How to Care for Natural-Stone Tile Flooring

Caring for Tile Flooring Made of Natural Stone

Natural-stone tile flooring can be an ideal solution for any room in your home, including your entry, kitchen, bathroom, and main living areas. It's beautiful, durable, and long-lasting, but it's still important to take care of your tile flooring to keep it looking its best for decades to come. Whether you choose travertine, slate, granite, marble, or limestone, here's how to care for your natural-stone flooring and mistakes you should avoid.

Take Care to Prevent Scratches

Natural stone isn’t immune to damage. To prevent scratches on the surface of your stone tile, use doormats at exterior doors to catch debris that could be ground into the stone. The floors should also be swept daily to prevent grit from wearing away the tile floor. When vacuuming, don’t use a beater or bristle bar, and choose a vacuum with rubber wheels that won't scratch the floor when the vacuum slides sideways.

Don't Use Polish

Stone countertops and backsplashes can benefit from polishing with a granite polish after cleaning and sealing to make the stone more lustrous, but it's never a good idea to polish stone flooring because it can make the floors dangerously slippery. If you notice your stone floors are looking dull and flat, it's probably caused by a buildup of soil or soap scum. Sweep first, then clean the floor carefully with a stone-safe cleaner to remove this film and restore the stone's natural shine.

Clean the Floor Weekly

Cleaning natural-stone tile flooring is easy, but you should avoid using DIY cleaners and common household floor cleaners, especially with acid-sensitive stone like marble, limestone, and travertine. Instead, use Granite Gold Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner®, which is specially formulated for natural-stone tile flooring without using citric acid, ammonia, vinegar, abrasives, or harsh chemicals. Damp mopping about once a week can keep your stone tile looking bright. Don't overlook the grout, though. Use a soft nylon brush to agitate dirt out of the grout lines.

Seal the Stone Regularly

Most types of natural stone can benefit from regular sealing, which prevents stains and keeps the stone looking vibrant. There's no harm in sealing your floors frequently, and it isn't difficult to do. After thoroughly sweeping, cleaning, and drying the floor, apply Granite Gold Sealer® directly onto the surface. Work in three-foot sections and buff the sealer into the stone with a clean cloth until dry before moving on to the next section. Don't let the sealer dry on the surface, as it can lead to hazing.

Clean Up Spills Right Away

Don't rely on a good seal to protect your floors against stains and damage. Wipe up spills quickly to prevent the liquid from seeping into the stone. If your floors develop an oil stain, you can mix baking soda and acetone into a paste and leave it on the stain overnight to lift the oil residue. Then you need to remove and rinse with water and reseal the stone immediately. Pet accidents are the biggest concern with natural stone because urine is highly acidic and can cause etching. This risk is greatest with acid-sensitive stones like marble.

If you have additional questions about caring for natural-stone flooring, reach out to Granite Gold®. All of our stone care products are safe to use on marble, granite, slate, and all other types of natural stone. To speak with one of our knowledgeable representatives, give us a call today at 1-800-475-STONE (7866).