Your limestone floor is newly installed and is looking as beautiful as you hoped. Now, you want to know how to clean limestone tiles and look after your stone tiles so that they will stay their best for years to come. A wonderful feature of limestone is its forgiving nature, thanks to natural markings, fossils and tonal variation from tile to tile – so many of our customers are amazed at how great limestone is at disguising day to day dirt! Whilst many may worry that it is hard to clean and look after limestone tiles, we have a few helpful tips to keep things simple and make certain your limestone floor is well-maintained and cared for.
Quorn Stone's Quick Guide
1. Use a cleaner suitable for limestone
2. Vacuum or sweep regularly with soft brush attachments
3. Occasional mopping
4. Re-seal the tiles when necessary
5. Spot clean spillages
What not to do
1. Avoid using harsh cleaners such as bleach and commercial bathroom products
2. Avoid leaving spillages on the surface of the limestone for long periods of time (especially acidic substances such as red wine, coffee and lemon juice)
3. Avoid scrubbing with anything overly abrasive or a detergent that has abrasives in
1. Use a cleaner suitable for limestone
First and foremost, ensure you use a cleaner suitable for limestone. Limestone is a natural material and should not be cleaned with any harsh or commercial cleaners such as bleach – acidic cleaners will eat away at the sealant and eventually damage the stone. We recommend finding a pH neutral cleaner, such as Lithofin Wash & Clean, diluted in warm water. This product is made for natural stone and will help clean, enhance, and maintain the natural surface of your tiles. Some cleaners may say ‘suitable for natural stone’. When trying any new cleaner, we always suggest doing a patch test in an inconspicuous area of the floor to be safe.
2. Vacuum or sweep regularly with soft brush attachments
For daily maintenance and cleaning of limestone tiles, we advise sweeping and vacuuming with a soft brush attachment. This is very effective at removing any dirt or dust off the surface of your stone floor. It is important to only vacuum or sweep when mud or dirt is dry, doing so on wet or fresh mud runs the risk of spreading the dirt across and into the grout. A wonderful feature of limestone is its forgiving nature, thanks to natural details, fossils, and variation from tile to tile – so many of our customers are amazed at how great limestone is at disguising day to day dirt!
3. Occasional mopping
Following regular vacuuming and sweeping, we do also recommend a deeper clean with occasional mopping. Ensuring you use a pH neutral floor cleaner made for natural stone (as mentioned above) and that the floor is clear of any excess mud, dirt or dust, will help clean and maintain your limestone floor over the years. With mopping, less is often more! We recommend keeping this to a minimum. Excessive mopping will wear away at the sealant sooner and is more likely to cause grout to discolour over time. We advise against using a steam cleaner on limestone as this will affect the longevity of the sealant.
4. Re-seal the tiles when necessary
Upon installation, sealing your tiles is a crucial step to help keep limestone tiles clean and protected. The sealant acts as a protective barrier against water and stains. We recommend Lithofin Stain Stop which is a matte sealant that will not darken the colour of your tiles. For most indoor spaces such as kitchens, ground floors and hallways, resealing should be done every 4-6 years. For bathrooms or areas with high moisture levels, resealing may be needed more often. A great way to test if your floor needs resealing is to drop a little water onto the surface. If the sealant is still effective, the water will bead on the surface, if water soaks straight into the tiles, this is usually a sign that your limestone floor needs resealing. Resealing is a very simple job that you can do yourself.
5. Spot clean spillages
Whilst sealant can protect limestone against many day-to-day spills, it cannot protect against harsh chemicals or acidic spills. This includes things like wine, orange juice, lemon, coffee and puppy accidents! The best way to keep your limestone floor at its best is to spot clean any spillages as soon as they happen, just as you would with any other flooring covering. Spot cleaning can be simply done with a cloth and warm water, ensuring all trace of the spillage is gone. Remember, the quicker a spillage is cleaned up, the less likely it is to leave a mark.
6. Be prepared for stains with Power Clean
Once limestone is sealed, it is fairly resistant to staining. With the odd occasion where stains may occur from a mishap, we advise having a bottle of Lithofin Power Clean at the ready in your cupboard. This stone friendly cleaner can be used neat on a stain or diluted in warm water to clean your entire floor and is a great, powerful product to remove those unexpected stains.
FAQ's on cleaning natural stone tiles
How to clean dirty limestone tiles?
To clean limestone tiles, we recommend regularly sweeping and vacuuming with a soft brush attachment to remove surface dirt or dust. If you are looking for a deeper clean, we recommend occasional mopping or using a cloth with warm water and a pH neutral stone cleaner. Ensuring your floor is clear of excess mud or debris before mopping and the pH neutral cleaner is suitable for natural stone.
What is the best cleaning solution for limestone?
The best cleaning solution for limestone is a pH neutral stone cleaner that’s designed for natural stone. These natural stone friendly cleaners are effective without removing the sealant or damaging the surface.
How do you make limestone look new again?
Whilst limestone tiles are forgiving and durable, it is important to maintain them correctly to keep them looking their best. To restore the appearance of your limestone floor, we recommend a deep clean using Lithofin Power-Clean, formulated to remove stubborn dirt, oil and grease. To keep your tiles protected we recommend resealing them approx. every 4-6 years. For more detailed advice on treating stains read this article on How to Remove Stains from Natural Stone Tiles.
What should you not use on limestone?
We strongly advise against using bleach or any harsh chemicals to clean your limestone floor tiles. Instead, make sure you use a pH neutral cleaner or a stone-friendly cleaner (that says it is suitable for natural stone). We also recommend to not use a steam cleaner or abrasive materials, as this can affect the longevity of the sealant and potentially damage the stone over time.
All advice within this article is given in good faith, always follow manufacturers guidelines. We recommend conducting a test in a discreet area prior to a full application of products. Wear appropriate clothing and protective wear, such as gloves and glasses. Keep pets and children away from any treated areas until any products used have been removed.
If you found this post helpful, we also have guidance on the difference between limestone and porcelain and how to clean natural stone paving. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.
