What Do You Clean Natural Stone Floors With?
Natural tile and stone flooring is incredibly durable as it is beautiful. It’s easy to maintain and clean. These durable surfaces resist stains and spill in the kitchen. If you are looking for a beautiful, polished space then natural tile and stone flooring is it. For the most part, you can use a few drops of a neutral cleaner or dawn dishwashing liquid. Here are a few easy tips to help you to maintain and give your floors the love and care they deserve.
Do’s and Don’t of Cleaning Natural Stone, Tile Floors
- Don’t use abrasive materials such as scrub pads. Do not use anything such as brillo pads. These materials will damage the surface.
- Don’t use any products that contain acids, no lemon juice, vinegar, or citrus-based cleaners. These products will damage your floors
- Do not use ammonia-based cleaners. Ammonia-based cleaners will dull the surface of your floors
- Make sure that you use the proper sealant on your stone surfaces in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and recommendations.
Keep The Dirt Out
As simple as it seems, this is one of the easiest ways to ensure that you protect your tile. Place entryway mats at all entry doors. You want to ensure that you keep all the grit and grime from entering your home. These small particles cause the most damage to your flooring surfaces.
Cleaning Porcelain Or Ceramic Tile
Tile and stone flooring are not created equally, thus you need to know what type of flooring you are cleaning. Is your flooring porcelain or ceramic? Both are easy to care for and maintain. Using a Bona cleaning system with a microfiber duster will always do the trick. You can also grab your handy dandy Swiffer mop for everyday use. Keep in mind that the tiny particles that are being tracked into your home on a daily basis, can and will scratch your flooring. Make sure that you are cleaning your floors on a weekly basis. Lightweight microfiber mops are your friends.
Cleaning Natural Stone
Natural Stone is nature’s gift to us. It is both durable and stunningly beautiful, but like most beautiful things, it requires a little more maintenance. I like to think of granite and marble as high-maintenance dates. Everybody loves them, but the upkeep may be more than you bargained for. Make sure that you take extra care with your floors and use a soft bristle brush when sweeping. Warm water and some ph-neutral all-purpose cleaner will do the trick or simply use Castile or Liquid Ivory as recommended by the World Floor Covering Association.
Though the cleaning rage is to use natural cleaners in your home, do not use cleaners that contain vinegar or lemon juice, or other acids on your marble, limestone, granite, or any natural stones. Do not use harsh abrasives either.
With the proper care, your natural stone flooring will bring you pleasure and joy for many years to come.
Cleaning Tile And Natural Stone Flooring
I said all of that above to simply say NO and NO again. Laminate flooring is not waterproof. Let me also state that laminate flooring is not the same as vinyl flooring. They may look similar, however, they are two uniquely different products so do not confuse them.
Numerous brands, such as Armstrong, Shaw, and Mannington offer a water-resistant type floor for up to 72+ hours or permanently. This simply means, that cleaning the spill up as quickly as possible will mitigate the possibility of damage.
Can you use vinegar on stone floors? The answer is NO and NO!
