Introducing Athena Aftercare

One of the questions we are most frequently asked after we restore someone’s natural stone is: how do I keep it looking like this? It is this that led us to develop Athena Aftercare.

It’s a concise guide explaining how to care for natural stone without needing a professional. Looking after natural stone shouldn’t be hard, expensive or time consuming. It is all about having the right advice from the moment it is installed.

Natural stone has been used in building for centuries so there is no denying that it is durable. With the right care and attention, it can also look beautiful for year to come. Being able to restore, repair and recycle stone also means that it is a great choice for anyone looking to build with sustainability and longevity in mind. After all, natural stone will never go out of fashion, so your limestone floor will always be on trend no matter how many times you change your furniture style, redecorate or renovate.

Floors Facts

With each client that we see, we will spend around half an hour discussing the exact cleaning regime that we would recommend for their specific natural stone floor. The advice that we would give to someone with 150sqm of tumbled limestone who lives in the countryside with 3 dogs and a smallholding is slightly different to someone with a polished marble hallway in Central London. However, the basic principles are the same and we have simplified this into wet and dry-cleaning recommendations.

Dry Cleaning
Stone flooring does not need to be wet-cleaned everyday in fact we would advise against it. It is important though to regularly sweep the floor to remove dirt, dust and debris that could easily scratch the stone surface. We advise against using a vacuum and recommend instead sweeping the floor. This is much quicker and efficient compared to vacuuming and doesn’t run the risk of scratching the floor.

Wet Cleaning
One of the tricks with wet cleaning is not to over-wet the floor. Frequent use of a steam cleaner for example can damage the stone. When mopping the floor, it is also key to ensure that you do not let the dirty water dry into the floor. Especially with an open textured or pitted floor that is protected with an impregnating sealant.

The most important thing to remember when cleaning a natural stone floor is to use the right cleaning detergent. Many household cleaners are not stone safe as they contain acidic ingredients. Others will contain highly alkaline ingredients which can damage the sealant. PH neutral cleaning products will emulsify the dirt without risking damage to the sealant or the stone surface. For our clients, we recommend the range by Fila which are also eco-friendly and VOC free.

Bathroom Basics

The good news is that when it comes to bathrooms, the rules are the same. Ensuring that only pH neutral cleaning products are used is of the utmost importance. It is worth considering other cleaning fluids used in the bathroom and how they could impact the stone. For example, bleach used to clean a toilet could damage a marble floor and many glass and mirror cleaners are acidic too. A little caution when cleaning can go a long way.

Probably the most important thing to be aware of with natural stone in a bathroom is the impact that even water itself can have. In a hard water area and the pH of the water is not 7. This means that water that is left to pool on a sink or drip down the walls of the shower, will leave hard water deposits on the surface that can eventually etch the surface of the stone. We always advise clients to cleaning the shower and bath area daily. The easiest and most effective way is to spray the walls and floor of the stall with a stone-safe cleaner, then squeegee down after everybody in the home has taken a shower for the day. It is vital not to be tempted by limescale removers that are commonly available in the supermarkets as these will damage the stone surface and require professional restoration.

Worktops Wisdom

As with bathrooms and floors it is essential to regularly clean your marble worktop but to do so only using a stone-specific pH neutral cleaner. As marble is acid sensitive, the key is to try and keep the exposure to acid as minimal as possible. Vinegars, wine, lemon and anything that you might cook with that is acidic needs to be kept on a tray or plate or just away from the worktop altogether. If an acidic spill does occur, then we would advise to blot this rather than wiping it as this will just spread the damage. The chemical etching caused by acid on marble is almost instant and so the damage is done at this point. There will be little that you can do yourself to rectify this, but it can usually be restored to look like new.

Final Thoughts

Choosing natural stone over a man-made surface is an investment. If you bought a designer pair of shoes you would take the time to put them back in the box after each wear and if you bought a sports car, you probably wouldn’t take it through the car wash. For those who want their stone to continue to age elegantly, then just a few steps can keep it looking stunning. For a PDF copy of Athena Aftercare to share with your clients please email [email protected] or visit www.athenastonecare.co.uk for more guidance and advice.

If you’d like to feature your news or stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.