How Do You Clean And Shine Slate Floors?

Download Article

While slate floors are attractive, they benefit from regular upkeep. Slate is porous and absorbs stains.^[ane] It'southward also very soft and can easily be chipped and eroded past acids and difficult scrub brushes. By attacking stains immediately and cleaning with soft mops, you can continue your slate floor vibrant for longer.

1

Sweep or vacuum the floor. With a soft-bristle broom, go along the flooring, removing whatsoever droppings. You can too use a vacuum with a castor attachment to get between the crevices. Recall that slate is soft and easily damaged, so y'all want to choose a brush that is clean and as soft as possible.
2

Grit mop the flooring. Choose a clean grit mop that is non oil-based. Run the mop in i direction over the floor to pick up debris and dust. Avoid moving back and forth, as this will movement the dust back onto the slate and cause impairment when you make clean later.^[two]

Advertisement
3
Gear up a water and detergent mixture. In a bucket, combine about a gallon of warm water with ^ane⁄_four cup (59 ml) of detergent. The detergent should be gentle to avoid abrading the floor. Choose a detergent for delicate clothing or a gentle dish lather.
- Specialized slate cleaners are likewise an pick. These should be non-acidic. Follow the directions on the container.^[iii]
4
Mop the flooring. Wring out the mop before you start and make smoothen strokes. Go slow. Rinse your mop and wring it out often to avert any debris clinging to it and getting worked into the porous slate.
- Steam mops are as well an selection. Cheque the hardware store. These mops pick upwardly extra condensation and dirt.
- Anytime the mop appears to be leaving streaks or debris on the flooring, dump out your water and brand the water and detergent mixture once again.
5

Dry the flooring with a towel. Choose a soft textile that won't scrape the slate, then wipe off as much water equally possible. This will prevent the h2o from seeping into the pores. Subsequently, let the floor air dry.
6
Apply teak oil. One time the surface has dried, apply a thin layer of teak oil with a soft material. A small amount of oil will ensure a deeper cleaning, but don't apply enough that the slate begins to absorb it.^[4]
- Slate oil is as well a skillful choice, but tends to be much more than expensive than teak oil.
7

Echo cleaning in two to three months. Slate is a very delicate fabric, then your floor benefits from getting a soap and water launder every few months. This removes grime and prevents stains and the demand to perform deeper, more difficult cleaning later.
viii

Use a sealer. Stone and tile sealers are available at flooring retailers and hardware stores. Follow the directions on the characterization. Apply a clean cotton wool mop to spread the sealer evenly across the floor. This will preclude stains by blocking the pores from spills.

Advertisement

1

Wipe upwardly spills immediately. Tackle spills equally soon every bit they happen to avoid any substance getting into the porous surface. Utilise a soft material or towel.^[v]
2

Rub out stains. Choose a clean sponge or a scrub castor with soft, not-metallic beard. Also avoid using any acidic or abrasive cleaners. You lot can use the warm, soapy water from mopping to scrub the stains.
3
Utilise hydrogen peroxide. For floors with non-colored grout only, mix an equal amount of water and hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on, allow it sit for ten minutes, then scrub it off with a soft pad or brush.^[6]
- This is a bleach mixture, and then information technology will take the colour out of colored grout.
4

Apply peroxide and baking soda. For stubborn stains, mix small amounts of peroxide and baking soda to form a paste. Wait for the bubbles to terminate, then put the paste on the stains. Allow it set for a few minutes, then wipe it clean with a soft fabric or towel.^[7]
5
Use shaving cream on colored grout. Apply the shaving cream to the stains, permit it sit for 15 minutes, then remove it with warm water and a soft towel.^[8]
- Remember to try the shaving cream in an inconspicuous spot to make certain it doesn't discolor the grout.
6
Pour absorbent material on oil stains. Attempt absorptive materials such as kitty litter. Cover the stain with the cloth and leave information technology for ten minutes for a new stain or several hours for an quondam stain. Carefully vacuum it upwardly when washed.^[nine]
- If repeated attempts don't remove the stain, mix equal amounts of baking soda and water, cover the stain with the resulting paste, and get out the paste on the stain to dry.
- If baking soda doesn't piece of work, cascade mineral spirits on the stain, exit it for half an hour, scrub with a potent brush, and then soak with newspaper and wash the expanse.
- If that doesn't work, spray brake oil on the stain then attempt the absorbent material again.
Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

What is the best mop to use on slate that has small-scale pieces of pigment or but plain dirt stuck to information technology?

Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over xxx years of construction experience, Marking specializes in constructing interiors, project direction, and projection estimation. He has been a construction professional since 1987.

Structure Professional

Expert Answer
Question

What is the best cleaner for slate tile?

Jon Gholian is a Cleaning Specialist and the Founder of Cleany, a home and function cleaning concierge service based in New York City, New Jersey & Miami. Cleany specializes in providing quality cleaning and handyman services to all their customers. All Cleany employees are insured, bonded, and professionally trained. Cleany has been featured in the New York Times, Bravo & Redfin.

Cleaning Specialist

Practiced Respond

Support wikiHow by unlocking this skilful answer.

When yous're cleaning slate tiles, you tin can use a mild laundry detergent, mild dish soap, or a slate cleaner. Nosotros suggest using a commercial production to get optimal results and to ensure your floors are protected.
Question

What cleaner should I utilise on slate floors?

To ensure your floors aren't damaged, but use hot water to clean.
Question

My slate flooring is nighttime gray and has white stains in several places. I tried bleach and information technology fabricated it more obvious. What should I practise next? Could ice table salt make stains similar that?

It could. Slate needs an alkaline cleaner, then don't utilize bleach or an acrid unless you do it uniformly beyond the whole stone to remove sedimentary layers in the rock. You probably desire a professional to practice an acid launder if that's your choice. Otherwise, use a cleaner specifically for slate.
Question

Our outdoor patio is very rough uneven slate. We want to clean and seal it. What is the best method and products to use?

Try sweeping, dusting, and mopping kickoff. Y'all'll want to be conscientious to avoid damaging the rough or uneven parts. There are specialized cleaners, simply you can also use water and a gentle detergent. Your options in commercial cleaners are numerous, but brand sure they're either designed for slate or not acidic. For sealing, information technology'due south up to you what y'all choose depending on the look yous want, but there are numerous products such as StoneTech Stone Sealer that will work. You may demand to strip off the previous previous coatings.
Question

I have a modest corporeality of dark gray slate in forepart of the fireplace. It's pretty clean, but how exercise you make it a little shinier?

First clean the area as much equally you lot can. Once all debris is removed, stains gone, and the slate done, yous can try to seal it. Sealants include wax, polish, and deeper, longer-lasting sealers. Depending on your choice, you lot'll need to strip and replace the sealant anywhere from every iii months to years.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

If the stain is small-scale and persistent, you may be able to remove it past flaking off a piece of the slate itself. Utilise a blast or other blunt object to gently remove the surface area around the stain. Be extremely careful and then that y'all do non damage your floor.
Commercial grout cleaner is available, but be certain the cleaner does not contain bleach earlier using it on colored grout.
1 way to prevent stains on slate is to apply floor sealant. Tile and rock sealant tin can be purchased at tile stores. Employ two or three coats of sealant over the stone or grout with a cord mop.

Do not use cleaner with acid in it. This includes vinegar. Some laundry detergents are environmentally friendly and work well on slate floors.
Do not utilise safe-backed rugs or mats on slate floors, equally the rubber may damage the floor.
Do not apply an oil-based dust mop.

Things Yous'll Need

Broom
Dust mop
Bucket
Water
Cleanser
Moisture mop
Brush
Hydrogen peroxide
Baking soda
Shaving cream
Tile sealant

Virtually This Article

Commodity Summary X

To make clean slate floors, sweep the flooring with a soft-bristle broom or vacuum with a brush zipper. Slate is soft and tin be easily damaged, so make sure you lot choose a brush that is as make clean and soft equally possible. Mop the floor with a mixture of warm h2o and a gentle detergent or slate cleaner. Rinse and wring out the mop frequently to ensure you don't work dirt into the slate'due south porous surface. Dry out the floor thoroughly with a clean towel, and so use a small-scale amount of teak or slate oil to the floor. Continue reading to acquire how to remove stains from your slate floors.

Did this summary assist you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 215,567 times.