Limestone floors are beautiful, and they are a great alternative to wood or vinyl planking in high-traffic areas. Their durable nature makes limestone tiles a long-lasting, functional flooring option that bring a unique charm to any room. Even though limestone is durable, it does require some special care to prevent damage to the natural stone’s surface. Learning how to properly clean and maintain limestone floors will keep them looking their very best for decades.
4 Tips for Cleaning a Limestone Floor
Learning how to clean limestone floors properly is crucial for preserving the stone’s appearance and structural integrity. This sedimentary rock can be easily damaged by excess moisture and acidic cleaners because its porous nature and natural calcium content. Here are a few tips for safely cleaning limestone flooring tiles.
1. Start by Sweeping
Get rid of any large debris. By tackling this step first, you remove the things that will get in your way while further cleaning your limestone floors, and you’ll reduce the risk of scratching your natural stone flooring with large debris.
When sweeping, be sure that you use a soft bristle broom on textured limestone and a dust mop on honed or polished limestone. These instruments will ensure that your limestone’s finish is left intact after you sweep the area.
2. Vacuum Before Cleaning
It is always a good idea to remove dust and small particles of debris from your limestone tiles before you use any type of product to clean them more thoroughly. This reduces the risk of damaging the stone by removing any potential debris that could etch or scratch the finish or surface of the limestone.
3. Use a Limestone-Safe Cleaner
Not every cleaner is safe to use on natural stones, especially those that are porous like limestone. When selecting a floor cleaner, it is important to watch out for potentially harmful ingredients. Since this can be a bit tricky, we recommend using a cleaner that is specifically made to be safe to use on stone flooring, like Rock Doctor’s Flooraid+.
Flooraid+ is made for hard flooring surfaces such as stone, wood, vinyl, tile, and laminate, making it the perfect solution for houses with multiple types of hard flooring throughout. Flooraid+ is non-abrasive and all-natural, so it is ideal for households with children and pets who could be in close contact with floors after they have been cleaned.
4. Use Soft Materials to Clean Limestone
When you are cleaning your limestone floors, keep in mind that harsh rags or sponges can damage the stone and its sealant. A wet mop or soft cloth is effective at cleaning the stone without causing any damage. If you are mopping your floors, be sure to use water sparingly.
Following these tips will keep your limestone flooring in good shape. But if you need to deep clean or battle stains on your limestone floors, we will provide additional information below.
What Should I Use to Clean My Limestone Floor?
Since limestone is a natural stone, you only want to clean it with a product that is safe for natural stone. Not all floor cleaners are safe for limestone, so it is important to consider this when selecting limestone cleaning products. Like we mentioned above, a specialized natural stone cleaner is essential to protecting limestone tiles.
What Should I Avoid When Cleaning My Limestone Floor?
When cleaning limestone, like many other natural, porous stones, you should avoid highly acidic cleaners. Those containing vinegar, citrus, bleach, or other harsh chemicals can do more harm than good when used on natural stone. Homemade cleaners often contain one or more of these ingredients, so we recommend steering clear of them when cleaning limestone floors.
Other Limestone Flooring Care Tips
Cleaning limestone properly isn’t enough to keep it in its best condition. Here are a few additional tips for keeping limestone in tip-top shape for decades.
1. Seal Limestone Tiles
Limestone is a porous natural stone that requires sealing to protect the integrity of the stone. Sealing limestone prevents damage from moisture and scratching. Using a special stone sealer will be safe on limestone and offer a protective barrier for your limestone tiles. Rock Doctor’s Granite & Stone Sealer is the perfect solution for protecting limestone flooring with a deeply penetrating formula that is safe and effective.
2. Steam for a Deep Clean
To deep clean limestone floor tiles, steam cleaning is an option that will quickly get the job done. Occasional deep cleaning is a great way to prevent dirt from building up in the small crevasses in the stone, which can cause floors to look stained. Steam is safe to use on limestone as long as you dry the floors when you are finished.
3. Clean Spills Immediately
Don’t let a spill become a stain. When something is spilled on your limestone floors, do your best to get it cleaned up immediately. Letting liquids sit on stone can not only lead to discoloration from the liquid but can also cause significant stains that become much more difficult to remove later on. In some cases, this discoloration can be permanent, and nothing you do (aside from replacing the tile) will get rid of the spot on your floor.
4. Use Special Cleaners for Stains
Removing stains from limestone floor tiles can be a challenge, but if the floors have been properly sealed, most stains will be superficial. There are special products made to deep clean stone, but you won’t want to use these often. They are not meant to be used frequently and can cause damage if used too much.
Investing in high-quality stone flooring can be costly, so properly caring for limestone flooring is essential to ensuring that your investment is will last for a long time. To learn more about protecting stone surfaces in your home, visit rockdoctor.com.
