10 Effective Tips to Clean Limestone at Home
Limestone is basically a sedimentary rock, which is widely used for flooring, wall tiles, counters, shower surfaces, and outdoor paving. Limestone is durable and has a useful life. However, it can get easily scratched, damaged (by heat) and etched (by acidic substances) because it is quite soft. With proper care and cleaning, the stone can be prevented from wear and damage. Here are certain important tips to clean limestone, have a look:
Avoid using strong cleaning products as they don’t have a neutral pH and could actually do more harm than good. These products can even break down the surface of limestone.
To clean limestone floors at home, you can use a vacuum or a dry mop, mild dish soap and some soft towels. When using vacuum cleaner, be very careful that you are not scratching the surface.
Take a bucket of warm water with a couple tablespoons of soap mixed in and gently mop the stone floors with the mixture.
To remove stains, you can make a paste at home by mixing 3/4 cup of flour and adding little amounts of hydrogen peroxide. Apply this paste to the stain and allow it to dry. Once dried, cautiously take away the dried paste using a soft edged scrapper.
After cleaning, make sure to mop over the limestone surface with the fresh water to remove any frothy, lathery sections.
If sealing is required, make certain to use a high quality limestone sealant, which is easily available at any local home improvement or tile store. Also, be sure to read the directions on proper application of limestone sealer.
Avoid using generic tile products, bathroom cleaners, glass cleaners, or abrasives to remove stains from limestone. Always go for a good quality limestone cleaner to clean your floors.
You can use rugs to prevent dirt, dust, and debris from being tracked on your floors. It is also advisable to wipe up spills immediately to prevent staining.
Sweep or dry mop your floors frequently to prevent the accumulation of damaging particulates.
Always remember that a regular cleaning can help maintain your limestone floors for the long term.
Keep all the above mentioned tips in mind when cleaning limestone floors. When cleaning your floors, avoid over cleaning as you may end up damaging your floors.