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General Stone Care

INTRODUCTION: Marble, Granite, Travertine, Onyx, and Slate are extremely durable, long-lasting stones. Although they require little maintenance, as with other fine products, periodic upkeep is recommended. Wholesales and importers of the world's finest natural stones recommends the following regimen to keep all of your natural stone beautiful.

STAIN PREVENTION: Most stones are porous and readily absorb liquids and moisture.Materials like limestone and sandstone are extremely absorbent, whereas granites and serpentines (green marbles) are denser, but will still absorb liquids that are allowed to remain in contact with them for extended periods of time. In areas where stains are likely to develop, protective measures should be taken.The use of a sealer will help prevent staining in most situations. We recommend Miraseal 511 Impregnator, which is specifically, formulated for sealing stone surfaces. It acts by actually filling the small pores in the surface of the stone, and can easily be applied to polished, honed, rough, or sanded surfaces. Even a sealed surface can be stained if left in contact with a sealing agent for long periods of time. Therefore, all spills should be wiped up as soon as possible, and coasters or napkins should be used when serving food or drinks on a stone bar, table, or countertop. Soft drinks, coffee, tea, and fruit juices contain mild acids and can etch the polished surface of a stone and stain quite rapidly. These should be cleaned-off immediately with a mile soap and warm water. Remember, do not use any abrasive cleaners.

REGULAR CLEANING: In order to prevent staining or dirt build-up, regular cleaning is recommended. Stones should be rinsed weekly with warm water and a non-abrasive, clear. non-acidic soap. Periodic cleaning with Miraclean #1 will help keep your marble dirt free and allow the natural beauty to shine through. Miraclean #1 is specifically designed for use on natural stones and will not stain or scratch, it is the perfect product for removing surface dirt, grime, and film. For polished marble and granite we also recommend periodic application of Miraseal Stone Polish. Miraseal Stone Polish is not silicon bases, so it will not yellow or discolor natural stone. It will enhance the beautiful luster of the marble and afford an extra measure of protection.

STAIN REMOVAL: If stains do occur, or if you are restoring an ancient piece of stone, a poultice or restorer may be required. Whereas a cleaner will wash off surface dirt, a poultice will actually draw out deep seated dirt and stains from the stone's pores. A professional marble shop should be contacted for this type of work. Poultice in most cases will remove the polish.

TIPS ON PROBLEM AREAS: Showers get a lot of soap residue and lime buildup. These do not affect the marble but pose a cleaning problem. Marble cannot be cleaned with the tile cleaner because of etching, so to keep it clean, it must be wiped out with a towel after every use. With less frequent cleaning where buildup has occurred, cleaning has to be done with razor blades and steel wool. A way to still get the effect of the marble, eliminate the cleaning problem, and also save money, is to make just the jamb, curb, and outside trip of marble and use ceramic tile on the inside walls. With the shower door closed you see only the marble trim and the door when viewed from the outside. Marble bar tops, because of etching from alcohol, citric, and other acids will lose their gloss quite rapidly. At first the dull etched places show up vividly because of the contrasting gloss, but with further use, the whole top will assume a more even, but dull finish. In spite of this, it will still look good. Granite will, however, stand up to most mild acids without etching.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE:
- Protecting the interior of the stone with a Penetrating Sealer.
- Proper walks-off entrance matting.
- Understanding your stone, chemicals, and procedures.

MAINTENANCE:
- Dust Mopping with clean rayon mops.
- Properly laundering and caring for maps.
- Wet mopping with a mopping program.

AUTOMATIC SCRUBING:
- Repairing pits and cracks with epoxy or glues.
- Prompt spill pick-ups to prevent etching and staining.
- Powder polishing to receive polished finishes.
- Reabsorbing stains with poultice powders.

RESTORATION:
- Resurfacing the stone with a diamond abrasive program to remove scratches, abrasions, and traffic patterns.
- Deep cleaning the pores of honed, flamed, or ground floors.

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