How to Clean Natural Stone Surfaces

Tips for Natural Stone Cleaning

Do you want to clean your natural stone properly, but you are not sure what you need to consider? We give you some tips for the proper cleaning of marble, sandstone, granite, travertine, and other types of natural stone.

When it comes to the topic of stone cleaning, many homeowners and garden owners are faced with a conundrum. After all, the dirt that can settle on stones or tiles over the course of many years is sometimes very stubborn.

But it is not only the impurities that settle on stone surfaces within longer periods of time that need to be removed. Stones and tiles can also be contaminated by accident, for example by spilled liquids, by painter’s paint, building materials, and the like.

Cleaning Natural Stone Surfaces

Traditional stone cleaning – for “clean results”

Generally, three basic types of contamination are distinguished on stones and tiles in indoor and outdoor areas. These are chemical, inorganic, and organic contamination. Depending on the nature and material composition of the substances, it takes more or less effort to remove them.

If it is done correctly, it is quite possible to clean the tiles or paving stones without leaving any residues or even color changes on the surfaces in the end.

Sometimes, however, it is necessary to use “heavier weapons” and try to clean the tiles or paving stones with specific means. In this case, however, caution is required, because the use of many chemical preparations is associated with certain dangers. This guide shows how to clean the stone properly.

Interesting facts about stone cleaning and stone care

Whether fungal growth, algae, moss, lichen, wild growth, or weeds – organic soiling of various kinds can usually be removed with comparatively little effort. The use of chemical substances is not absolutely necessary.

It is often sufficient to use a high-pressure washer or – on smaller surfaces – a coarse brush.

In this way, stone cleaning can be done without any chemicals at all. This is not only good for the wallet, but also for the environment. When we talk about inorganic contamination on tiles and stones, we are usually referring to grease and oil, but also graffiti smears, cement deposits, and other building materials, as well as rubber abrasion or similar residues. It is advisable to use chemical cleaning agents for stone cleaning in order to “declare war” on such stubborn dirt.

However, it is advisable to work with tact and sensitivity. Otherwise, even stone surfaces could be affected.

If the attractiveness of tiles, stones, or paving stones is impaired by chemical soiling, acid rain, or other environmental influences, corrosion or residues of chemical substances may also be the cause. Here it is worth taking a close look. Efflorescence also reduces the visual quality of stone surfaces. They can best be eliminated with individual cleaning methods.

How can I clean marble?

The noble stone should be cleaned with as little water and rock as possible. Since marble contains some lime, acidic cleaners should be avoided so as not to harm the marble. The marble floor likes it rather mild. If you want to be sure, a pH-neutral cleaner is recommended. Too much water on the marble floor can dry the lime and the marble will look dull and no longer shiny. It is important that you do not use abrasive cleaners.

How to properly clean sandstone?

The beautiful sandstone gives a feeling of warmth in the beautiful south. Light dirt on sandstone can be easily removed well with a broom. Otherwise, you can make lye with pH-neutral cleaner and apply it. Sandstone is an easy stone when it comes to cleaning.

How do I clean travertine properly?

Travertine is one of the easiest and most straightforward stones to clean. Often it is quite enough to sweep the floor with a broom and occasionally pick up the floor damp. If there are more stains, however, simply make light lye with a neutral cleaner and apply. It is definitely worthwhile to have travertine impregnated with stone wax. The dirt and water will bead off immediately, as with a nano-treatment.

Cleaning tiles and paving stones – but properly

Whether inorganic, organic, or chemical – each type of soiling usually requires individual procedures to ensure effective cleaning. However, not only the type of soiling but also the degree as well as the extent of soiling on the stone surfaces take a high priority in the selection of the appropriate cleaning method.

It is indeed not a pretty sight when paving stones or tiles in the outdoor area are soiled by weather influences as well as by plant growth, bird droppings, or the like. But also the “little mishap” on stone surfaces in the interior of the house, such as on marble kitchen countertops or on the natural stone floor in the corridor or entrance area, is a real nuisance.

Especially when considered in the long term. This is because, given the design of the stone or tile surfaces, it is sometimes easy for sauces, paints, wines or fats to penetrate deep into the pores of the stone surfaces and cause lasting optical damage in the upper segments.

What you need to consider when cleaning your natural stone

Do you want to clean your natural stone, it helps to know the different types of natural stone?

• A natural stone is characterized by the fact that it consists solely of its natural materials and has not been mixed with other substances, powdered, or pressed.
• Natural stones include Slate, limestone, sandstone, marble, basalt, travertine, quartzite.
• Due to their naturalness, these stones do not like acids. Therefore, do not use acidic cleaning agents to remove dirt from natural stone. This applies to both polished and rough surfaces. Therefore, cleaning agents with a neutral pH value is recommended.
• In any case, test the cleaning agent on a spot that is not clearly visible. This way you can see whether the stone tolerates the agent or whether permanent damage will occur.
• With such a cleaning agent, you will quickly get rid of simple dirt.

Different agents for different stones

Cleaning and maintenance of natural stone are quite simple. If you make sure that you use the right means. The important thing here is to have the right cleaning and care agents. Cleaning agents only clean the surface of the stone and are available for different degrees of soiling.

For everyday care, neutral cleaners wiping care are sufficient, while alkaline cleaners help with stubborn stains.

In addition to cleaning, care is also important. Care products penetrate into the stone. This creates a protective layer on the surface, which can make the natural stone more robust. Care products for travertine, dolomite, shell limestone, and other types of natural stone are also available for this purpose. For all other stains, such as cement haze, there are extra cleaners that remove them.

Preparation for cleaning

Before you start cleaning, it is recommended that you first remove coarser dirt such as soil or sand with a broom. This is especially helpful for natural stone outdoors. As with cleaning normal floors, in addition to removing coarse dirt, you should also move delicate indoor furniture to the side. If they are too heavy, you can also simply cover your furniture or tape off sensitive areas. The same applies to outdoor plants. You can protect these or adjoining green areas from the cleaning agent by watering them well beforehand. This reduces the absorption of the agent on contact.

To allow the surface to dry quickly, ventilate the room well during and after cleaning. In no time, the freshly cleaned natural stone will be dry and clean again.

When cleaning for the first time after your floor is installed, make sure the grout is completely dry before you begin cleaning. Ask your tiler about the respective drying time, or find out about the manufacturer’s instructions if you have laid your floor yourself.

The right temperature for cleaning

If you want to clean your natural stone, you should make sure that it is not too cold and also not too hot. Temperatures between 50 °F to 77 °F are best. For indoor stone floors, the underfloor heating can be turned on before cleaning. This way your stone is well-prepared and if damp spots have covered the floor, they are now dry as a result.

In outdoor areas, cleaning is therefore recommended at the beginning of summer, as conditions are optimal here.

Sunshine after cleaning allows the stone to dry completely quickly and prevents the formation of moss and algae.

Everyday care

In everyday life, you can easily keep your stone clean with neutral cleaners for the basic cleaning of natural stone. Like any other floor, natural stone flooring can be easily washed with water and detergent. Mix the basic cleaner with a little water and easily conjure up a new shine on your stone. For regular cleaning in everyday life, we recommend our wiping brush.

Depending on whether you want to clean travertine, shell limestone, or sandstone, you will find suitable cleaning agents matched to the structure of the stone.

In general, remove stains immediately after they have passed. The longer they soak in, the harder they are to remove.

Impregnation

In general, you should seal natural stone annually to every four years with an agent suitable for your stone, depending on the area of application. These soak into the surface of the stone but do not seal the natural stone. Thus, the breathability is preserved.

However, only apply these agents after you have spotless the stone with a cleaner suitable for the stone. It is also important that the natural stone is completely dry before applying the impregnation. If the pores are not completely dry, the impregnation cannot penetrate and is useless. Therefore, take enough time for impregnation and wait for the best weather should you apply impregnation outdoors. Please apply the impregnation evenly and avoid puddle formation.

Advice for Cleaning Stains

Clean tiles and get rid of bird droppings – stone cleaning made easy

Bird droppings are a real “chemical bomb”. Car drivers can literally sing a song about how the appearance of the vehicle’s paintwork changes if the droppings left behind by birds are not removed from the surface in time. Thanks to ammonia and co. the droppings of the animals “eat” deep into the paint and cause irreparable damage. A real tragedy, and it is extremely time-consuming and costly to “undo” the whole thing. Even if the surface of stones or tiles comes into contact with bird droppings, rapid action is required.

Bird droppings, but also fungus stains, etc. should be removed as soon as possible from the terrace floor, from the natural stone stairs, or from the marble floor in the courtyard or in front of the garden house.

Because only then it is possible to prevent worse. The effort required for cleaning tiles or paving stones is relatively low in this respect. It is only necessary to let the bird droppings dry and then remove them with a coarse broom. A mixture of lukewarm water and a ph-neutral cleaning agent is then applied to the previously cleaned area. After a reaction time of about 15 to 20 minutes, the mixture can be rinsed off with clear water. If even now remains of the bird droppings are still visible, the procedure is repeated without further ado.

Oil and grease on the kitchen worktop

One wrong move or not paying attention for a moment – and it’s done: When baking, frying, sizzling, or cooking, cooking oil or frying fat ends up on the work surface or on the natural stone floor in the kitchen or utility room.

Regardless of whether it is just a few drops or even a full bottle of oil has emptied onto the surface – it is now essential to act quickly.

Otherwise, stubborn discolorations will remain that cannot be quickly removed from the stone surface. It is important to remove the excess grease or oil immediately with an absorbent cloth. A kitchen cloth made of cellulose or blotting paper – both are ideal. However, under no circumstances should the greasy contaminants be rubbed onto the area with it, because otherwise, the grease can penetrate much deeper into the stone pores. The damage would then be irreversible. Careful dabbing is therefore advisable. After the work is done, apply some liquid bile soap to the contaminated areas. This will loosen the grease quite well from the floor or countertop.

Cleaning paving stones

On pavers with porous surfaces, liquids can soak in quickly and cause permanent stains that are difficult to remove later. If you have paved a seating area, you should wipe up spilled red wine, grease splatters, and other fresh stains as quickly as possible. Sweeping up is part of regular paver maintenance, but it’s also the first step before using any cleaning products. Because as soon as you handle water on the pavers, soil, leaves, and plant debris become a greasy mass that can loosely clog drains.

You can remove loose dirt with a street broom or a classic witches’ broom, leaves, and fallen petals also with the leaf brooms known from the lawn – but with a plastic model that does not cause scratches. On large paved areas, sweepers take a lot of the work off your hands; you don’t have to bend down when cleaning, and you can push the most battery-powered devices comfortably like a lawnmower.

Coffee stains on marble – it all comes down to proper stone cleaning and stone care

Coffee drinkers usually wake up early in the morning. But when the “black and gold” liquid is accidentally spilled in the early morning hours and lands on the granite surface in the kitchen, the “hello-wake-up moment” is felt with particular intensity.

Granite is a precious natural stone material that absorbs liquids of various kinds like a sponge. This means that ugly stains and edges can quickly remain on the surface.

Therefore, it is essential to act quickly and quickly remove the coffee with a kitchen towel. Only then is it guaranteed that as little coffee as possible will penetrate the stone pores. Then place a damp sponge on the contaminated area. The stone also absorbs this liquid, so that the brown stain becomes less and less visible. Provided that the stone cleaning with this technique was not completely successful, the procedure should be repeated several times. After the generously applied bile soap has been allowed to work for about five to ten minutes, it is removed again with a paper towel. Finally, it is advisable to rinse the treated surface with lukewarm water to remove any remaining dissolved grease residues and the remaining bile soap.

Conclusion

All in all, natural stones are an insensitive product that is easy to clean. If you follow the tips and remove coarser dirt quickly, you will enjoy the stones forever. Use cleaning products from the specialist, which have been developed to suit the stones, for a long-lasting result.