5 tips for cleaning stone floors

Over time, dirt adheres to your stone floors and they can become dull or even damaged. In addition, an inappropriate cleaning method can also cause stains or marks to appear.

It is therefore important to use the right products to clean your stone floors, as proper care will help you enjoy them for longer. Find out how to take care of your natural stone floors by reading this article. 

How to clean stone floors? 

Stone floors can add a great deal of elegance to an interior. Although stones feel cool underfoot, they can warm up your home if you take good care of them.

Weather, sun, dirt in the air and temperature changes leave marks on your patio tiles. This often results in stains, moss or undesirable green deposits.

Natural stone floors are very delicate. Because of their abrasive nature, dirt, sand, gravel or other dirt can damage them. It is therefore very important to sweep your floor regularly.

Once you have removed all unwanted deposits, you can move on to cleaning. To clean your stone floor properly without damaging it, use natural, non-corrosive products. Never use acidic products or "cheap" strippers to clean your stone floor.

If your floor is made of marble or travertine, make sure you never use products containing lemon juice, vinegar or other "homemade" solutions, as this could damage them.

Our tips for maintaining stone floors 

Do your natural stone terrace tiles (such as granite, basalt, sandstone, terracotta or bluestone) have dull stains or a greenish deposit after the winter? You can clean them very easily, provided you use the right cleaning products. Here are some ideas, but better use professional products:

1 - Use an high pressure cleaner 

It is possible to thoroughly strip your beautiful stone terrace with a high-pressure cleaner. However, this rather brutal technique risks damaging and weakening the surface of the stone. In the long run, this will encourage the growth of fungi and facilitate the penetration of all kinds of dirt. To clean stone floors, it is advisable to use less aggressive cleaning techniques.

2 - Cleaning your floor with bleach 

Bleach can help you clean natural dirt. It will certainly remove the moss that has settled on your stones over time, but it can also get rid of the pretty outdoor plants that surround your terrace if you touch them with this product.

Another precaution: clean your terrace in the evening or in the morning, away from sunlight and when the stone is cold, otherwise you may well be poisoned. In conclusion, be careful when using bleach. 

3 - Clean your floor with ecological products 

The best thing to do is to take a good broom, a little elbow grease, a bucket of warm water with soda crystals or black soap and scrub. Finish by rinsing well.

You can then do a second wash, this time with traditional soap, and tackle the toughest dirt before rinsing again. Some specific products can be used against particular brands.

For example, alcohol, tea or coffee stains can be cleaned with a damp sponge and glycerine, or oil stains can be scrubbed with a brush, a little water and baking soda.

While this may seem like the most suitable solution, it will be difficult to remove the toughest stains. Some stains have been on the floor for a long time and no matter how hard you scrub, you will not be able to remove them.

4 - Wash your floors with black soap

In cosmetics, black soap has long since proved its worth. It is known for its exfoliating, cleaning and softening properties. As a result, it is just as effective for home maintenance, particularly for cleaning tiles, which it degreases and shines.

Sometimes natural methods such as black soap or soda crystals are not enough to clean a stone floor. It is therefore preferable to use professional solutions.

5 - Remember to waterproof your stone floor 

Before cleaning the stone, consider waterproofing the floor. This will give it extra protection and make your work easier during cleaning.

It also reduces the risk of liquids such as water, wine or oil getting into the stone.

Simply apply the colourless waterproofing product to the stone with a roller or sponge, taking care not to create any puddles. 

Wait about 48 hours for the protection to take effect. To check the effectiveness of your waterproofing, simply pour a little water on a discreet corner of your stone. If the water enters the natural stone, this means that another application is necessary.

Discover our professional cleaning products for stone floors 

Would you like to find out how to best clean and maintain your terrace or interior natural stone floors? Hagerty offers you suitable cleaning products for their care. 

Hagerty's effective shampoos guarantee clean floors and a long-lasting shine.

Natural Stone Floor Cleaner 

If you are looking for a professional product to clean your stone floors, look for Hagerty Natural Stone Care. The product cleans and cares for indoor and outdoor floors made of sandstone, terracotta, slate or zelliges.

The shampoo removes dust and dirt and provides protection against stains with its formula enriched with black soap and linseed oil. In addition, thanks to the plant-based soap and essential oils of lemon, you can give your floors a delicate fragrance.

Marble floor cleaner

Does your marble floor have marks, grease stains or embedded dirt? Opt for Hagerty Marble Care. The shampoo allows you to clean and care for marble or waxed concrete floors.

The product removes stains and odours from the floor. You can also use it to care for marble worktops or bathrooms. The formula is enriched with rock crystal and gives a new and original finish. The product does not leave a trace of limescale on dark floors.

Now you know everything about cleaning your stone floors. Please contact us at hagerty@hagerty.world if you have any questions.