Wilson Stoneworks Guide to Stone and Tile Care

We believe in empowering our customers with the knowledge to maintain their beautiful stone, tile, and grout surfaces. Proper care is essential for longevity and lasting beauty, and we’re here to guide you.

For comprehensive instructions and expert tips, download our Stone and Tile Care Guide. It’s packed with valuable information to keep your surfaces looking their best.

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Protecting Your Natural Stone in North Central Florida

Maintaining the beauty of your natural stone surfaces in North Central Florida requires careful attention to the products you use and daily habits. It’s crucial to understand that not all cleaners are safe for stone, and even incidental contact can cause damage.

The Dangers of Everyday Cleaners

Many common household cleaners, even those used nearby, pose a significant threat to your stone. For instance, overspray from mirror cleaners or splashes from toilet bowl cleaners can easily etch or damage your stone countertops and floors if they aren’t specifically formulated for natural stone.

Acidic liquids are particularly harmful. Substances like wine, orange juice, tomato paste, and most off-the-shelf grocery store cleaning products contain acids that will literally eat into softer stones like diamond marble, travertine, limestone, onyx, alabaster, and some slates, leaving behind unsightly etch marks.

Essential Tips for Stone Care

Here are some quick, vital pointers to keep your stone looking its best:

• Act Fast on Spills: Always clean up spills as quickly as possible. Don’t rub the spill; instead, gently blot it up to avoid spreading the liquid or scratching the surface.
• Use Protection: Always use coasters under glasses, especially those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Likewise, place placemats under dishes, glasses, and silverware to prevent scratches.
• Heat Protection: Play it safe! Always use trivets or mats under hot dishes. Never place hot items directly on your natural stone surfaces.
• Choose Stone-Safe Cleaners: This is paramount. Only use cleaners that explicitly state they are safe for natural stone. This applies not just to direct application on the stone but also to products used on nearby items.

Stain Removal

Even with the best care, natural stone can sometimes get stained. Don’t worry, most stains can be easily removed! Because natural stone is largely porous, certain spills, especially if left unattended, can lead to stains. The good news? Many common stains are treatable with simple DIY methods.

How to Create and Apply a Poultice

• Identify the stain.
• Clean the stained area to remove excess from the surface.
• Wet the stained area with distilled water. Pre-wetting fills the pores of the stone with water, isolating the stain and accelerating the removal by the chemical.
• Prepare the poultice. If a powder is to be used, pre-mix the powder and the chemical of choice into a thick paste the consistency of peanut butter. Wet it enough so that it does not run. If a paper poultice is to be used, soak the paper in the chemical. Lift the paper out of the chemical until it stops dripping.
• Apply the poultice to the stain, being careful not to spill any on the un-stained areas. Apply poultice approximately one-quarter-inch thick, overlapping the stain area by about one inch.
• Cover the poultice with plastic (food wrap works very well). Tape the plastic down to seal the edges. Allow the poultice to dry thoroughly. This is a very important step. The drying of the poultice is what pulls the stain from the stone into the poultice material. If the poultice is not allowed to dry, the stain may not be removed. Drying usually takes from 24 to 48 hours.
• After 24 to 48 hours, remove the plastic.
• Remove the poultice from the stain. Rinse with distilled water and buff dry with a soft cloth. If the stain is not removed, apply the poultice again. It may take five applications or more for difficult stains.
• Some chemicals may etch the marble surface. If this occurs, apply a polishing powder and buff to restore the shine.

Essential Care Tips

Investing in natural stone countertops, floors, or walls for your home or business is a fantastic way to boost its appearance and value. Once your granite, diamond marble, or other natural stone is installed, protecting that investment with regular cleaning and maintenance is key to keeping it beautiful and elegant for years to come. It’s not difficult, and a little understanding goes a long way!

How to Keep Your Natural Stone Clean

The best way to clean your stone depends on a few factors: the type of stone you have, its environment or location, and the amount of traffic and usage it gets. However, one rule applies across the board: always use quality products made specifically for natural stone.

As a general rule, it’s best to stay away from acidic cleaners. Many common store-bought cleaners, even some “green” options made with acidic fruits and vegetables, can damage your stone or slowly strip away any protective sealer from your countertops, tabletops, floors, and other surfaces.

If you’ve been using cleaners that don’t explicitly state they’re safe for natural stone, you might notice a cloudy film or haze developing on your surfaces. Regularly using a neutral cleaner with a pH level of 7 can gradually remove this cloudiness. If the problem persists, you might need professional stone servicing. Sometimes, what looks like dirt could actually be another issue that requires expert attention.

In pinch with no neutral cleaner on hand? This DIY one works well:

• 1/4 cup of isopropyl rubbing alcohol
• 4 drops of Dawn Dishwashing Detergent
• A couple drops of essential oil (optional to cover alcohol smell)
• Add the ingredients into a 16-ounce spray bottle, fill with water and shake.

(Note: Inexpensive vodka may be used in place of rubbing alcohol, but it is not as strong.)