​What Is The Best Stone Cleaner And How To Use It Correctly?

What is the best stone cleaner and how to use it correctly?

Stone finishes on floors, walls, kitchen, bathrooms and other areas of the house or any building are one of the most beautiful ways to create elegant looks for any edifice. However, stone finishes should be properly maintained to ensure that they preserve their sheen and appearance by regularly cleaning the stone surfaces.

The best stone cleaner to use for cleaning stone finishes should have a neutral pH balance or is non-acidic. It should be non-abrasive; capable of removing stains; disinfecting areas; should not damage sealant treatments; and versatile.

An ideal stone cleaner should have a pH level between 7 to 10. This is because there are certain types of stones specifically calcareous stones such as limestone, travertine, onyx, marble and serpentine that are especially sensitive to alkaline or acid. Too much of these elements can damage the calcium carbonate compound which is susceptible to these chemicals. In general, stone cleaners can be used for stone finishes that are made of siliceous stones such as sandstone granite, quartzite, slate, and soapstone, among others.

The stone cleaner should be non-abrasive. This means that it should not contain grainy or rough particles or powders. This is because some stone materials like marble can scratch easily. Still, others are delicately brittle and will chip or flake easily. Abrasive cleaners can damage the surface and the dull finish.

The stone cleaner should be capable of removing stains to bring the original natural color and design of the stone finish. Certain stain can be difficult to remove but the best stone cleaner can do the job by loosening the stains and wiping them away without much effort.

The stone cleaner should also act as a disinfectant. This means that it not cleans and polishes surfaces but it is also capable of removing and killing germs, bacteria and other microbes that may contaminate the surface and hazardous to our health.

The stone cleaner should not damage the sealant of the stone surface. Stone finishes are applied with sealing agents to protect the natural stones. Except for granites and slates, other natural stones are porous. Water and other liquids can permeate through it which can stain and damage it in the long run. A good stone cleaner therefore should be formulated to prevent damaging the sealing treatment of natural stones.

Finally, the stone cleaner should be versatile. It can be used for different types of natural stone surfaces as well as surfaces composed of artificial stones or man-made materials.

To learn more about the best stone cleaners that you can use for your home or office, this article will give you a more in-depth discussion.

What is a stone cleaner?

A stone cleaner is any non-toxic chemical solution that is used for cleaning, removing stains and polishing stone surfaces. This is primarily used for cleaning kitchen counters, bathrooms, floors, hallways, and fireplace mantel among others, whose surfaces are made of stones. Thus, stone cleaners can alternatively refer to granite cleaners, marble cleaners and stone worktop polishers, among others.

By non-toxic, this means that stone cleaners are generally food-safe or do not cause allergies. This cleansing agent is often used in kitchen countertops where we prepare food and bathroom / showers, where people are bare naked and are our skin is directly on contact with the walls and floors.

Stone surfaces can be made of natural stone or artificial stone. Natural stones or genuine stones are stones that are directly quarried from the earth such as granite, marble, and slate. Artificial stones are stones that are synthetically made by men such as cast stone, fieldstone, tiles, and flagstone. A stone cleaner would specifically refer to cleansing solutions that are designed for cleaning natural stone surfaces. This is because stone cleaners have special chemical make-up to prevent damaging natural stones. They are usually non-acidic and have a neutral pH balance. In the case of surfaces that are made of artificial stones, any ordinary cleaning solution or detergent will do.

Can you use a stone cleaner on quartz?

Yes, you can use a stone cleaner for stone surfaces made of quartz. In fact, you can use any common household cleaning product to clean quartz surfaces like quartz countertops or quartz floors. You can even use a glass cleaner to clean quartz.

Quartz is an artificial or man-made material. It is synthetically manufactured by mixing quartz crystals and binding resins. Unlike quartzite and other natural stones, quartz surfaces are specifically engineered to handle all types of cleaning products or solutions. Moreover, quartz which is made of quartzite crystals are a kind of siliceous stone that is resistant to acids. Thus, all types of stone cleaners are generally safe to be used on quartz surfaces.

Note, however, that there are special stone cleaners that are specifically formulated for quartz surfaces. Some of these cleaning products are free from phosphates and ammonia, which does not really affect quartz surfaces. Cleaning products that are free from phosphates and ammonia are nevertheless worthwhile because this makes the cleaning products more safe to people and more environmentally friendly.

What cleaner can I use on the natural stone shower?

Showers and bathrooms are two areas in houses and buildings where stone finishes are commonly used because of their natural elegance and durability. These natural stones are used not only for their natural looks but because they are resistant to common chemical compounds in modern hygiene products (e.g. soap, shampoo, and lotions), which people normally use.

There are plenty of natural stone cleaners that you can use to clean natural stone showers such as Stonetech, Stone-EEZ, Parker & Bailey Stone cleaner, and HG Stone cleaner.

The type of stone cleaner that you will use in cleaning a natural stone shower would ultimately depend on the natural stone used in the shower. For natural stone surfaces that use siliceous stone such as granite, sandstone, quartzite, slate, soapstone, brownstone and bluestone, among others, you can use most stone cleaners with a pH balance up to 10. This is because these stones are made of silicates like quartz, feldspar, and mica, which are resistant to acids.

However, for natural stone surfaces that use calcareous stones such as marble, travertine, onyx, and limestone, you need to use stone cleaners which are milder and non-acidic. This is because these stones are made of calcium carbonate compounds that are sensitive to acid and alkaline.

Marble, travertine, and onyx used in showers are provided with sealant treatments to make it resistant to chemicals in our hygiene products. The stone cleaner to be used for cleaning such stone surfaces should also be mild to avoid damaging the sealing treatments.

How to use a stone cleaner?

Worktop. Dust away small particles on the worktop. Spray stone cleaner on the surface and wipe it with a damp cloth, blue roll or a microfiber cloth.

Granite. Wipe the granite surface first to remove any moisture and dust. Put stone cleaner on cloth or sponge and wipe on the granite surface.

Marble. Remove any dust particle and moist of the marble surface. Any abrasive particle can etch on the marble. Put stone cleaner on mop or cloth and wipe the surface.

Miracle tile. Pour on a stone cleaner on the surface. Put extra stone cleaner on the grout between the tiles, where dirt has accumulated. Leave it for a while to let the solution penetrate dirt. Once the dirt is loosened, start wiping the tile with a dry cloth.

Kitchen. Remove small particles (e.g. food debris) on the kitchen floor and other areas. Blot any excess oil that you see using a paper towel. For kitchen surfaces and countertops, you can spray stone cleaner on countertop and kitchen walls then wipe the surfaces with a dry cloth.

Natural stone bathroom/shower. For the bathroom walls, damp your cleaning cloth with stone cleaner and wipe the walls. For floors, pour the stone cleaner on the floor and use a mop to wipe the floors. You can use a brush with soft bristles to reach the grout in-between spaces to remove moss, mold and soap scum. Brush these areas in circular motions to prevent scratching the stones.

Stone tile floors. Clean the floors from any dust particles which can be abrasive using a vacuum cleaner or a broom. Thoroughly mop up the floor with a cloth damped with a stone cleaner.

Natural Stone Patio. Hose off the patio to remove particles of sand, dust, and dirt caught in between stones. Mop up the floor with a cloth damped with a stone cleaner.

Other tips.

• Always dry the surfaces cleaned with a dry cloth to avoid slips and spotting especially on floors.
• Use a microfiber cloth or sponge to apply the stone cleaner and wipe surfaces. Using paper towels can leave fiber residues on the surface.
• Do not use vinegar, lemon and other cleaning products with acids (e.g. tile and bathroom cleaners) on natural stone surfaces made of calcium carbonate compounds such as marble, limestone, travertine, and onyx.
• Don’t use cleaners that contain acids such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners, or tub & tile cleaners.
• Don’t use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.

What is the best stone cleaner?

The best stone cleaner currently available is the Stone Worktop Cleaner. This stone cleaner is specially designed for all types of natural stone including calcareous stones (marble, travertine, onyx) and siliceous stone (granite, quartzite, and slate). It is also versatile and can also be used for artificial stones surfaces (quartz, fieldstone, and tiles). It effectively removes stains and cleans efficiently to bring back the natural luster of your stones. It also serves as a disinfectant to kills germs and other microbes that stuck in your surfaces. It is non-abrasive to prevent etches and scratches. It is food safe and can be used for kitchens and bathrooms. Finally, it also does not damage sealant treatments of your stone surfaces thereby maintaining its polish, honed or flamed finish.

You can buy EB1701S Stone Worktop Cleaner from any Shower Glass Company Distributor/ Installation outlet across the UK or online here.

Conclusion

Natural stones make great surfaces for flooring, kitchen countertops and showers / bathrooms for aesthetic and practical reasons. It is durable, eco-friendly and gives your house a naturally unique beauty and elegance. However, using a proper stone cleaner is important for its regular maintenance to preserve its natural beauty and to extend its useful life. The Stone Worktop Cleaner is the best, safest, and most versatile stone cleaner available in the market that you can use for cleaning all types of stone surfaces.