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How To Clean Marble Floors
An area that causes some cleaning contractors to scratch their
heads, is the best way to clean marble
floors. Asking janitorial supply houses or stores that sell marble
flooring will almost always lead to different answers on the best way
to clean and take care of marble floors. Suggestions on cleaning vary
from using an all-purpose cleaner to plain water to vinegar. But these
are not the ingredients that you need to care for the marble floors
in your buildings.
Begin with by realizing that marble is a natural stone so you
need to treat it differently than other types of flooring. Stone floors
are sensitive and you can ruin the surface if you use the wrong chemical
to clean it. An acid based product may scratch and etch polished stone.
The surface can actually be eaten away by an acid based cleaner with
the result being a floor looking dull or pitted.
Using plain city water can cause a different set of problems.
City water is usually treated with chemicals and may contain salt to
soften the water. After drying, the water can leave behind residue from
the chemicals and may leave a cloudy look across the floor.
The use of an all-purpose cleaner can lead to a dulling or scratched
appearance if the cleaner has not been developed for use on stone floors.
So where do you begin? The type of cleaning you need to do will
decide which process and chemicals you should be using.
The daily cleaner should be a mild product recommended for use
on marble floors. The product should be able to remove residue from
spills such as coffee and soft drinks, but will more than likely not
be strong enough to remove stains or heavy soil build-up. The pH of
a daily product should be neutral (pH7).
The heavy-duty cleaner will contain stronger solutions that can
cut through heavy soil build-up and even some stains that have gone
unnoticed for a time. A typical heavy-duty cleaner will have a higher
pH, probably around 10 or 11. As these are strong solutions, they can
affect the surface of marble and you should use them cautiously and
only when necessary.
Stain
removers are specialty cleaners and can do a great deal of harm
to a marble floor if you don't take the proper care. Only use these
stain removers if nothing else has worked.
Once you have decided on the chemical you need to use, begin
by deep cleaning the floor. Deep cleaning will remove spills that daily
maintenance has missed. Make sure to use a cleaner that has been designed
for use on natural stone -- a heavy-duty cleaner with a pH of 9 or 10
will work best. Follow all label directions, especially when it comes
to diluting the chemical - more isn't better.
Mop the cleaner on to the floor, and then gently agitate the
cleaning solution. Avoid the use of abrasive pads as they can scratch
and damage the
floor. Let the cleaning solution soak for about 10 minutes. Then agitate
the solution again and use a wet vac or mop to remove the solution.
It may be necessary to rinse the floor. Once the process is complete
examine the floor for any residual soil or stains.
At this point it may be necessary to try to identify any remaining
stains and clean them with the suitable stain remover. Try to find out
if the stain is from a water-based or oil-based product. If the stain
has been there a long time or is difficult to identify it may be necessary
to re-polish the floor with specialized equipment. If you have a good
idea of what the stain is, try a stain remover in an inconspicuous area
to make sure that it will not harm the floor.
Once you've cleaned the floor, keep it looking its best with
a daily maintenance program. Use a neutral cleaner made specifically
for marble floors. Follow the label directions carefully, especially
when determining the dilution ratio.
After cleaning the floor, evaluate it for any potential problems.
Check for areas with deep soiling or scratches and re-polish these areas
to keep the floor looking its best. A regular program of routine maintenance
and inspections can stop small problems before they grow into large
headaches.
Another important step in keeping marble floors looking their
best is through prevention. Use walk-off mats to protect and prevent
scratches on the marble. Use mats that not only catch dirt and soil
from shoes, but that will also absorb liquids. Make sure the mat used
is long enough to do the job. During winter months or periods of bad
weather, consider running mats from the front door to the elevators.
Make sure to dust mop the floor to pick up any soil that is not picked
up by the floor mats.
Keeping marble floors looking good means spending time evaluating
the floor and finding the suitable products to care for the floor. The
proper maintenance program for your marble floors will not only make
the floor shine, but your company as well.
Steve Hanson is co-founding member of TheJanitorialStore.com,
an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who
want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign
up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at www.TheJanitorialStore.com
and receive a Free Gift. Read cleaning success stories from owners of
cleaning companies at www.cleaning-success.com/
.
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