Natural Stone Care

Purchasing natural stone is an investment in lasting beauty that will give you many years of wear. Below are a few tips on how to properly care for your natural stone and help extend its life and beauty. Following some simple precautions, properly sealing, and using the correct cleaning methods and products, will insure you a lifetime of use from your natural stone.

Sealing

Natural stone has been formed over millions of years but improper care can ruin nature's beauty. Although we seal your stone directly at our shop over time the sealing process does wear away it is recomended to reseal your stone once this starts to take effect. Natural stone is a porous material that can absorb spills and stains if untreated. Sealing your stone with a quality impregnating sealer will prevent most spills from damaging your investment.

Cleaning Procedures

Keeping your stone free of dust and dry, sandy soil will minimize the scratches and wear-patterns that can develop from everyday use of some natural stone, such as marble, limestone, and sandstone. Sweep or dust all natural stone surfaces regularly to remove loose soil and dust.

Clean your natural stone on a regular basis with warm water and a clean, non-abrasive cloth, sponge or mop. In addition, using a neutral cleaner specially formulated for natural stone will help remove soils that normal dusting or damp mopping leave behind.

Do not use general purpose cleaners or you may damage your stone or the sealer applied. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar, or other acids as these may etch the stone surface and damage the polish. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface.

Spills

No matter how careful you are, spills are going to happen. A quick response and the right solutions can keep spills from damaging your stone or the sealer.

Etch Marks - Substances that are highly acidic, such as orange juice, coffee, vinegar, wine, tomato products, mustard and many soft drinks, will "etch" most marble, limestone, and travertine- whether the stone is sealed or unsealed. Although sealing allows you time to wipe up a spill, it cannot stop the chemical reaction that may leave a dull area or etch mark in the stone.

In addition, cleaners are not specifically designed for natural stone are not recommended. These may etch away the polish, discolor the surface, scratch the stone or degrade the sealer. That's why selecting the correct cleaning products is so important to the lifetime beauty of your natural stone.

Professional refinishing is the best way to permanently remove etch marks and restore your natural stone's even finish.

Food Spills - Scoop up the food with a plastic spoon. Blot with dry, white cloth. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Liquid Spills - Blot away the excess with a clean, dry, white cloth; turning the cloth frequently. Wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Oily Stains - If you identify the stain as having an oil base (from foods like salad and cooking oils, butter, or some cosmetics) you may be able to remove the stain using a poultice. The easy-to-use poultice is designed to slowly remove oily stains from natural stone surfaces. Follow the directions on product labels.