Natural stone floor files are the most stylish and durable flooring choice and with an array of beautiful options such as granite, marble, limestone and travertine, it’s easy to find the best natural stone tiles Brisbane wide. Keeping them cleaned and maintained doesn’t have to be complicated, and this article will cover the dos and don’ts of cleaning natural stone floor tiles so you can enjoy them for many years to come.
Use Rugs or Non-Slip Mats To Protect Surfaces
Rugs and non-slip mats are a great purchase for three reasons: they can provide additional grip in places that may be slippery or are on a slight slope; they can be used to add style or color to a room; and they can protect the surface of the stone floor from damage. Areas with heavy foot traffic, such as hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, and doors leading in and out of your home, are expected to have the most wear and tear.
Do Dust, Sweep or Vacuum Before Mopping
Dusting, sweeping, or vacuuming is a great way to remove dirt and dust prior to mopping your natural stone floor tiles. It means that the water and detergent used to clean won’t get as dirty as the larger particles have been removed from the surface already.
Blot Spills Immediately
Regardless of the type of liquid, it is best to blot spills right away with a clean rag or paper towel to avoid staining. Grab a few sheets of paper towel or cloth and press down firmly with your hand to absorb the liquid. It’s important to blot instead of wipe, as you may spread the liquid across a larger surface area, therefore making a larger mess.
Clean Surfaces With A Mild Detergent
The best cleaning agent for cleaning natural stone floor tiles is stone soap. Stone soap is a specially formulated detergent that has a neutral pH and can be used on any stone surface.
Rinse And Dry With Clean Water
It seems obvious, but rinsing with clean water after using a mild detergent is the best way to remove any lingering detergent residue and also any dirt or dust that may have been missed in the vacuuming and mopping stages. Depending on the surface area that you’re cleaning, wiping the floor tiles with a towel is a quick way to dry the floor, or alternatively, you can leave it to air dry. Warning: The floor will be slippery until it has dried, so alert anyone in the area that the floor is wet and tread carefully if they must move throughout the area.
Don’t Use Worn Brooms, Brushes or Vacuums
It can be tempting to use an old or worn broom, brush, or vacuum to clean the dust and dirt as the first step to cleaning your natural stone floor tiles. When these tools are old and worn, their bristles are more likely to be coarse, which increases the likelihood of them stretching the surface. This also goes for clothes and mop heads that are past their prime and could potentially damage your floor.
Don’t Use Harsh Chemicals
If your floor is especially dirty or hasn’t been cleaned in a long time, using strong chemicals to break down dirt and grime may seem like the best option, but this could be the worst thing you do. Using cleaning agents with a high acidity profile could affect tiles made of marble, travertine, limestone, or onyx. Even naturally derived products such as lemon juice, bicarbonate, or vinegar can be harmful.
Don’t Use Cleaners Meant For Other Areas
We get it; you don’t want a cupboard full of cleaning products just to clean your house, and using a bathroom, kitchen, or grout cleaner may seem like a good idea to cut down on products, but it’s not. Those cleaning products will have a different chemical composition as their purpose is to clean those areas in a different way, and you may end up gradually eroding the surface of your natural stone floor tiles.
Don’t Mix Cleaning Products
Chemistry 101 would tell you that mixing cleaning products or agents is a bad idea. Just like we mentioned above not to use cleaning products meant for other areas of the home, you shouldn’t mix chemicals of any sort. A common mistake is to mix bleach with ammonia, which will produce a toxic gas called chloramines.
When it comes to keeping your natural stone floor tiles clean and in good condition, follow these simple steps, and you cannot go wrong. If you are still unsure about the best ways to clean your floor tiles, speak with the company that you purchased the tiles from, and they will be able to give you the best advice.
