Dry Cleaning Procedures:

As with all floor types, the most important thing to do is clean dust, dirt and pebbles from the floor regularly, meaning once or twice daily. This may sound excessive, but it is necessary in order to maintain your floor’s appeal for as long as possible. On a honed or polished surface, small particles like dust between one’s shoes and the floor will slowly dull the finish and even become embedded in the stone.

We recommend running a dust mop across the floor at least daily to remove these contaminates from stone surfaces. Use a large 3-foot or longer dust mop that you can purchase from most home improvement stores like Home Depot. Dust mop all walk areas daily. To improve your dusting results, we offer a product that you spray on the dust mop that attracts dust and dirt without oil-based chemicals. Most dust mop sprays are oil-based and can damage your floor’s finish, so avoid using them.

Wet Cleaning Procedures:

 The effectiveness of floor cleansers often depend on the level of alkalinity or acidity measured by its pH level. It is rated on a scale of 1 to 14. Levels of pH ranging from 1 to 6.5 are acidic, 7.5 to 14 is alkali and 7 is neutral.

Stone Tech Products:

We have studied the various products on the market and have determined the products manufactured by Stone Tech, (Dupont owned), fit the criteria that stone needs. Stone Tech products can be purchased from Monterey Tile located at 225 W Baseline Road, Gilbert, AZ. It is just east of Country Club on Baseline. Tell them you are a customer of All Stone, Tile and Wood Restoration to receive a discount. Stone Tech also manufactures sealers for every application possible. Ask for us details. Other tile stores also sell these products.

We recommend a product called Revitalize for counter tops, showers, and occasionally on floors. For most floor maintenance we recommend a product called Klenzall. Follow the instructions on the bottle.  For better results, consider using soft water for mopping and wiping the tile dry with a terry cloth towel.

Other Brands:

There are many other brands of cleanings on the market.   Check your local building supply store tile and carpet store.

Remember

Natural stone does not work well with water. Natural stone “breathes”, therefore we do not recommend topical sealers. When water seeps into its pores, the water has to escape somehow. Too much water on natural stone may cause it to “breathe” too much causing cracks. In the case of filled stone, excess water can cause the fill to fall out. Mop areas that need it, but not any more than is necessary. Sweep a lot, Mop less is our motto.