Stone Care Made Easy

Natural stone in your home is an investment that will give you many years of service. Stone is a natural product and simple care and maintenance will keep it looking beautiful. Here are recommendations for routine care and cleaning.


Precautions

* Use coasters under glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.
* Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.

Cleaning Procedures and Recommendations



Floor Surfaces



Vacuum or dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about eight steps on a mat surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface.



Other Surfaces



Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available at hardware stores or from your stone dealer) or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.



Bath and Other Wet Areas



In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water). Frequent or over-use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone.



Vanity Top Surfaces



Vanity tops may need to have a penetrating sealer applied. Check with your installer for recommendations. A good quality marble wax or non-yellowing automobile paste wax can be

applied to minimize water spotting.



Food Preparation Areas



In food preparation areas, the stone may need to have a penetrating sealer applied. Check with your installer for recommendations. If a sealer is applied, be sure that it is non-toxic and safe for use on food preparation surfaces. If there are questions, check with the sealer manufacturer.



Outdoor Pool & Patio Areas



In outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas, flush with clear water and use a mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss.



Dos and Don'ts

* Do vacuum or dust mop floors frequently
* Do clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap
* Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing
* Do blot up spills immediately
* Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and countertop surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats
* Don't use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces
* Don't use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners
* Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers
* Don't mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas


About Garis F. Distelhorst

Garis F. Distelhorst, CAE, is Executive Vice President and CEO of the MIA (Marble Institute of America, Inc.), the international trade association for the natural stone industry (marble, granite, limestone, slate, etc.).

The mission of the Marble Institute of America is to promote the use of natural stone.

	Abrasive Abrasive: There are two types of abrasives, loose and bonded. Loose abrasives can be used to hone any de-lipped surface and should not be used on any uneven surface. Loose abrasives will not work well in moderate to heavy traffic areas. They work great on counter tops. Loose abrasives are sold in a powder form. Bonded abrasives can be used to remove lips from the surface. Choosing the correct bond is very important. They are sold in metal, copper, and resin bond. To remove lippage the metal will work best. But they are very aggressive. Copper will work on lippage but it will take about 25% more time to complete the same task. If the surface was already de-lipped the copper will remove deep scratches from the surface. Resin is the least aggressive of the bonded abrasives. Resin bonds won’t remove lips. However, they work well on light traffic areas.

	sealer Impregnation: This is commonly known as sealers. This is the first stage in preserving and maintaining your investment. This stage should occur ever six to eight months. There are three types of impregnation (solvent, water, silicone based), regardless to brand. This will stop most water base stains from occurring. It also will stop the stone from been damage beyond repair.

	grit GRIT SIZE: Applies to the size and number of particles per square inch which are used to determine the abrasiveness of sandpapers, grinding stones etc.

	grout GROUT The material used to fill in the joints between stone tile. Grout can be cement or plastic resins.

	limestone LIMESTONE A sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate.

	Marble MARBLE: CHARACTERISTICS This standard includes general information on the characteristics and common uses of marble and identifies typical problems associated with the material. INTRODUCTION Marble is an extremely hard, metamorphic stone composed of calcite (CaCO3). It is formed as a result of the recrystallization of limestone under the intense pressure and heat of geologic processes. The effect of this process is the creation of a stone with a very tight crystalline structure and small but definite porosity. Because of its structure, marble can take a very high polish and is a very popular decorative stone for architectural and sculptural uses. The limited porosity of marble, especially polished marble, makes it less vulnerable to the leaching effects of water. Calcium carbonate, however, of which marble is composed, is highly susceptible to attack by acidic agents. Marble is readily dissolved by acids, even very dilute acids, however the actual results of acidic exposure will vary with the nature of the acid. Chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and other chemical compounds react differently with marble and produce various by-products, which have a wide range of solubility and impact on the durability of marble. For this reason, it is always important to determine the exact type of pollutants causing marble deterioration. Marble itself can be of two types, one composed of calcite and the other of dolomite. Dolomitic marble is much more resistant to acid attack than calcite marble. The color of marble ranges from the brilliant white of calcite to black, including blue-gray, red, yellow and green, depending upon the mineral composition. TYPICAL USES Marble has many decorative and structural uses. It is used for outdoor sculpture as well as for sculpture bases; in architecture it is used in exterior walls and veneers, flooring, decorative features, stairways and walkways. The way in which the stone is used may be a factor in limiting or controlling the severity of exposure. The use or function of the marble may also affect the feasibility of applying certain treatments, but type of use is not the primary factor in the major types of deterioration and damage to which marble is susceptible.