

Here’s the popular mop bucket that you see all over social media.

Microfiber Towel – A microfiber towel or mop is the best material to absorb dirty water or wipe off a counter.

Steam Cleaner – A steamer like the Shark Steam Mop is good to use but the dirty water still needs to be wiped up and removed from the surface or the dirty water will just dry on top and create a film on the surface or settle into voids in the stone.

Cleaning products to Avoid

You don’t want to use an acidic cleaner on acid sensitive stones. Here’s a list of some popular products to avoid.

• Fabuloso

• Swiffer Wet Jet Pads

• Pinesol

• Lime-Away

• CLR

• Dish Detergents

Any type of product that is “multi-purpose” should be avoided. For example, a cleaner that says it works on wood, stone, stainless, glass, etc. is not the best choice. When dealing with natural stone, you want a product that is dedicated specifically for that material.

Recommended Cleaners For Natural Stone

A cleaner with a low pH is best. You can buy pH test strips to use because even when you mix a product with water, the pH level can change. If you are dealing with a really fragile material, that might be a good practice. You want it to be in the 7.5 range.

Here are the cleaning products that Clean as a Whistle recommends.

• Zep Neutral pH Floor Cleaner

• Dupont Stonetec Stone and Tile Cleaner

• Marble Life Marble & Travertine Cleaner

Professional Stone Cleaning

So, let’s say you have stone that is etched or, like in my case, a dark limestone that has basically turned white when an acidic product was dripped on it. What should you do then?

It’s time to call in the pros!

Spot-refinishing a stone tile floor or a slab can be difficult. It is better to redo the whole thing at once.

I will be having my limestone floors professionally cleaned and finished when I’m ready to sell my house someday. For now, I’ll just live with it. 🙂

When you are ready to call, a professional service like Clean as a Whistle, is how to get it done right. Each individual technician is IICRC certified and they offer a guarantee.

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