Grinding with diamond abrasives, crystallization, applying barrier coatings, and buffing with polishing powders and compounds are the most common methods used to create shine on natural stone floors today.
Using a polishing powder (a.k.a. polishing compound), removes minor scratches and stains from the surface of the stone. This restores the luster of the surface and reduces the dull appearance that can result from years of normal wear and tear that comes from day-to-day use.
Use a 1/2 cup of any of the following: ammonia, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide and a gallon of water. Reminder: do not mix bleach and ammonia. On light colored stones, clean with bleach or hydrogen peroxide. On dark colored stones, clean with lacquer thinner or acetone.
For natural stones in an outdoor environment, glossy sealers provide the ultimate protection against soils, moisture and UV rays. This sealer imparts a shiny appearance to the surface of the stone. In many situations they will brighten the colors of the stone and highlight the contrasting patterns of the stone.
LTP Stone Oil is an oil based impregnating sealer for interior and exterior use on most natural stones such as travertine, limestone, sandstone, slate, marble, granite as well as porcelain, terracotta, quarry tiles, brick and external paving. LTP Stone Oil is easy to apply and strongly enhances the appearance.
STONE COLOUR ENHANCER is a solvent-based, colour-enhancing and stain-proof impregnating agent that penetrates the surface, leaving a semi-polished wet-look finish and ensures great protection against stains on all medium-absorbent materials with non-polished finish.
When cleaning natural stones like marble, limestone, and onyx, you can't reach for your regular cleaners like white vinegar, lemon juice, bleach, or abrasive cleansers. These cleaners are too acidic for natural stone and can damage or etch the stone (although some can help remove rust from concrete).
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.
Unfortunately, vinegar is an acidic substance, which means it can cause a chemical reaction on your natural stone surfaces known as etching. Etching is a form of physical damage on a natural stone's surface that appears as a dull mark.
Magik Polish Powder is ideal for polishing marble, granite, and limestone as it restores the surface's original gloss while unifying its aspect by removing dull itchiness, watermarks, and surface scratches. A great benefit is that the Magik Polish Powder is an easy-to-use product.
With a brilliance refractive index of 2.65 to 2.69, moissanite is the world's most brilliant gemstone. This means the speed of light refracting in moissanite is 2.65 to 2.69 times slower than the speed of light in the air.
A carborundum sanding stone can be used with great effect to remove deep ingrained dirt, paint splashes and water marks from the surface of natural stone.
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.
Pour or spray 3% to 4% hydrogen peroxide over the area with rust stains. Use a nylon brush or a cleaning pad safe to use on natural stones to agitate the solution. Let it sit for at least 24 hours, and then rinse afterward.
Add undiluted vinegar to a bucket and apply it to your stone with the plastic brush. See if it removes the white residue. If it does then you don't need to use muriatic acid. If you need the muriatic acid you'll have to dilute it according to the directions on the bottle.
Daily Cleaning Procedures and Recommendations
Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (specific products from Lithofin for example), or a dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean soft cloth for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks.
Keep It Simple to Clean Natural Stone
You can use any type of mild soap detergent, such as dish or hand soap, and mix it with a little water. Wet the stone first, and then use a bristle brush and soap solution to wipe the stone clean. The last step is to make sure you rinse thoroughly.
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.
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.
In conclusion the fading of stone is a real issue – it does happen. It must be remembered that it is mainly a problem in the limestone and marble (sedimentary and metamorphic) families as far as commercial dimensional stone is concerned.
Because they are porous, natural stone tiles should be sealed with a penetrating sealer. Penetrating sealers, like Miracle Plus 511 Porous Plus, penetrate tiles to repel moisture from within, and prevent staining while still allowing vapors to escape.
Smooth stones may also be brought to a high, wet-look shine with oil. Jojoba oil is one good choice, as it will not become sticky or rancid as some kitchen oils will. Thoroughly soak the rocks in oil and allow 5-10 minutes for it to soak in. Then gently remove excess oil with an absorbent cloth.
Many gemstones' distinctive colors come from the presence of transition metals as impurities in an otherwise transparent crystal lattice. This can be because of a so-called crystal-field or, alternatively, a ligand-field effect.