6 Ways to Select the best Product for Cleaning Your Natural Stone Paving

1. 6+ Ways to Select the best Product for Cleaning Your Natural Stone Paving

2. Introduction • Do you want to maintain lustrous look-n-feel of natural stone pavers? Regular cleaning and maintenance is the first step in that direction. Appropriate methods of cleaning and right-cleaning products as well as tools/equipment are extending the life of stones besides enhancement of appearance & utility.

3. Identify the Enemies of Your Stone Pavers • It is the most crucial that without identifying enemies, how can you prepare proper fighting strategies. Let’s recognize the most influencing enemies of aesthetics, beauty, and life span of your natural stone paving in the interior as well as exterior spaces. • Dirt/Dust • Foliage • Rain/Water Clogs • Frost/Snow

4. 1. Sweep off the Stone Surface Dirt & Debris: • Fluffy mop or brush with soft bristle is good equipment to remove settled sand and dirt particles on your stone surfaces. The smoothness of brush or mop is essential to prevent scratching on stone surfaces. • However, hard dusters are essential in the cleaning of open paving areas like patios, paths, and decks, particularly when heavy dusting occurred due to storm or air blows. Try to remove storm dust & debris, frost, and rainwater as soon as possible to prevent stones pavers from further damages due to prolonged deposition, melting, and bio-degrading.

5. 2. Plain Water Cleaning • Use cold or lukewarm water to clear normal to oily stains on the stone surfaces as well as dirt & debris. Water is the best natural cleanser for stones, and the right selection of mop or rag let you perform cleaning fast and precisely. Usually, the circular motion method proves excellent for floor cleaning.

6. 3. Vacuum Machine Cleaning • Today, automatic machines & hand vacuum cleaners are accomplishing cleaning everywhere, including interior and exterior paving. Machine sweepers are highly comfortable large floor space cleaning. Learn how to use those machines and vacuum cleaners safely and secure ways. It will prevent your stone surfaces from damages like scratch, cracks, and breaks.

7. 4. Mix Normal Detergents in Cleaning Water • Normal detergents like a dishwasher or clothe washers have mild pH differences to neutral pH of water. Therefore, those are safe to apply in the normal cleaning of stone pavers. Sweep down the solution in a circular motion with a mop and clean grouts and uneven surfaces of stones thoroughly.

8. 5. Rinse off the Detergents Solution with Plain or Distilled Water • Take care to apply plain water sweep after application of detergent mixture or solution in water. If you feel some traces of detergent even after an application of normal water cleaning, go for more plain or distilled water applications until you are completely satisfied with it. Otherwise, you will end up with water or soap marks on the stone surfaces.

9. 6. Remove Stains Using Poultice • The stains on the floor surfaces normally fall into the following types: • Organic stains cause from organic substances like food, drink, and rot of organic substances.  • Inorganic stains take place due to oxidation of various metals present in parts and components used in construction or machines stayed there. • Biological Flora-based stains due to growth and decompose of fungus, algae, lichens, mosses, and mildew.  • Chemical stains occur due to the various liquid chemical we use daily, including ink & paints.

10. 7. Cleaning for Siliceous Stones: Cleaning of Quartzite Quartzite is the toughest stone type in siliceous types of stones due to its orientation and its chemical architecture. Therefore, it is highly resistant to scratches, cracks, breaks, wears, and tears by weather and usages.

11. Cleaning of Granite Granite is next tough and easy to maintain stone type in a siliceous group. It is less porous, so occurrences of deep stains hardly happen. With appropriate polishing/finishing process and sealing/coating treatments, it is the best candidate for countertops everywhere, interior and exterior paving, and wall cladding.

12. Cleaning of Slate Slatestone is sturdy, heat & water-resistant paving material. Therefore, it is a choice for exterior applications like patios and paths. It is easy to clean and maintain its look for years. Slate specific cleaners are available in the market.

13. Cleaning of Sandstone Sandstone pavers are mostly beautiful thanks to tons of patterns and color choices. Therefore, sandstone is an ideal candidate for outdoor applications. It requires somewhat low care compared to other stone types and retains its aesthetics for decades or centuries.

14. 8. Cleaning for Calcareous Stones: Cleaning of Limestone Limestone looks alike to marble but ideal for exterior applications. Therefore, patios, decks, pools, and porches are the best places for Limestone implementation. 

15. Cleaning of Marble It is delicate and sensitive stone type and highly used in the industry. Use sweepers and machine pads with soft material to avoid scratching during washing and cleaning. Marbles are highly sensitive to harsh chemicals, including acids and alkalis. So, try to avoid the use of any cleaning/washing solution on marble floors. 

16. Cleaning of Travertine Although It is deemed to be very resilient stone types in calcareous types of rocks, travertine demands some special care during the cleaning. Use of neutral pH solutions is imperative. Soft brushes or mops are essential even you go for machine cleaning.

17. Bottom-line: • To remove oil-based stains, use washing detergents, mineral spirits, or acetone solutions. • Siliceous stones allow you to apply diluted hydrogen peroxide on organic types of stains. • Essential oil drops and vinegar are good to remove scuff marks. • Remove stains present in grouts or gaps between stones using brushes before applying strong solutions. If you stuck with any unique issue for your stone paving cleaning, World of Stones USA is the place where you will find right advice and guidance to extend the life span of your natural stone paving.

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