Natural stone floors are the most desirable floor types in existence because they are associated with luxury, they are highly durable, and they are easy to keep clean compared to carpets or other floor types. Regular floor care and cleaning is essential for keeping these floors in good condition. There are, however, a few cleaning strategies that you should never try on your natural stone floors. Here is a quick look at some things that could permanently damage these tough floor types.
1. Never Use Bleach
Bleach is an excellent disinfectant because it kills germs and bacteria on contact. It can also help remove stains from light surfaces. But this product should never be used on natural stone floors. This is because the powerful chemicals can dull the finish of your stone floors and it can affect or fade the natural colour of the stone.
2. Don’t Use Glass Cleaner
A lot of stone floors are polished to the point where they get a glossy finish. It is pretty tempting to use glass cleaning products on these surfaces because they have that same glorious shine as your windows – but these products are not ideal for smooth natural stone finishes. They are designed to remove fingerprints and prevent streaks but on your stone floors, they can make its shiny finish look dull and patchy.
3. Infrequent Cleaning
It is very important to clean your stone floors regularly. Deposits on your floors can stain or discolour the finish on your stone floors. Loose dirt will also create scratches on your floors as you walk on them or move furniture around in the room.
The rule of thumb for sweeping frequency is once a week per household member. This includes pets which means if you have three people and one pet in the house, you should be sweeping up your floors four times per week. Floors should also be mopped at least once a week. In heavy traffic areas like the kitchen or bathrooms, you can mop daily.
4. Don’t Use Vinegar Floor Cleaners
Naturalist lovers will advise you to clean your floors with all-natural products like a mixture of vinegar and water. While this is a great method for tiles floors, it is one of the worst things you can do with stone floors. The higher pH levels of this acidic product can cause a chemical reaction when it is poured onto the floor. Etching can occur and will result in dull marks on your beautiful floors.
5. Fail To Seal Your Floors Frequently
Most natural stone floor types are sealed off with a protective coating like epoxy or resin. This layer acts as a barrier that keeps the natural stone from absorbing oils and can keep your floors from getting scratched. A proper coating can last for many years. But when this coating becomes faded, it needs to be honed off with a buffing machine and reapplied. Failing to do so will result in water stains, oil stains and may result in discoloration or damage to the natural stone.
6. Do Not DIY Buff and Polish
It isn’t a good idea to do your own buffing and polishing on natural stone floors. You could end up damaging these expensive floors by scratching them, filing them down too deep or you could even create dents and uneven surfaces on floors that were once perfectly level. If your floors require extensive work then the best you can do is to leave it in the hands of professionals.
It is perfectly safe to vacuum, sweep and mop your floors yourself. But when it is time for extensive work like tile repairs, buffing, polishing or new coat applications, then you should call professionals from Stone Wiz to come and help you out. These professionals will ensure the best possible care for your expensive floors and can help extend the life expectancy of these luxury surfaces.