Stone Floor Care - Comments
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I have Hebron Stone floors (It's a limestone that is found in the middle east) My housekeeper used a mop incorrectly and managed to put lots of scratches on it. It can't be re-polished as the corners are rounded & there is a wide grout. If I have it sanded/polished down, I will loose the edges of the stone which really sets off the beautiful large stones.
Also it was resealed, but the company did not wash/clean it first and just sealed over the dirt!! I'm in the process of hand cleaning the scratches until they are white and then resealing the stone -- stone by stone. A really big job for a large agrea.
Do you have any better suggestions? To be honest, I'm using scouring powder (I know it's a no, no) rinsing it well and then resealing. It was the only way I could get the scratches and dirt that was sealed in out.
Shirley Loewenthal at February 10, 2008 12:30 PM
Posted by: Shirley Loewenthal at February 10, 2008 12:30 PMI don't have a better suggestion. I'm going to throw a few ideas at you, but since you know the situation best you can accept or reject them as appropriate. * small hand sander * a chemical stripper for the sealant, though I don't like what that can do to your air quality and your health
Good luck. What a big mess. I hope it turns out well for you.
The Flooring Lady at February 10, 2008 02:41 PM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at February 10, 2008 02:41 PMMy honed marble floor in my master bath is less than a year old, but almost from the beginning we noticed dull spots appearing. They show shoe prints from our cleaning lady, they seem to come from the rubberized bottom of our shower rug. Our contractor sealed the floor, but I am wondering if he did it correctly. I know it is time to seal again, but I am worried about sealing over the marks and dull spots. Can I remove these dull spots and marks before resealing? Will the sealing itself fix the dulled spots and marks?
Ken at February 11, 2008 09:21 AM
Posted by: Ken at February 11, 2008 09:21 AMI'm increasingly hearing to avoid rubber-backed rugs. It seems to me they react to modern floor finishes, though that's my guess only.
What are you cleaning the floor with? That could account for some of the problem(s). Don't do any sealing until you figure out what's causing the dulling and marks and get them removed. Then you may want to consider stripping the original sealer and start again with something different and you may decide to stay with the brand you have but to change cleaning materials.
I'm a huge fan of natural cleaners. They are cheaper (better for your budget) and they are better for the environment and you.
The Flooring Lady at February 11, 2008 09:52 AM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at February 11, 2008 09:52 AMI have stone floor tiles up against a small brick wall at my foyer. I have an older dog that has started to have accidents in the house. He recently had an accident on the tile while we were out and it was not cleaned up right away. When found, I cleaned it up with paper towels and then cleaned the area with a small amount of mild dish soap and water, rinsed and wiped dry. I have concerns that it has seeped into the tile and grout. I can still smell the urine odor. What is the best way to clean brick tile and grout without leaving a film. I'm reluctant to use cleaners that will leave a film or discoloration but I want this Clean and fresh smelling! Help!
Ron at April 13, 2008 07:03 AM
Posted by: Ron at April 13, 2008 07:03 AMBoth vinegar and baking soda are good ingredients for cleaning up after this kind of accident. Since it seems the urine has seeped into the tile/brick and/or grout, use vinegar water to clean the surface. After it's dried completely, apply baking soda to the area, rub it in lightly, and let it sit for awhile before vacuuming it up. See if that works. If not, buy a commercial product that's specially formulated to remove urine smells.
The Flooring Lady at April 13, 2008 08:49 AM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at April 13, 2008 08:49 AMHelp please!!! I live un a rented apartment, with what I think are marble tiles - they are white and extremely porous. We have spilled red wine on them, and depsite immediately rushing to absorb the wine (with kitchen towel and salt), they left an instant purple stain. What can I do to remove the stain? Please help! Thanks, Desperate
Desperate at July 6, 2008 01:41 PM
Posted by: Desperate at July 6, 2008 01:41 PMI'd recommend trying StainSolver would be better than OxyClean because it's got more leaching action. You could also try Enviro-One It's been good for stain removal in general. It sounds like the floor needs to be resealed since the wine soaked in so easily and quickly. When marble is used in a kitchen and/or dining area, it will probably need to be cleaned and sealed every 9-12 months.
The Flooring Lady at July 6, 2008 06:10 PM
Posted by: The Flooring Lady at July 6, 2008 06:10 PMAny spills containing acid like wine can easy etch and produce stains on your marble. Even if it was sealed, any types of sealer provide limited protection. It is important to understand when time for maintaining of natural stone. Make sure the selected stone sealer can be used on the your kind of stone.
Marble Guard at July 21, 2008 11:46 PM
Posted by: Marble Guard at July 21, 2008 11:46 PM
We have limestone floors in our bathrooms. Is there anything we can use to clean up urine drops around the toilet?
Please help! at August 19, 2008 07:59 PM
Posted by: Please help! at August 19, 2008 07:59 PM(Read the article that everyone's commenting on.)
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