Should You Bleach Marble Floors?
The use of marble as a material for flooring has risen significantly in the past decades, surprisingly because of the stones durability. When the marble tile is initially laid, it is treated with an approved stain resistant sealant, which helps to protect the floor for around a decade, after which experts recommend that it be resealed again.
Marble floors are known to resist most spills, as long as these are wiped cleaned up immediately, although strong acidic liquids may cause stains, which can however be removed by professionally cleaners. Aside from keeping them constantly shiny, these types of floors are basically maintenance-free.
Basic Maintenance Tips For Marble Flooring
Daily marble floor upkeep is as easy as mopping them with hot water, and leaving it to dry afterwards. A suitable manufacturer-approved cleaning fluid can be added to the water, although this as to be mild, bleach-free, non-caustic and pH neutral. Most hardware shops and home depot stores offer several cleaning fluid brands, but if in doubt, go only for those clearly marked “suitable for marble flooring”.
Liquid Or Food Materials That Stain Marble Tiles
There are some types of food or liquids that contain a high acid content, and when spilled on them could etch, or leave a dull mark on the surface. Among these are lemon juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, tomato, wine, and carbonated beverage.
The dark, cloudy stain may either be as small as a coin, or could spread over several tiles. A chief contributor of stains and etch marks are some detergents and cleaning agents which contain acid, and examples of these are tile cleaners, vinegar, Ajax and others. Extra caution should be observed when carrying foodstuff or liquids with high acid content. Aside from chemicals and liquids that contain acid, there are also other solutions that contain high alkaline or bleach levels, and these may also be damaging to marble flooring.
Tap water could also have a negative effect on these tiles, because this may contain high levels of chlorine, salt, magnesium and potassium. When water is regularly used to clean these types of flooring, it may cause pitting and yellowing of the tiles. It is important that homeowners protect the floor by using a premium sealer.
When you’ve concluded cleaning, reseal the floor’s surface or use a liquid or powder polish, which you could get from a marble dealer, hardware store, or lapidary store. Liquid sealers go on easily, straight from the can. Or wet the top with water and sprinkle with powder; rub with a damp, soft cloth or with a buffing pad on a power drill at low speed. This should erase any etch marks left from wiping the surface with a poultice, and restore its luster.
Some marble dealers suggest using a penetrating sealer after cleaning, as the sealer seeps into the pores, and effectively prevents stains from soaking in. A sealer is particularly helpful in heavy-traffic areas. To maintain marble floors in these areas, reseal the tiles at least twice or thrice a year.
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