The Best Care and Maintenance Tips for Your Stone Floor

Stone floors require very little in the way of regular care and maintenance.  However, they do require some very specific steps to ensure that they look great and last as long as they should. How do you care for stone floors?  Unfortunately, each type of stone floor is different; as such, they require different steps in order to care for them properly.  That said, while all floors are different, there are some common care and maintenance techniques that can be applied across the board.

Determining how to clean everyday dust and dirt from your stone floor may be confusing.  However, a dry dust mop and a simple broom are your most valuable tools in the battle against dirt.  Simply sweep your floor on a regular basis and you will find that your care and maintenance requirements are very simple, indeed.
 
Inevitably, the need to mop your floor will arise.  If you find that a good mopping is in order, use a damp mop and a very mild cleanser (if any).  Once the floor is mopped, rinse the residue off the floor and dry it with a clean, dry cloth.  Never use grout cleaners or bathroom cleaners on the stone, because it can dull the finish considerably.

If your stone floor needs to be sealed, find out from your manufacturer/supplier what sealers can be used.  Sealing your floor can help keep spills form staining the stone and help make cleanup a bit easier. Of course, even if your floor is sealed, spills should be cleaned up as soon as possible.  As an additional note, acidic cleaners should be avoided because of the potential for etching.

Area rugs, throw rugs and runners can help cut down on the amount of dirt and debris tracked in over your floors, but these should be cleaned on a regular basis, as well.  Use only rugs that have nonabrasive backings that will not scuff or scratch your floors.