Should I seal my stone floors?
In a word – yes. You have invested a lot of money in them, and to not protect them makes no sense at all. There are different ways to seal them, depending on your interest and budget.
We have used Regent Penetrating Sealer for over 20 years now. It is an excellent silicone based sealer, with virtually no odor, and is easy to apply. We like to say it is goof-proof, and I am the goof who can proof it! Clean your floors well, let them dry completely, and apply two applications of the sealer once a year and you are well protected against water and oil. This is very important for grout joints, as they are going to get dirty, and with a good sealer, it makes it easier to clean. As with all silicone, Teflon or flurosilcate sealers (all words that are 10 cent words for "plastic"), these work by being microscopic plastic that fills in the microscopic pores of the stone. Nothing sticks to plastic, that’s why they work.
Conversely, plastic sticks to nothing, so that every time you wash the floor, you wash away some of the protection. That’s why you need to re-apply yearly.
A positive alternative is Stain-Proof from Dry Treat. This unique sealer works by attaching itself to the molecules of the stone and grout, permanently. Since it is part of the stone, it will not wash away, no matter what chemicals you use, or how many time you wash it. Long term it is a better and more economical way to go. Just as easy to apply, and more forgiving, as it cannot seal in dirt you may have missed when cleaning.
How do I maintain my stone floors?
Get an untreated dust mop This can be obtained thru any decent janitorial supply store, or you can purchase it directly from The Ground Floor™. Use this as many times a day as you can. Dust is the big enemy of polished stone, whether it is marble, limestone, travertine, slate or even granite.
You don’t want to buy any dust mop treatment, as those typically have an oil base, and will leave streaks in your floor. So just dry dust mop your floor and shake it outside the house. Simple.
When you decide to wash the floor, DON’T use plain water. Unfortunately, due to acid rain, almost all tap water in the U.S. is slightly acidic. Acid eats (or "etches"), marble travertine, limestone and sandstone. So, every time you wash the floor, you actually make it dull! We recommend Floor Magic (formerly Stone Kleen – Floors) from The Ground Floor™. It is a Lemon Scented Neutral Cleaner with Optical Brighteners, and have been manufacturing it for over 20 years now. Easy to use, and very economical. Available in quarts or gallons. Use either a microfiber mop, or any other mop, and damp mop the floor. No rinsing is necessary.
Do I need to seal my granite counter tops?
Granite counters need to be sealed. There are some other stone professionals who dispute that, saying that granite, though a dense, hard sponge, doesn’t always need to be sealed. They are right. Some granites don’t need to be sealed. But what if yours is not that type? And someone spills some red wine. And it permanently stains it? Was it worth not protecting that expensive investment? I prefer to err on the side of protection.
What do I seal granite counter tops with?
For many years we preferred Regent Penetrating Sealer, as it works very well against oil and water. It is an excellent product. You need to re-seal every year, as every time you wash it, a little bit is removed, as described above.
Several years ago we came across a permanent sealer combination, made Down Under by Dry Treat. One application of Stain-Proof, followed up with a second application of Porcelain Sealer, and you don’t ever seal your stone again. This is because the sealer becomes part of the stone. This way you never have to worry if your stone is sealed or if the protection has worn away.
How do I maintain my granite counter tops?
Over the past 20 years, Counter Top Magic (formerly Stone Kleen for counters), has proven to be the hands-down favorite. Available in an aerosol, it can be used daily to clean and protect the granite.
To save yourself some money, buy Floor Magic, and dilute it 32 parts water to 1 part Floor Magic, put it in a trigger spray bottle, and keep it handy for spills and general clean-up. Use the Counter Top Magic at the end of the day to leave the granite looking shiny and clean.
How can I remove stains?
There are as many kinds of stain removal techniques as there are stains! So, the first things you need to determine is what made the stain in the first place. Then you can work on how to get it out.
If you don’t know what caused it, a simple home-made poultice can often remediate the problem. Clean the area as well as you can. Then make a paste the consistency of peanut butter, out of laundry detergent. Any brand will do. Simply add water in a bowl and stir around until it is a sloppy, wet goo. By the way, this is great fun for the kids to help out.
Then apply it liberally onto the stain, at least ¼ inch beyond the stain, and so thick that you can’t see the stone below. Leave it there for a couple of days, until it is completely dry. Not damp, but dry. Then sweep it away. This will usually do the trick. If it only lightens it a little, then do it again. Some stains need 10 or more poultice applications to work. If you want to get fancy about it, after making and applying the poultice, cover it with clear plastic wrap. It will take a couple of extra days for it to dry, but may work better.
Don’t worry if the stone turns dark. That is just moisture, and will dry out in time.
Make sure you now seal your stone.
I have little dull circles on my polished marble/travertine/limestone?
These are etch marks, and are caused by something acidic. If it is in the bath room by the toilet, it is probably caused by your toilet bowl cleaner. If it is in the kitchen, there are literally thousands of things that could have spilled onto the floor that are acidic. These range from the mundane, like milk, juice or soda, to the exotic, like wine or liquor.
To remove these, we recommend Stone Magic Polishing Crème. It comes with its own polishing pad, so you can do it yourself. Apply some on the offending area, add a little bit of water to stretch it out (hey, don’t waste money if you don’t have to), and rub in circles, in all directions. Re-apply if needed. If these have been there a long time, or are from some strong acid, it may be a job for a stone professional, with his range of tools, including diamond sanding. But it is always best to try to save yourself the expense.
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