Tips for Taking Care of Your Stones

Congratulations on installing the beauty of natural stone in your home! It is a timeless addition and one that will be cherished for years to come. By default, the stone will look beautiful by itself; after all, Mother Nature has raised it for thousands of years. However, now that it is outside of its home, you have to maintain and care for it to make sure its bright and luxurious look is kept. Here are a couple of tips to follow so your stone looks as beautiful as it was when it has in the hands of the earth.

Vacuum vs Mop

Depending on the texture of your stone, it is sometimes better to vacuum your floor than mop it. However, you must be very picky when using your vacuum. You want a vacuum with no beater bar, with wheels that are smooth and will not scratch the floor. Some stones are very sensitive to tough edges and if you are not careful, you can find some surprise designs in your tiles. A mop is a great idea for basic cleaning and should be done with a clean, non-treated dry dust mop or broom. Truthfully, damp mopping your floor will keep it gorgeous in its lifetime. Again, be careful if the mop or broom is rough. You do not want any designs you did not pay for. What many stone users do is mop the floor first to take the first layer of dirt off and follow it with a vacuum to lift the filth inside deep textures. Sand, dirt and grit cause the most damage to stone, so it is important to clean as often and necessary as you can. If you are thinking about cleaning the grout in your stone, DO NOT use a mixture of ammonia and bleach. That is possibly the worst thing you can do not only for your stone, but also for your health.

Mats

Placing a mat by room doors, especially in the front of the house, is a simple tactic to keep your stone charming. Just make sure that the bottom of the mats does not have any hard material so they do not scratch the floor.

Spills, Stains and Accidents, OH MY!

All of the three above are inevitable, but how you take care of them will determine if it is permanent or not. You must clean up those spills immediately, but only using the right goods. Avoid cleaning items that contain lemon juice, vinegar because overtime, especially if there is residue left, they will disintegrate your beautiful stone. You also should steer clear of products that contain ammonia because they will take away the luster of your stone.

Incorporating natural stone into your home is one of the greatest decisions you can make to bring personality and ambiance in a room. With the proper amount of care and maintenance, you will be able to keep the luster and gleaming beauty that its creator worked so hard to put together for decades.