The best way to clean natural stone, be it granite, marble, sandstone, or slate, is water with some PH neutral soap, like the one used in dishwashers.
1. Mix a solution of 1-part R155 Intensive Cleaner to 6-parts clean water in a bucket. 2. Using a stiff natural bristle scrub brush, dip brush in cleaning solution and apply to dirty stone and scrub area for 1 minute.
Fill a bucket with warm water and a small amount of vinegar. Dish soap is also fine for making a mild cleanser for stone veneer. Scrub the stone siding lightly with a soft, wet sponge dipped in the solution, rinsing the sponge often to prevent rubbing dirt back onto the siding.
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.
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.
Some stone exteriors are acid-sensitive, so you should avoid acid-based products. Stone soap, neutral cleaners and mild liquid washing detergents are recommended for most outer stone surfaces, but Basildon Stone specialists can always advice you on the best products and tools for cleaning your structure exterior.
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).
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.
DON'T: Use harsh or abrasive cleaners and sponges.
Windex; acidic cleaners, like vinegar, lemon, lime; or anything with ammonia or bleach should be avoided. Frequent use of these chemicals will dull and weaken the sealant over time. Basically, the harsher the cleaner, the quicker it will break down the sealant.
For tough spots like paint drips, tar, and pencil and pen marks, use a nonabrasive bathtub cleaner or nylon scrub pad. Use ammonia cleaners or a solution of one part bleach in four parts water to clean mold and mildew stains. (However, never mix ammonia and bleach.) Rinse thoroughly while the siding is still wet.
No Pressure Washing
Stone veneer is made of cement, aggregate materials and pigments. Yes, It's extremely durable, but a power washer is never recommended for cleaning. The high pressure that's associated with power washing can erode delicate surface features, and wash away pigmentation details.
General household cleaners such as Lysol are some of the most effective vinyl siding cleaners. They can used to clean tough stains and dirts including those that are caused by bubble gum, ink, crayon, rust, oil, grease, grass, or even soil.
Apply a paste of baking soda and water over the stain and leave it for 24 hours. Gently scrub the area and rinse it with plain water. Stains on Sandstone pavers, Travertine floor tiles, and Marble floors can easily be cleaned with a baking soda solution.
Designed to be low maintenance
How to clean stone veneer best is by removing dirt or debris, which can typically be done using a light spray or rinse with water. If stubborn dirt persists, wet the stone using a spray bottle filled with warm water and a bit of mild detergent, and scrub gently with a soft-bristled brush.
Rinsing is not necessary! If you're simply using a vinegar and water solution to wipe and disinfect, you won't need to rinse. However, if there's also plenty of dirt and grime you're wiping away, you may also want to rinse with some extra water.
'Avoid general, all-purpose floor cleaners. Instead, choose an easy to use, specialist, water-based product that is suitable for use on either sealed or unsealed stone. 'Dilute with warm water according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Dawn & vinegar works better than store-bought cleaners.
I've tried myriad cleaners specifically for bathrooms~from Rain-X to scrubbing bubbles and beyond. I've never had any store-bought cleaner work better than this easy, inexpensive, DIY Dawn vinegar solution.
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.
The Difference Between Manufactured Stone and Natural Stone
Natural stone is heavier in weight, making it difficult to transport. Manufactured stone requires less installation time while also being cost-effective. Manufactured stone creates less waste than natural stone. Manufactured stone adheres to multiple surfaces.
Diluted Muriatic Acid (Hydrochloric Acid)
While this can be used as a cleaning solution diluted with water, this acid can also be found in other cleaning products. Known for its distinctive pungent smell, muriatic acid is typically considered for those looking to clean heavily soiled brick, concrete or stone.
To be safe, let me say that for the most part, all stone surfaces should be sealed for maximum protection. The worst case when you are dealing with a stone that is not very porous is that the stone will absorb very little sealer to achieve maximized protection.