July 21st, 2021 by Sarah Miles

A step by step guide to keeping stone floors clean without damaging them

For obvious reasons, the floors in our homes take the hardest hit of any surface in terms of wear and tear and dirt. If you are lucky enough to have a beautiful stone floor, you may assume that its robust nature means it’s one of the hardest wearing floor coverings you could choose but you may be surprised to learn that it’s more delicate than you think and that some care is required to keep it looking good and lasting for a long time.

Why do you need to care for stone?

There are a number of different types of stone, including natural stone, granite, marble, and slate. While their surfaces do differ, they are all – to some degree – porous materials. This means that they have tiny holes in the surface that allows moisture as well as dirt and bacteria to build up. To protect against this, they have a coat of sealant and anything that damages this protective layer could potentially allow harmful substances to be absorbed.

Cleaning your stone floor

Regular cleaning is important to keep your stone looking good. Follow these steps to maintain the beautiful look of your stone, as well as keep your home hygienic.

1. Remove loose dirt and debris by sweeping or vacuuming it away.

This will stop your water from getting dirty quickly, plus save you from rubbing small particles over the surface of the stone, which could scratch

2. Prepare your detergent.

Choose a cleaning product that is pH neutral, states it is suitable for your type of stone or is specifically formulated for your floor. This is because detergents that are too acidic or alkaline can damage the sealant or leave residue on the surface. Never use harsh products like bleach. Dilute according to manufacturer’s instructions.

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3. Choose your method.

A mop (or similar) is suitable for any stone floor, but some can be cleaned with a steam cleaner. These tend to be the less porous stones but double-check with either the manufacturer of the floor or the steam cleaner to make sure.

4. Start cleaning.

If the floor is especially dirty (it is better to keep on top of the dirt rather than allow it to build up) apply the detergent and allow to work on the surface for up to 15 minutes before rinsing clean. Otherwise, just apply and then proceed to rinse it clean. If using a mop, keep changing the water in the bucket whenever it gets dirty, otherwise, you’re just adding dirty water to a dirty floor.

Pay particular attention to any natural crevices in the stone’s surface and to grouting lines as dirt can accumulate in these areas. That said, don’t scrub too hard or use abrasive tools such as brushes as you can scratch into the sealant.

5. Dry the surface off.

It is important to remove as much of the water as possible once you have completed the cleaning process. A steam cleaner will leave very little moisture but if you are using a mop, squeeze as much water from the head as possible each time or consider swapping to a dry one.

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Other maintenance

As we’ve already said, the stone should be protected by a layer of sealant. However, this sealant doesn’t last indefinitely and will need topping up every few years. How long it lasts depends on the type of stone you have and the amount of foot traffic. To test yours, drop some water on the floor and see whether it pools on the surface or absorbs in (this could take a minute or two). If it absorbs, it’s time to re-seal it. To do this, give it a thorough clean first and allow it to dry then apply a coat of sealant. Outdoor patio sealants are often suitable for indoor porous stone flooring such as Indian sandstone.

Top tips

A few general things to remember:

• Clean up spills and messes as soon as they happen as they could build up and be hard to remove, damage the sealant, or stain
• Protect the floor by using rugs or mats in high traffic areas
• Don’t put rugs or mats back down after cleaning until the floor is completely dry as trapped moisture could allow mould to develop
• Try not to wear outdoor shoes inside as particles on the soles of shoes can agitate stone surfaces like sandpaper