Preventative Stone Care Tips for Your Marble, Granite and Other Natural Stone Surfaces

People using natural stones are mainly worried about the maintenance requirements, but the fact is that natural stone countertops or floors need no more care & maintenance than natural wood products such as tables and chairs.

It’s better if you know your stone surface well and the maintenance needs it requires. A stone restoration specialist can guide you the precautions to be taken to avoid stains, wear and damage. Ask the stone care professionals about the daily and long term maintenance practices to be followed, and also the time schedule for resealing, repolishing or deep cleaning of stone surfaces.

Preventative care is what mostly needed for natural stones like marble, granite and travertine. Make sure that your stones are properly sealed with a penetrating sealer before installation. This will prevent staining to a certain extent and also will reduce the build up of moisture. Presealed stone surfaces are easier to clean too.  Topical sealers are not recommended because they do not prevent moisture to accumulate under the surface and sometimes affect the look of the stone.

Here Are Some Precautions and Preventative Care for Your Costly Stone:

Even though granite countertops are not susceptive to normal stains and scratches, they are prone to staining by oil and acid. Ensure to wipe up any spills on the countertops as soon as possible, and then clean the surface.

Don’t place acidic or chemical products such as wine, juice, vinegar, milk, tea or coffee on marble and limestone surfaces as these can etch or stain the surface. Use coasters.  Staining or etching can also be caused by high alkaline products such as aftershave, soap, shampoo and perfumes.

Grit on shoe can scratch a stone surface, so avoid using shoes on natural stone surfaces. Also use doormats which will gather dust and grit from shoes and slippers.

Use felt or any such soft pads under chairs and other furniture to avoid scratching. While moving furniture items, it’s advised to lift them rather than dragging to prevent scratching.

While cleaning natural stone, ensure to use Microfibre Mop or a cotton cloth to avoid scratching. If you want to use scourers, depend only on professionally recommended scouring products such as the Scrub-a-dub; other scourers can scratch the stone surface and spoil the glossy finish.

Natural Stone Cleaning

The best preventative measure for stone floors is regular cleaning with neutral PH cleaners such as S-P Cleaner, Stone Deep Clean, Brilliance or Renue. Wax based sprays are not to be used as they leave a build up on the surface. Dirt and grit on the marble or granite surface can affect its polished finish. Use recommended cleaning products only and do regular cleaning to preserve your beautiful stone surfaces. 

Marble and granite in the bathrooms are affected by soap scum. This is to be prevented by regular cleaning using a squeegee for shower walls. Also rinse vanities and natural stone sinks with hot water whenever possible.

For any queries on natural stone maintenance, you can contact The Marble Man who is regarded as the No.1 stone care company in Australia with over 20 years of experience in the field.  Call now for a Free Quote on 1300 627 626.