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Expert Advice For Professional Janitorial Floor Cleaning Or Residential Floor Cleaning
The Dobmeier Professional Floor Cleaning Guide Provides Answers To Your Most Important Questions About Cleaning Floors

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The Dobmeier Professional Floor Cleaning Guide

Dobmeier Professional Floor Cleaning Guide - FREE e-Book

SECTION 3. - CLEANING STONE FLOORS

Stone Floors can be made from a variety of naturally occurring or man-made stone materials:
3.1. Natural Stone Floors including Marble, Granite, Travertine, Flagstone, Slate...
3.2. Man-Made Stone Floors including Ceramic Tiles, Clay Bricks & Tiles, Quarry Tiles, Terrazzo, Concrete...

The best way to clean Your Sealed & Finished Stone Floor depends upon the specific type of stone and also the the size of the floor and how much use it gets:
3.3. Cleaning Residential Stone Floors
3.4. Janitorial Cleaning Recommendations For Stone Floors
3.5. Green Cleaning Supplies For Stone Floors
Download the Recommended Diversey Floor Cleaning Supplies Summary Table (PDF)

3.3. CLEANING RESIDENTIAL STONE FLOORS

Most Residential Stone Floors are typically restricted to small-areas and are relatively lightly-used. If your residential stone (or concrete) floor covers a large area, or recieves significant traffic, we recommend that you consult our list of recommended stone floor cleaning and maintenance chemicals.

The Importance Of Your Stone Floor Finish

Almost all stone flooring products are intrinsically porous, and Stone Floor Cleaning Requirements vary with the degree of porosity and the stone's surface state and texture. Sealed floors are very much easier to maintain than unsealed floors, and some colors and patterns show dirt and marks more easily than others.

For Easy Care & Maintenance Stone Floors Must Be Properly Sealed & Finished!

SEALING Porous Stone Floors
Apply undiluted Diversey Plaza Plus Stone Floor Sealer onto new or stripped stone floors using a mop. When used as a sealant, Plaza Plus can be top coated with other Diversey floor finish products. When used alone as a combination sealant/finish this product can be maintained with conventional or UHS floor machines.

FINISHING Sealed Stone Floors
Solvent-based waxes are durable but may discolor some porous man-made stone flooring products - so test in an inconspicuous place before applying to the entire floor. Water-based waxes tend to build up and require stripping, but are less likely to discolor your floor. There are many products specifically formulated for use on porous stone and tile floors.
Download the Diversey Hard Floor Care Recommendations Table (PDF).

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLEANING RESIDENTIAL STONE FLOORS

Sealed & Finished Stone Floors are relatively easy to maintain. Specific Cleaning Recommendations for various types of sealed residential stone floors are provided below. If you cannot identify your stone floor type, follow these General Recommendations For Cleaning Residential Stone Floors:

Regular Vacuum Cleaning followed by Damp Mopping with a solution of 1cup of white vinegar in ½ pail of water, or General Purpose Cleaner solution, will clean many lightly-used sealed & finished stone floors.

Thoroughly Wet The Sponge Mop And Then Squeeze It Until It Ceases To Drip.
Slowly And Evenly, Move The Mop Across Your Floor
Making Sure To Overlap It's Path As You Move Along.

Tougher marks can often be removed by gentle brushing with General Purpose Cleaner solution, or applying pressure with the mop.

Rinse with clean water and dry with a soft cloth to avoid streaking. Rinsing with a cup of fabric softener in ½ pail of water may help maintain a shine.

When necessary re-apply wax or finish. Solvent-based wax polishes are durable, and (unlike water-based polishes) do not require stripping because the solvents in the wax dissolve the existing wax layer preventing build-up.

RESIDENTIAL CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAN-MADE STONE FLOORS

Specific Recommendations for Cleaning different types of Man-Made Stone Floors in lightly-used / residential settings are presented below:

Cleaning Glazed Ceramic Floor Tiles
Cleaning Unglazed Ceramic Tile Floors
Cleaning Clay Brick & Brick Tile Floors
Cleaning Quarry Tile Floors
Cleaning Terrazzo Floor Tiles
Cleaning Sealed Poured Concrete Floors
Cleaning Unsealed Poured Concrete Floors

Cleaning Glazed Ceramic Tile Floors

Avoid the use of strong detergents, bleaches, abrasives, or acids. Regular vacuum cleaning followed by damp mopping with a solution of 1cup white vinegar in ½ pail of water will maintain your glazed ceramic tile floors under most conditions.

Consider sealing your grout lines in order to prevent them absorbing stains. They can usually be cleaned with the same vinegar solution and a light brush. Difficult staining in the grout lines may require application of a paste made from baking soda and water or a commercial grout cleaner.

After cleaning rinse the floor with clean water to avoid streaking, and dry with a soft cloth.

Cleaning Unglazed Ceramic Tile Floors, Clay Brick Floors, & Quarry Tile Floors

The entire floor surface should be sealed and then finished to protect the tiles and the grout surfaces from wear and from absorbing dirt and stains.

To clean your waxed tile floor, avoid the use of strong detergents, abrasives, or acids. Regular vacuum cleaning followed by damp mopping with a solution of 1cup white vinegar in ½ pail of water will maintain your unglazed floor tiles under most conditions.

Tougher marks can often be removed by using a mild detergent in water, followed by Rinsing with a cup of fabric softener in ½ pail of water to maintain a shine.

When necessary re-apply wax. Solvent-based wax polishes are most effective, and (unlike water-based polishes) do not require stripping because the solvents in the wax dissolve the existing wax layer preventing build-up.

Cleaning Terrazzo Floors

To clean your Terrazzo floor, avoid the use of any solvent-based products and use only Neutral (pH 7) cleaners that are specifically designed for use on Terrazzo - and carefully follow the manufacturer's directions.

Regular vacuum cleaning followed by damp mopping with warm water will maintain your Terrazzo floor under most conditions. Avoid ponding with water. Tougher marks can often be removed by using a Terrazzo Cleaner in water, followed by Rinsing with a cup of fabric softener in ½ pail of water to maintain a shine.

Occasional removal of wax build-up will require using a neutral wax stripper with a floor scrubbing machine and brush attachment. Rinse with water and optionally refinish

Cleaning Sealed Concrete Floors

Avoid the use of strong detergents, abrasives, or acids. First sweep or vacuum clean your sealed concrete floor to remove any loose dirt or dust. Mop the surface with water applying household detergent over any tough dirt. Rinse with clean water, squeegee, mop, or brush out any puddles, and leave to air dry.

Cleaning Unsealed Concrete Floors

Avoid the use of abrasives or acids. First sweep or vacuum clean your unsealed concrete floor to remove any loose dirt or dust. Put down an oil absorbent grit or kitty-litter to take up oil or grease, then sweep up and remove.

Next use a sponge mop to spread Heavy-Duty Floor Cleaner across the floor, let the cleaner sit for a while on tough marks like leaf-stains or any remaining oil/grease stains. Occasionally work the surface with a mop or brush, and then re-apply more cleaning fluid until the stain has lifted. Rinse with clean water, squeegee, mop, or brush out any puddles, and leave to air dry.

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