Stone tile presents both a breathtaking and expensive flooring investment, which makes it especially important that the appropriate cleaning solutions and methods are used to take care of it. General household cleaners, such as ammonia and bleach can damage stone tile, while using natural solutions and methods on your own stone flooring ensures its beauty is not only maintained, but also enhanced.
Simple Approaches
Dirt, sand and other demanding debris that accumulates on your floors should be removed as frequently as possible to prevent scrapes and damage to the rocks. Use a soft-bristled broom to sweep these substances from the floor’s surface. Should you use a vacuum, then switch its setting into bare floors to avoid its beater bars from beating the textured surface of the stone shingles, which can damage them. When loose substances are removed from the floor, wet mop at least once a week, if not more, to maintain the floor’s natural beauty. An old string mop does the task.
Simple Cleaners
Dilute mild soaps such as 1/4 cup natural vegetable-based soaps, alkaline dishwashing detergent or 1/4 cup of soap flakes produced from grape and vegetable oils in a gallon of warm water. You could also cut shavings to fill 1/4 cup from olive-oil-based Castile soaps and dilute at a bucket of warm water for cleaning. Wet mop the solution on your own stone flooring for routine cleaning. Thoroughly rinse floors with clean water to cover a picture is not left on the stone’s surface and dry with a soft cloth. Never use oils or waxes to wash or treat your stone flooring. Solutions that contain vinegar, ammonia and lemon juice are acidic and will dull or eat away at the surface of calcareous stones, such as stone, travertine, onyx, marble and serpentine. Do not use them as cleaners for your stone flooring.
Maintaining Natural Beauty
Remove spills which happen on your own stone flooring as soon as possible. Be particularly careful to dark-colored spills such as juice or wine, pet injuries and oil. Blot spills with a paper towel and wash the area with the pure soap combinations, water and a damp rag. Rinse several times and dry with a cloth. To clean oil spills, create a paste with water and baking soda and apply to the stain about 1/4 into 1/2 inch thick. Let it stand for 24 to 48 hours prior to removing with a damp cloth. The mix pulls the oils from the stone. If the stain still remains, repeat the process. To prevent abrasive materials from being tracked onto your stone flooring, which damages its surface, set carpets or doormats in the entrances of your home.
Down into the Grout
Grout is particularly great at pulling dirt and filth and holding it captive between your stone shingles. To make a remedy to clean the grout between your stone, mix three parts baking soda to one part water. For instance, blend three cups of baking soda with one cup of water. Apply the mixture to the grout allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water using a rag. Specific cleaning brushes with a narrow row of bristles are also available to clean the esophagus to more harshly lift stains and dirt.