Natural stone is a great investment if you take the time to properly preserve it and make your home more aesthetically pleasing. Some natural stones, such as marble, onyx, travertine, and slate, are porous which attracts dirt and grime.
Natural stones are very strong and long-lasting. When it comes to stain removal, there are some strategies that you need to take into consideration. You just need to take a little extra care to preserve its beauty for a longer time. However, there are proper tips that can help you remove such stains.
10 Tips To Clean And Remove Stains From Natural Stone?
Natural stones take years to form, and acidic solutions are harmful to them. They can easily destroy its natural beauty. Also, do not use rumored home remedies because they can seriously destroy their aesthetics. Determine the type of stain because it will be easier for you to decide on the proper stain removal for that particular stone.
Avoid acidic and aggressive cleaning products because they can damage your natural stones. If you accidentally end up spilling something, then immediately blot that stain. Do not wipe or rub it because it can spread and you will mess up. Every specific stone has its specific cleaner, so don’t rush to use random chemical cleaners.
⇒ Oil-Based Stain
If the stain is oil-based, like cooking oil or grease, then you need to clean that stain with mild, soft cleansers like acetone. Don’t be hard on that stain, gently clean it. Mix poultice, baking soda, and water to remove oil stains effectively.
⇒ Biological Stains
The causes of biological stains are mildew, fungi, and other biological growth. Discussing the stain removal methods:
Clean with hydrogen peroxide, bleach, or ammonia that has been diluted (1/2 cup in a gallon of water). Please note that YOU SHOULD NOT MIX AMMONIA AND BLEACH. This mixture forms a poisonous and lethal gas!
⇒ Metal Stains
Metallic stains like iron rust are orangish-brown, and bronze stains are greenish-muddy brown. The poultice is used to remove these types of metallic stains from natural stone. To remove iron stains mix poultice and diatomaceous earth with rust remover. For copper stain removal, mix poultice, powdered poultice, and ammonia to remove copper stains from natural stones.
⇒ Organic Stains
These types of stains include urine, food, tea, and others. Some of these stains are from outdoors, and some are from indoors. With sunlight and rain removal of outdoor stains is easy, and for indoor stains, use hydrogen peroxide with a 12% concentration and a little ammonia, mix that solution, and apply.
⇒ Ink Stains
If it is an ink stain on dark-colored stones, then you need to remove it with acetone for dark-colored stones only and hydrogen peroxide for light-colored stones only.
⇒ Paint Stains
If it is a paint stain, you can remove it by using lacquer thinner or gently scraping it off with a razor blade. If the area covered by the paint is larger, first wear gloves and eye protection glasses, and then use only a “heavy liquid” paint stripper that is commercial. The solution contains caustic soda and lye in it. Read some guidelines from the manufacturers while you are using these products, and then when you complete the cleaning process, wash off the floor thoroughly with water.
⇒ Water Spots
The white, hazy stains on your natural stones can be from hard water. Use dry 0000 steel wool to buff it off.
Cause of the water spots can be the salts in the water. Water carrying mineral salts gets evaporated, and only the white powder is left behind. Don’t try to remove it with water, it may seem like the powder is removed, but it only disappears for a short time before becoming visible again. Instead, just vacuum off the powder.
⇒ Smoke and Fire Damage
Smoke and fire damage can cause severe damage that cannot be handled easily. For that, you need to buy commercial products from the market. They are less time-consuming and more efficient than any other smoke removal methods.
⇒ Removing Mold
To remove mold from the natural stone, you will require a fungicidal detergent, which will remove it effectively and safeguard it from future damage.
⇒ Some Handy Tips To Remove Stains From Natural Stones:
- Remember that while cleaning a natural stone, you need to use a soft brush with natural bristles, which can prevent scratches on the floor. You can use a soft and fluffy mop or a clean cotton rag to collect the scattered pieces of waste on natural stone.
- To remove stains, you can use warm water and dishwashing detergent, which doesn’t contain any type of acid.
- You may feel abrasive under your feet at times due to small dust particles that are difficult to see. To keep them clean, always use dry dust mops and clean regularly or every other day.
- If you spill something on your natural stone tile, clean it immediately using a paper towel or clean and dry cloth.
Summing Up
Natural stones add value to the aesthetics of our home. Preserving its value and increasing its longevity is something we must do. By following these 10 tips on how to clean and remove stains from natural stones, you can save your stones from different kinds of damage and stains. Or you can also call for Natural stone cleaning services.
