Caring for the Natural Stone in Your Home

Feb. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- If you love the finer things in life you most likely will appreciate natural stone, especially in your home.  It is very common for a homeowner to have marble floors, granite countertops, and other natural stone surfaces.  Most natural stones need special care when cleaning and maintaining them.
The most common misconception among people who own natural stone is that it is an extremely hard surface and is difficult to stain and scratch.  The reality of it is quite the contrary.  Marble and Limestone are much softer and porous than you may think.  They are very prone to scratches and staining, especially in wet-areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Most household cleaners are caustic and contain harsh chemicals.  You should never use these on your natural stone.  Although granite is much harder and less stain susceptible than marble and limestone, you should still treat it with the utmost care.
The only product that is recommended for all natural stone surfaces is neutral Ph soap.  You can find these in any hardware store, or even more commonly in your local grocery store labeled as a dish-washing soap.  Try to find a soap that is clear or white in color (free of dyes) and also fragrance-free (no citric acid or alcohol-based fragrances).
You may clean your stone with neutral soap as long as it is heavily diluted with water.  If you see soap bubbles and suds when mixing this you need to add more water.  Wipe the surfaces with a sponge mop or soft towel that is damp with the soap and water mixture.  Next cleanse the surface with plain water.  Lastly, dry the surface before it naturally air dries.  This will prevent streaking and soap hazes from occurring.
These are basic cleaning and maintenance instructions that pertain to all natural stone surfaces.  Please respect your stone and it will last for many generations to enjoy.
For further information or professional natural stone and marble polishing services, please contact Devin Vance with Classic Marble Restoration, Inc.  You may also find a free printable marble care guide on our website:  www.classicmarblerestoration.com

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Classic Marble Restoration, Inc. is a family-owned Marble Polishing company in South Florida. We have been in business for over 15 years and are a Better Business Bureau A+ Rated company. We clean, polish, restore, and maintain natural stone surfaces.