How to clean natural stone, marble or granite floors.

Natural stone material, granite and marble floors are beautiful additions to any home, however, care must be taken to keep them clean and free of damage. Although strong and hard, these surfaces are very porous and the surface can be easily stained and the polish marred.  Always follow the manufacturers instructions and use the cleaning products recommended when possible. Below are some safe cleaning tips for these surfaces.

Do's and don't:

• Don’t use products that contain lemon juice, vinegar or other acids on marble, limestone, or travertine, these will mar the surface
• Don’t use abrasive materials like steel wool, microfiber scrub pads, scrapers or abrasive cleansers on these materials as they will scratch the surface
• Don’t use ammonia-based cleaners, they will dull the surface
• Do use a sealant on your stone surfaces when installed and refresh as specified by the manufacturer

Things You'll Need

• Neutral pH All-Purpose-Cleaner, or Neutral pH Dish Soap
• Rotating Microfiber mop handle with Microfiber Towels or a Wet Mop
• Vacuum with rotating brush deactivated or Broom
• Bucket
• Water

How To Clean:

1. Vacuum or sweep the floor to remove any dirt particles.
2. Fill a bucket with a gallon of warm water and use just the water or mix in a small amount of Neutral All-Purpose-Cleaner, Dish Soap or the manufacturers recommended cleaning solution. Change the solution when it gets cloudy or dirty.
3. Dip the microfiber towel into the water mixture, ring thoroughly, attach to the mop handle and begin cleaning or use the Wet Mop.
4. Wash the floors by starting at the outermost corner of the room and working methodically towards the room exit.
5. Allow the floors to air dry

For other helpful cleaning tips:

http://www.wfca.org/Pages/Stone-Floor-Cleaning.aspx

http://www.baneclene.com/articles/marble.html

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