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Dec 15
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Clean Your Natural Stone Floors

Effective Ways to Clean Your Natural Stone Floors

By Natural Stone Cleaning

Natural stone floors are beautiful, but they can be extremely challenging to keep clean. Despite their beauty, natural stone floors have a tendency to become dull and dirty over time because of their porous nature.

While regular cleaning and polishing should help prevent your natural stone floor from becoming too grimy, sometimes you need a little extra help to keep it looking its best. Fortunately, it’s easy to hire a natural stone-cleaning service to get the job done in no time.

Importance of Knowing How to Properly Clean Stone Floors

Whether your natural stone floors have a polished, honed, or flamed finish, it’s important to give them the right care they deserve. A professional can easily identify the category of natural stone to which your flooring material belongs.

Determining what type of stone your floor is made of will help the cleaners know what type of solution to use. Using the wrong type of cleaner may permanently damage the stone because some stones react more strongly to acid than others.

RELATED ARTICLE: Why Is It Important to Hire a Deep Cleaning Service for Your Restaurant?

Best Tips and Practices

Here are some common and practical home-care tips and practices for maintaining the high quality of your stone floors:

Mopping Natural Stone Floors Regularly

Mopping at least once a week prevents dirt and grime buildup on your natural stone floors. You can use a solution with a mild detergent, then thoroughly dry the floors afterward.

Scrub Tile Lines and Crevices

You can scrub the lines and crevices of your natural stone floors using a very soft cloth or sponge. Using an old toothbrush or scouring pad could cause irreparable abrasion to the stone’s surface.

Vacuum with Rotating Brush Deactivated or Broom

When using a vacuum cleaner, turn off the rotating brush first, so it doesn’t scratch the surface of your natural stone floors. Also, don’t use a worn vacuum cleaner as the attachment may permanently etch the surface. You can also use a broom instead.

Use Alkaline or Any Cleansers Safe for Stone Floors

Steer clear of strong cleaners such as vinegar, lemon juice, and acid-based solutions. These can easily corrode the stone’s surface. Only use alkaline formulas or stone-safe soaps.

Use Microfiber Towels and Mops to Clean Your Natural Stone

When it comes to cleaning natural stone floors, dust mops and microfiber towels are your best bet. They’re soft enough for your stone’s surface but provide enough resistance to get rid of the hard gunk safely and effectively.

RELATED ARTICLE: Why Hiring a Professional for Tile and Grout Cleaning In Important in Your Home

For Deep Cleaning and Restoration, Hire Professional Surface Restoration

You don’t need to do back-breaking cleaning just to keep your floors in pristine condition. If you want to keep your natural stone floors looking new, Professional Surface Restoration is a professional surface restoration team that does the work for you.

Stone floors need expert care; it only makes sense to rely on people with a specialized approach for different kinds of floors with varying needs.

Professional Surface Restoration provides safe and efficient hard surface cleaning of natural stone floors. We determine the natural stone’s specific needs and keep them safe and dry using a protective sheet. We polish your floors and leave them looking like the day they were first installed.

For more information on our services, call us at (419) 705-8693 to schedule a free demonstration today!

Oct 11
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natural stone stains and how to clean them - professional surface restoration

10 Different Natural Stone Stains and How to Remove Them

By Natural Stone Cleaning

Natural stone stains may seem tedious to remove, yet, at the same time, they can damage your floor’s aesthetics. The truth is that you can remove most stains by applying the proper natural stone cleaning method. It all depends on identifying the source to find the best solution.

Here are ten natural stone stains you might encounter and how to remove each of them.

Oil-Based Stains

You’ll notice a darker stone when there is an oil-based stain. It could be any type of oil, and it will look the same. The best approach is to dissolve it by cleaning it gently with a chemical. The best ones include:

  • Acetone
  • Ammonia
  • Household detergent
  • Liquid cleanser with bleach
  • Mineral spirits

RELATED ARTICLE: The Ultimate Post-Construction Clean-Up Checklist

Organic Stains

Organic stains can come from different sources. They look the same, a pinkish-brown color on stone. The most common stains come from:

  • Tea and coffee
  • Fruit
  • Urine
  • Bird droppings
  • Leaves

The best way to clean them is by using 12% hydrogen peroxide mixed with a few drops of ammonia.

Biological Stains

Biological stains come from moss, fungi, mildew, and the like. The best option is to use a diluted solution. Use a half-cup per gallon of water to dilute any one of the following:

  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Bleach
  • Ammonia

Ink Stains

Ink stains come from pens and ink. For darker-colored stone, you’ll need to use acetone or a lacquer thinner. On lighter colored ones, hydrogen peroxide or bleach will work.

Paint Stains

Using a commercial heavy liquid paint stripper will remove even heavy paint from your stone floor. However, it may cause etching on the surface, so you’ll need to polish it afterward. When using these items, you’ll need to follow the instructions accurately as they can be harmful.

Hard Water Stains

Accumulation of hard water can cause staining. The best thing to use here is dry 0000 steel wool to buff the stone and remove the stain.

Inorganic Metal Stains

These are typically rust or brown iron stains. You’ll need to use a poultice to remove the stain. However, it’s not guaranteed that you can remove all the rust.

RELATED ARTICLE: Natural Stone Cleaning Dos and Don’ts

Efflorescence

Efflorescence is white power or salt deposits left because of evaporated water. You’ll have to use a dust mop or vacuum several times to remove most of the stain.

Acid Etch Marks

Acid can both etch and stain a stone. You’ll need to clean the area with water. Afterward, use a polishing powder to try and remove the etch mark.

Fire and Smoke Damage

Stains caused by fire and smoke are difficult to remove but not impossible. You’ll first need to vacuum the area. Then try to use any commercial cleaning solution used for fireplaces and the like. You’ll need to follow the instructions carefully.

Hard Cleaning Don’ts for Natural Stone Floors

When cleaning natural stone, there are several things you have to avoid:

  • Acidic materials like vinegar.
  • Worn vacuum cleaners that can cause damage to the stone.
  • Chemicals, unless the above directions say you can.
  • Ammonia and bleach, as this can cause a lethal gas.
  • Abrasive cleaners.

By knowing the sources of stains and what can clean them, you’ll have a better chance of removing the problem altogether. The first step is identifying the problem before applying a cleaning method.

If you can’t seem to get rid of the stain, contact Professional Surface Restoration. We can expertly handle all types of stains affecting natural stone.

We have a reputation for excellence, and the knowledge to get your dull stone floors looking shiny and new again. Call us today at (419) 705-8693 to speak with one of our natural stone cleaning professionals. Professional Surface Restoration has the expertise you are seeking.

Feb 19
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5 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Professional Natural Stone Cleaning Service

By Natural Stone Cleaning

natural stone cleaningNatural stone flooring needs extra care. When you hire someone to clean your natural stone, you want to know that they are qualified. You may not be an expert in the proper care of natural stone but asking the right questions can ensure you are hiring the best natural stone cleaning service.

Here are five questions to ask to get you started….

What Is Your Specialty?

Whenever you are hiring a professional to work on your home, you want to be sure they can handle the job. Many contractors do side jobs that are not their particular focus area, but this isn’t the type of job for a general cleaner. Natural stone flooring and its care requires knowledge that you should only trust to a company that specializes in natural stone cleaning and restoration.

RELATED ARTICLE: 7 Facts to Know About Natural Stone Cleaning

What Are Your Credentials?

One way to make sure your natural stone cleaning service is qualified to handle your project is to ask about their credentials. Anyone can claim that they are skilled in a particular area, but you want to ensure that they can back up their claims. A reputable professional will be glad to share their credentials with you before tackling the job.

How Many Years of Experience Do You Have?

Even if a natural stone cleaning service has the proper training and accreditation, it’s still important to know how much field experience they have. It is essential to hire stone experts who know the individual needs of natural stone varieties. Also, ask how long they have been working in your area. Specifics of climate and weather elements have a major impact on natural stone.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Choose a Tile and Grout Cleaning Professional

What Materials Will You Use?

Your cleaning service should be able to explain their entire process to you, including what products they use and how they affect your natural stone. You want to be sure they aren’t going to be using anything that is too harsh on your natural stone or on the environment. A quality cleaning service will use cleaning solutions that are EPA and environmentally-friendly.

How Will You Clean Up After the Process Is Finished?

While your stone flooring needs exceptional care, you don’t want to be left with a mess to clean up after someone has cleaned the floors. Discuss all stages of the cleaning process with the potential team and ask whether they will be responsible cleaning up after the floors have been taken care of.

Having a reputable cleaning service that you can trust is essential. If you are looking for an experienced team of natural stone cleaning professionals with a reputation for excellence, call Professional Surface Restoration today at (419) 705-8693.

Feb 04
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7 Facts to Know About Natural Stone Cleaning

By Natural Stone Cleaning

natural stone cleaningNatural stone is a beautiful design element that we use in our homes, both in exterior and interior applications. Stone flooring tiles offer an array of colors and pattern options and are unique because of natural variations in the stone itself. Natural stone requires care and regular maintenance to maintain its polished look.

Professional natural stone cleaning is always the way to go with natural stone. Hiring stone experts who know the individual needs of various types of natural stone will keep it shining for years to come. There are some fascinating things you may not know about natural stone.

  • Stone’s shine is not created by a sealant. Sealants used on natural stone only serve to protect its surface. They don’t add any coloring to the stone, nor do they make it shine.
  • Natural stone tiles stain easily. For this reason, your stone flooring needs to be properly sealed. Sealing covers the stone’s porous surface and makes it more stain resistant. You should have a professional reseal your stone floors every year or two.
  • Shades and colors of natural stone vary. Since natural stone is not produced in a factory, it does have natural variations in color. You should always purchase a little more than you need in case there are any pieces that you don’t like the look of, and in case you need it for repairs later.

RELATED ARTICLE: Natural Stone Cleaning Dos and Don’ts

  • Dull stone can be polished. If your natural stone flooring has lost its beautiful shine, professional restoring companies can restore its natural beauty.
  • Restoring stone is a wet process. There is no dust created in stone restoration. Technicians use a wet process to bring out the stone’s unique qualities.
  • Restoring is smarter than replacing. Replacing an entire marble floor can be an expensive undertaking but restoring the surface can make it look brand new again.
  • Different types of stone suit different purposes. The natural qualities of stone make different types ideal for varying uses in the home. Travertine, limestone, and marble are better for floors than countertops, because their very porous surface can harbor food bacteria. Granite is great in all applications, as it is the least porous, and slate is wonderful for outdoor use, because it weathers well in all climates.

If you are looking to add the natural beauty of stone to your home, or if you have stonework that needs to be cleaned or serviced, Professional Surface Restoration has the expertise you are seeking.

We have a reputation for excellence, and the knowledge to get your dull stone floors looking shiny and new again. Call us today at (419) 705-8693 to speak with one of our restoration professionals.

Apr 22
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5 Spring Cleaning Tips for Natural Stone Floor Tile

By Natural Stone Cleaning

cleaning natural stone floorMany residential homes feature different types of natural stone floor tile. Compared to other types of floors, such as ceramic tile, wood, and laminate, natural stone floor tile can present its own unique set of cleaning and maintenance challenges. The following tips can make spring cleaning this specific type of floor easier and safer for the material resulting in a longer lasting floor.

Know Your Floor

Before you begin cleaning your natural stone tile floor, take the time to find out what type of stone you are about to clean. The most common types of stone floors are made of marble, slate, or granite, but there are several more. Knowing what type of stone you are going to clean, will guide you to the correct information on proper cleaning techniques. For instance, granite is usually stronger than marble, which requires more delicate care. If available, consult with the installer or manufacturer on the best cleaning practices for the specific flooring material.

Avoid Acidic Cleaners

As a rule, when cleaning a stone tile floor, avoid using acidic cleaners such as bathroom and grout cleaners. Even though you might be tempted to use multi-purpose cleaning agents such as vinegar or lemon juice, you should avoid them as well. The acidic properties in these cleaners are too strong for the material, which can result in damage to the floor. Use gentle soaps and cleaners specifically made for the stone instead.

Clean Spills Immediately

If you see a spill on the floor, clean it as soon as possible. Blot the spill, as wiping it will spread it. Use water and a mild soap as necessary, but make sure you rinse and dry the area when finished. Call a stone cleaning professional if the stain remains.

Dry Mop Often

When it comes to cleaning daily dirt and grit, no tool is more reliable than a mop. For daily cleaning, you can simply use a dry mop. A wet mop is also effective, but it requires more time and effort than necessary, especially since dry mopping cleans up most of the dirt. Save the damp mop for special occasions. Also, make sure to use micro-fiber and closed-ended string mops to ensure cleaning effectiveness.

Seal the Floor

An important step to take in the maintenance of your natural stone tile floor is sealing the floor with an impregnators or sealants. Stone is a porous material that absorbs all types of dirt, spills, and bacteria that are nearby. Sealing the floor at least every six months is important in keeping these elements away and maintaining the integrity of the stone. Make sure you apply the sealant to a completely dry floor and let it absorb the agent for around 15 minutes before removing any excess chemicals.

The natural stone floors in your Toledo, Ohio home can be a thing of beauty once again. Please call Professional Surface Restoration at (419) 705-8693 to schedule an appointment or request a free estimate.

Oct 06
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Natural Stone Floor Cleaning Dos and Don’ts

By Natural Stone Cleaning

natural stone flooringNatural stone floors are a beautiful addition to your home’s interior. Stone is a natural flooring option that uses no dangerous chemicals, but it needs a little extra TLC to stay beautiful. Let’s look at some dos and don’ts for natural stone floor cleaning.

Prevention Goes a Long Way

Prevention is the key to reducing long-term damage. By reducing the amount of dirt and any spills on the surface of the tile, you can keep your floors looking beautiful for their whole life. Remember to always:

  • Remove dirt and sand from the surface of your natural stone floor to avoid scratches.
  • Clean up spills as soon as possible to avoid the liquid leeching into the surface of the stone. Liquids such as lemon juice, cola, and orange juice can cause permanent damage to the stone’s surface if not cleaned up immediately.
  • Use non-slip rugs near entryways to keep dirt from tracking through the house. Stone floors are also slippery when wet.

One of the best methods to protect your natural stone floors is to have them sealed properly. Be sure to choose the proper sealant, and use as directed, or have it professionally done. Having your floors sealed can prevent spills from soaking in and staining or damaging the floors.

Natural Stone Floor Cleaning Tips

Sweep your stone floors daily to remove dirt and grime. You can also vacuum up the dirt and dust for best results. Keeping the dirt off the tiles will slow deterioration of the stone’s surface. Some stone experts believe you should mop stone floors with clear water daily to remove day-to-day build-up.

If using cleaners, they should be designed for stone care. You can also use a solution made of vegetable soap and water. Follow up daily care with regular deep cleanings. Homes with children and pets will require more frequent deep cleanings of the stone.

Don’ts for Stone Floors

While stone floors are fairly durable, there are a few don’ts you need to observe. By avoiding these few things, you’ll be able to keep your stone floors looking beautiful far longer.

  • Don’t use lemon juice, vinegar, or other cleaners containing acids. They will damage the stone’s surface.
  • Don’t use commercial cleaners unless they say specifically they are safe for marble or stone surfaces.
  • Don’t use a vacuum cleaner with worn or missing wheels. They will scratch the surface of your floor.

With a little prevention and daily care, your stone floors will be around for a long time. They will add warmth and beauty to the interior of your home for generations to come. If you are looking for a new flooring option, consider adding stone floors to your home.

For questions about  natural stone cleaning, call Professional Surface Restoration at (419) 705-8693 today.

Jul 18
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What to Clean Before Putting Your Home Up for Sale

By Carpet Cleaning, Concrete Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Furniture Cleaning, Tile and Grout, Upholstery Cleaning, Wood Floor Cleaning

What to cleanSelling your home takes ample preparation, and not just in thinking about the financial aspects and figuring out where you’ll move to next. As you’re working on vacating your home, someone else will be determining if it is the place they want to move into. You need to make sure that everything looks as appealing to a potential buyer as possible.

You want your house to have vibe appeal – that intangible factor that makes it feel like home to a prospective buyer. Despite not having concrete elements, vibe appeal goes a long way to making a sale. While you don’t want to dig into any massive investments that won’t bring you proportionate payout, little touch-ups can make a big difference in making your home more appealing to its future residents.

Surface Cleaning

A clean home is easily one of the major components of vibe appeal, and thorough cleaning means your house will look as attractive to potential buyers as possible. Cleaning up any dust, polishing metals, and wiping down the windows can make a big impression on visitors.

Carpet

You don’t just want to stop at surface cleaning, however. Beyond general tidiness, give your carpets a thorough once-over. Don’t just stop at vacuuming; get your carpets professionally cleaned so they look and feel the best they can.

Tile and Grout

Tiles make for a great stylistic choice, but grout has the unfortunate tendency to show staining, even with regular cleaning. A full-scale deep cleaning of grout can make your tile look tip-top, giving the impression of newer tiles.

While all tiles are important, you want to take special care when tending to your bathroom. A dirty bathroom can give the impression that the whole home is dirty. Eliminating any traces of dirty grout will help your restroom contribute to the sale of your home instead of driving potential buyers away.

Front Lawn and Driveway

The adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” unfortunately does not apply to homebuyers. Before they even consider taking a tour, potential buyers will decide if they want to buy your house based on the front exterior. You need to do a little more than stick a “for sale” sign in your driveway to make people want to step inside.

Make sure you’ve tended to your front lawn. Adding a few plants and flowers helps make your house look attractive to others. If you have a driveway, keeping that in shape is essential, as well. Tend to any potential cracks and power wash the concrete.

Removing Clutter

There’s a chance your house has been your home for a substantial amount of time, and it’s filled with your belongings and memories. You need to remove as much mess as possible. Clean up any clutter for showings, so potential buyers can feel they have enough space and imagine themselves at home. For areas such as closets, removing at least half of your clothes can make the space seem roomier.

Cleaning is easily one of the most critical parts in successfully selling your home. Be as thorough as possible and watch your vibe appeal increase as a result.

Thinking about putting your home up for sale? Call us today at (419) 705-8693 to request a FREE demo.

May 09
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5 Cleaning Tips to Maintain Your Concrete Surfaces

By Concrete Cleaning

concrete surfacesWith summer right around the bend, many homeowners will be pursuing their deep-cleaning plans to prepare their homes for the warmer months. Many homeowners forget to include the cleaning of hard surfaces, such as concrete and natural stone in their cleaning efforts. These surfaces require routine maintenance and cleaning, especially if you want to keep them looking great between professional cleaning and sealing services.

To make sure the concrete surfaces of your patio and around your pool are ready in time for the spring and summer months, check out the following five ways to keep your hard surfaces looking as good as possible:

  1. Use Baking Soda or Vinegar-Based Solutions

Baking soda and vinegar are two great ingredients for cleaning cement and concrete patios. Both are safe and natural options. To remove heavy stains, use a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water. For a gentler cleaning solution, mix ½ cup baking soda with one gallon of water and 1/8 cup of liquid dishwashing detergent. Simply spray your patio thoroughly, scour, and rinse completely.

  1. Pressure Washing

If your patio is severely stained or mildewed, it might be a good idea to utilize a pressure washer, which can be rented or purchased at a tool rental center or your local home improvement store. Be sure to follow the directions when using the machine and to wear eye protection because these machines send water out in quick, forceful streams.

  1. Protect Stains with Concrete Sealer

When your patio is thoroughly cleaned, you can ensure it is safe from additional stains with the use of a concrete sealer. Always begin at the center of your patio and use a paint roller to spread the sealant out to the corners. When your patio is dry, it will be shiny and clear just in time your first barbecue of the season.

  1. Use Walk Off Mats

Dirt can erode the exterior layer of a hard surface, and it can cause serious damage if it is not kept at bay. If you have concrete flooring inside your home, experts say having at a walk off mat with a length of at least 5 feet can reduce approximately 35 percent of the soil from reaching a hard surface. Even better, a walk off mat of 25 feet can deter nearly all of the soil from getting to and deteriorating your hard surface floor covering.

  1. Conduct Routine Maintenance of Concrete Surfaces

The best way to avoid lasting stains and surface erosion to your hard surface flooring is to reduce the amount of debris and dirt that accumulates on a regular basis. Basic weekly or monthly upkeep means starting with dry maintenance procedures including sweeping, dusting, microfiber mopping, and vacuuming, and then moving on to wet maintenance procedures, such as spot and wet or damp mopping.

For questions about how to maintain your concrete surfaces, call Professional Surface Restoration at (419) 705-8693 today.

Nov 22
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How to Keep Your Natural Stone Floors Looking Their Best

By Natural Stone Cleaning

natural stone floor cleaningNatural stone flooring is an elegant, striking, and beautiful addition to any home. Stone floors are investments that homeowners should protect. Over time, natural stone floors can continue to shine like new and look their best, even with daily wear and tear. However, it will take a bit of maintenance on your part. Use these natural stone cleaning tips to preserve your flooring.

Dust Mop, Sweep, and Vacuum Regularly

Dirt and dust particles can scratch the surface of natural stone floors. One of the best maintenance tips for these types of floors is to regularly remove particles from the surface. Using a vacuum, soft-bristle broom, or dust mop frequently can eliminate abrasive materials and prevent harmful scratching. Never clean with anything that could scratch, etch, or damage the surface of the natural stones. Think soft, light, and gentle when removing dirt from your floors.

Do Not Use Typical Floor Cleaning Products

You may come across tips in cleaning blogs that recommend using products such as wax removers, grout removers, acid or bleach cleaners, and scouring pads to clean floors. DO NOT use these products on natural stone floors. Natural stone is durable, but does not do best with harsh chemical cleaners and abrasive materials. These can dull, damage, or stain the stone. To maintain your natural stone floors and keep them like new, only use neutral cleaners and those approved for use on natural stone.

Perform Light Cleaning Regularly

A typical natural stone cleaning involves dampening the surface of the stone with water, using a safe cleaning solution, and applying with a sponge or mop. You may also want to apply a finish periodically to increase the shine and luster of polished stone floors. There may be occasions, however, where a deep floor cleaning is necessary. For example, you may want to deep clean if you’ve neglected regular maintenance.

Heavy Duty Floor Clean Now and Then

To deep clean your natural stone floors, use a heavy-duty, non-hazardous stone cleaner and degreaser. Look for products with low percentages of volatile organic compounds to prevent floor damage. Apply the cleaner in a solution mixed with water with a sponge or mop. Follow directions for how long to let it sit. Mop up the solution and buff the floors dry. Rinse with clean water when finished.

Contact our team today to schedule a free, no-obligation demonstration of our amazing natural stone cleaning system in Toledo for your home or business.

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