“As a general rule, never use anything you wouldn’t normally use on your hands,” says Andrei Gourji, co-owner of Marble City Company, Inc. in San Carlos. “Don’t use powdered cleansers or abrasive pads to clean stone. Even ‘soft scrub’ cleaners contain pumice, which might damage your stone countertops or floors. Never use any acidic products, including substances like ammonia or common liquid cleaners such as Windex. You should always use sealers and cleaning products designed specifically for natural stone.”
Here are some more tips for cleaning various household stone surfaces:
Floor surfaces
Use a non-treated, dry dust mop to clean interior floors. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help minimize sand, dirt and grit, which do the most abrasive damage to natural stone surfaces. Be sure the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Don’t use vacuum cleaners that are worn—the metal or plastic attachments may scratch the surface.
Bathrooms and other wet areas
In the bath/shower or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use.
Counter/vanity top surfaces
Clean your countertops daily with a soft cloth or paper towel and a residue-free cleaner designated safe for natural stone.
• If streaking occurs, buff the countertop with a clean terry cloth or paper towel.
• For additional luster, apply a high-quality stone polish to the surface of your countertops.
• If you need to apply a penetrating sealer, make sure it’s nontoxic and safe for use on food preparation surfaces.
Outdoor pool and patio areas
Flush outdoor pool, patio or hot tub areas with clean water and use a mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss.
Stain treatment and other issues
If possible, immediately blot spills with a clean paper towel. If something has soaked into the stone and stained it, you may need to apply a poultice (a porous solid filled with solvent).
