ROUTINE PREVENTIVE MEASURES
• Use coasters under drinking glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices to avoid etching.
• Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes.
• Use place mats under china, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.
TREATING SPILLS
Some spills will damage stone if unattended. Orange juice, lemonade, wine, vinegar, liquors, tomato sauce, yogurt, salad dressing, perfume, after shave, cleaning products likely won’t damage granite and green marble surfaces, but will etch polished marble, travertine, limestone, onyx, alabaster and slates.
• Clean spills as quickly as possible.
• Don’t rub the spill, blot away the liquid.
• Don’t use cleaning products on or near your natural stone unless the label specifies that it is safe on natural marble (“cultured” marble is not marble). Be very cautious using glass cleaner to clean the mirror over a marble vanity top, or a liquid toilet bowl cleaner when the toilet is set on a marble floor. These can etch your stone.
Boston Stone Restoration offers coatings that can protect your natural stone from even the harshest spills, contact us for a free consult.
FLOORS
Invest in quality cleaning products and tools and use a cleaning solution formulated to your stone type. We like MB Stone Care’s MB-1 Marble Granite and More floor cleaner.
A cleaning chore, any cleaning project, is never a matter of a cleaning product only. The implements, cleaning rag, paper towel, scrubbing pad, squeegee, etc., are important considerations as well. A good quality mop is critical to obtaining the best results when mopping your highly polished stone or porcelain floor.
We found that sponge mops are not the best choice for highly polished stone floors. A better choice is a good sized, closed-loop cotton string mop or quality micro-fiber mop.
KITCHEN COUNTER TOPS
If your kitchen counter top is made either out of granite, green marble or soapstone or a hone finished stone, it’s important to remember that cleaning with a glass cleaners are too harsh to both the stone and the sealer, while water and dish soap will leave an unsanitary film that will build up and will eventually require professional removal.
Clean your kitchen countertop regularly with a stone safe soap-free cleaner such as MB Stone Care MB-5 Marble, Granite & More Spray Cleaner. Use product full strength in areas near cooking and eating areas, and diluted in a proportion of 1:1 with water for less demanding situations such as vanity tops, areas of the countertop far from the cooking and eating areas or another product that specifically states it is safe on natural stone on the label.