Clean stone surfaces with warm water and a mild soap such as a clear Dawn Liquid Soap. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone.
Acidic commercial cleaners and those containing harsh chemicals, like bleach, can damage and dull natural stone surfaces.
If you have natural stone tiles anywhere in your house, avoid cleaning them with vinegar, lemon, or ammonia. The acidity in the products etches and dulls the stone, says Elena Ledoux, owner of Superb Maids in Las Vegas, Nevada. To repair, it will require a very expensive re-polishing process.
Baking soda is known as a stain remover. It can help to remove liquid stains such as tea, wine or coffee. It also helps to remove the unpleasant smells. It is quite affective on solid surfaces in general but it is not advised to use baking soda directly on natural stone surfaces.
General Steps for any kind of Natural Stone Surface:
Sweep to remove any dirt particles. Fill a recepient of warm water and use only water, or mix it with a small amount of neutral liquid “All-Purpose-Cleaner”, detergent or cleaning solutions specific for stone. Change the solution when it starts to get dirty.
To maintain the luster and shine of your natural stone, use a stone-safe polish about once a week. To polish stone, simply spray the polish directly onto the surface, then buff the surface until it's dry with a lint-free cloth or dry paper towel.
Using a sealer on natural stone helps to protect it against stains, while also giving you a little extra time to clean up any spills that may occur on your surface. It's important to note that while sealant does provide an extra barrier for your stone, everyday wear and tear will often still cause it to etch.
Not sealing a stone countertop or floor tiles — which get the heaviest traffic and are the most susceptible to wear and tear — leaves the surface vulnerable to absorbing foreign substances, which can weaken the stone and potentially lead to the growth of bacteria.
Rubbing alcohol is a natural bactericide and can also kill fungus and viruses. It has no ill effects on your granite or the seal on your granite so it's an ideal way to keep countertops clean.
Simple Green Stone Cleaner is perfect for regular use on marble, granite, quartz, travertine, porcelain, limestone, ceramic, porcelain, Corian®, Silestone®, and other engineered stone.
Buy a polishing powder designed for natural stone countertops. You'll generally have to mix the powder with water to form a paste. Then “polish” problem areas with a soft cloth. Some products require you to leave the paste on overnight (mostly for stain removal).
The simplest way is with polishing powder and a denim cloth. The process is simple: place one portion of the substance on the fabric and rub gently over the gem surface. Another straightforward way is with a soda; you can use it as a polish apart from quenching thirst.
For lower traffic areas, like a kitchen backsplash or bathtub surround, you should re-seal your natural stone tiles every few years. Depending on the amount of traffic, some installers choose to re-seal their natural stone tiles every 18 months, while others choose to re-seal their tiles every 4 to 5 years.
On average, the lifespan of natural stones, like marble and granite, can be well over 100 years. That's compared to ceramic tile with a life expectancy of 75 years.
Molds are fungi and they can, and will, grow back after bleaching. There are 4 simple ingredients you can safely use to clean away mold in your home: white vinegar, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and detergent or soap.
Scrub with Bleach and Water
Prepare a 50/50 solution of bleach and clean water to use with a soft nylon brush or pad. Allow the bleach and water solution to sit for about 15 minutes after the first scrubbing session, then finish the job by rinsing with clean water and using natural stone cleaner and sealant.
Baking soda and vinegar are typically used together when dealing with a mold problem since they kill different species of mold. Add one quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda into a spray bottle of water. Shake the bottle to dissolve the baking soda into the water. Spray the moldy area.
Products that should never be used on these types of stones include vinegar, Scrubbing Bubbles, Tilex, Comet, etc.
LIME-A-WAY® is not recommended for use on natural marble, stone, terrazzo, polished or anodized aluminum, metallic or painted surfaces, colored grout or counter tops.