Caring for your Stone Installation
Whether it is marble, granite or limestone, natural stone is a beautiful and enduring material. It is a wonderful investment for your home or office and if properly used and maintained it will give you many years of long lasting beautiful service. If you treat tabletops and countertops like the fine furniture that it is, you will have very few problems with your stone. On this page you will find many recommendations for routine care and maintenance in addition to some simple stain removing tips.
Precautions
Stones vary in strength, some will scratch easier than others, marbles, travertines, and limestones are fairly soft stones and care should always be taken with these materials. Granite is a very strong stone and will withstand more use than softer materials, but it too can be scratched if abused.
In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about 1/2 cup ammonia to a gallon of water). Frequent or over-use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone.
Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.