The simplest answer is no, it is best to avoid bleach when cleaning any type of natural stone. Many home cleaning products, particularly bleach and vinegar, are too harsh or acidic to be on natural stone. These cleaners strip down the stone and leave it in a weak, damaged state.
“Vinegar and bleach are harsh,” adds Gregg Laviolette, owner of Stone Restoration Services in Troy, Michigan. “They will etch or burn the surface of your stone.” While some chemicals may not noticeably damage durable stones such as granite, they can break down any sealers that have been applied to the stone.
Clean with a microfiber towel or nylon pad.
To avoid detrimental scratches, clean tile and stone with softer sponges. Nylon, microfiber, and soft brushes will help clean stone without damaging its sealant. You can also keep a microfiber towel near the shower to easily soak-up and remove excess water after each use.
Clean stone surfaces with a neutral cleaner, stone soap, or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. Similar to any item cleaned in your home, an excessive concentration of cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks.
Many home cleaning products, particularly bleach and vinegar, are too harsh or acidic to be on natural stone. These cleaners strip down the stone and leave it in a weak, damaged state. Unfortunately, whenever natural stone is damaged it cannot always be repaired back to its original condition.
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.
Products that should never be used on these types of stones include vinegar, Scrubbing Bubbles, Tilex, Comet, etc.
STONETECH® Mold & Mildew Stain Remover is a ready-to-use, powerful specialty cleaner specifically formulated to remove mold, mildew and even algae on natural stone, tile, masonry and grout. It quickly dissolves unsightly mold and mildew stains without degrading or harming the surface.
Have granite or marble showers? Skip the vinegar. It can damage the sealant and discolor or etch the stone. Also keep in mind that there are two products you should never mix with vinegar: hydrogen peroxide and bleach.
It's essential to only use cleaners which are appropriate for natural stone surfaces. This means avoiding using vinegar. Stones like limestone, marble, or travertine will react to vinegar because it's an acidic cleaner with harsh effects.
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.
Yes, your natural stone shower should always be sealed! To keep your shower in great shape – and keep mold and mildew at bay – we recommend having your shower sealed at least once a year. Instead of a topical sealant that may flake off or discolor the stone, choose a penetrating sealant.
Many home cleaning products, especially bleach, are way too strong or acidic to be on natural stone. These products can strip your natural stone down, leaving it damaged and weak. Whenever your natural stone becomes damaged, the damage cannot always be repaired.
If your shower screen glass is laminated, the bleach will damage the laminate over time making it appear opaque. Toughened glass screens are not damaged by bleach, although, bleach does break down the silicone that is used to prevent water seeping outside onto the outside floor of your bathroom.
Bleach is safe for many bath and shower surfaces
If you aren't certain, always test an inconspicuous area first. Do not use on aluminum, chipped or cracked enamel, copper, brass, silver or unsealed wood, marble, tile or granite.
Scrub with Bleach and Water
Common household cleaners shouldn't be used on natural stone surfaces, but household bleach is an exception when you need to scrub away mold as a practical and effective solution. Prepare a 50/50 solution of bleach and clean water to use with a soft nylon brush or pad.
Tea tree oil and water, this solution should sprinkle onto the moulded area until entirely saturated and then left. That's right, no rinsing, as the tea tree can sit harmlessly on the stone surface and prevent future mould from sprouting.
Combine 1 part bleach with 2 parts water in a spray bottle and spritz the affected area. Let the solution sit for 10 minutes. The mold should start to fade away on its own, but if areas of stubborn mold remain, use a coarse brush (for larger areas) or old toothbrush (for smaller areas) to scrub the mold away.
You should not use Lysol on your granite countertops, backsplashes or vanity tops. The cleaner contains harsh ingredients that can cause your sealer to lose its effectiveness. In specific, scents such as lemon contain citric acid, so you need to keep away from those.
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.
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.