How To Clean Dirty Limestone Floors

When it comes to selecting the best method for cleaning Limestone floors some initial points need to be assessed.

1) Is the Limestone floor a natural or polished finish?

2) Does the Limestone require a regular surface clean or a deep clean?

3) Has the Limestone sustained any staining?

4) Is the Limestone worn or pitted?

Once you have established answers to the above points, you can progress to deciding what course of action you will embark upon. Your choices will be based upon the condition and the Limestone floor cleaning option that is required.

If the limestone is a polished stone it will be an easier task to clean and maintain it from the start. For regular cleaning of polished stone surfaces you should always avoid using any type of harsh cleaning agent, use a neutral floor cleaner occasionally with warm to hot water. When cleaning the floor surface by mopping or with a cloth regular changing of the water is essential, also ensure that the mop or cloth is rinsed regularly to ensure that any soiling is removed from the floor and not just spread around. On polished stone floors you can use a dry cloth or flat mop after cleaning to buff the surface and remove any smears that may have been left by the cleaning solution.

If the Limestone has a natural finish and only requires a regular clean the same method as above should be applied. The surface will be more prone to accumulating soiling and a slightly stronger solution of cleaning agent may be required. It is also worth investing in a flat mop system that has interchangeable floor pads. By using a slightly more abrasive level of floor pad, the additional agitation will help to free the surface soiling that has adhered to the stone.

If you establish that the Limestone floor requires a deep clean due to either the polished surface becoming dull and soiled or the in the case of a natural stone, the soiling has penetrated into the surface of the stone. It is likely that aside, from getting on your knees with a stiff brush or scouring cloth a mechanical clean will be required. Once the surface starts to accumulate soiling of that nature its best to contact a Professional Stone Floor Cleaning Company to deep clean and re-seal the floor.

Limestone Floor Cleaning

If you find that the Limestone floor has began to stain and spillages can no longer be removed by surface cleaning it is of upmost importance to ensure the stone is treated with a stone sealer urgently. The best type of sealer to use upon stone is an impregnating seal; this will absorb into the stone and form a barrier at the surface so stains cannot penetrate deep into the stone. It is always better to use this type of seal as opposed to a topical seal that sits on the stone surface. Topical sealers may alter the appearance of the Limestone and cause the stone to appear unnatural.

If the Limestone floor has been neglected for some period of time or has suffered very heavy wear the surface of the stone will erode. Once this has reached a certain point it will then require Stone Deep Cleaning. Surprisingly as with the Limestone in our photo, full grinding down of the stone is not always required. Our method can achieve the results above without having to grind off the entire surface.

For an assessment of the stone's condition and an estimate, simply upload your floor measurements along with a couple of photos into our Get A Quote form, and we will return your quote swiftly.

Steven Rosen is a partner of Simply Floor Cleaning. The Specialist Stone Floor Cleaning Company. For information on floor cleaning and maintenance visit us at http://www.simplyfloorcleaning.co.uk/slate-stone-cleaning