CARE AND CLEANING of NATURAL STONE www.msistone.
Consult your stone supplier for cleaning product recommendations best suited for your natural stone. Get to Know Your Stone The first step in proper stone care and maintenance is to understand your stone’s geological classification and composition. This information will help you to identify what cleaning products to use and how best to care for your natural stone.
Stone Colors and Appearance Natural stone is quarried throughout the world in a variety of colors with varying mineral compositions. If you have stone in your home and do not know the type, you may want to consult with a stone professional. In most cases, the type of natural stone can be identified by visible particles at the surface of the stone. The following tips may be helpful: Marble Onyx Marbles are traditionally prized for their aesthetic appeal.
Cleaning: • Clean stone surfaces with a neutral cleaner, stone soap, or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. • Similar to any item cleaned in your home, an excessive concentration of cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Follow manufa turer recommendations. • Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. • Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth.
What Type of Stain is It? The following sections describe the types of stains you may have to deal with and the appropriate household chemicals to use and how to prepare and apply a poultice to remove the stain. Oil-based (grease, plumbers’ putty, tar, cooking oil, milk, cosmetics) An oil-based stain will darken the stone and normally must be chemically dissolved so the source of the stain can be flushed or rinsed away.
Efflorescence (a white powder that may appear on the surface of the stone) It is caused by the deposition of mineral salts carried by water from below the surface of the stone. When the water evaporates, it leaves the powdery substance. If the installation is new, dust mop or vacuum the powder. You may have to do this several times as the stone dries out. Do not use water to remove the powder; it will only temporarily disappear.
Natural Stone Easy Care Tips! About the Marble Institute of America Founded in 1944, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) is the leading resource for information and education for the natural stone industry. MIA members include marble, granite, limestone, sandstone, and other natural stone producers and quarriers, fabricators, installers, distributors, and contractors around the world. 28901 Clemens Road • Suite 100 Cleveland, Ohio 44135 P: 440-250-9222 • F: 440-250-9223 www.marble-institute.
