How to Clean Slate Flooring
Slate flooring is a highly popular natural stone tile, and it is easy to see why! It provides a warm, unique and beautifully rustic appearance to the home.
Like all natural stone flooring, you should clean and seal slate tiles regularly to maintain their properties. If you’re going to be shelling out for slate flooring anytime soon, you will want to know how to keep it looking its very best!
How to Clean Stains on Slate Flooring
- Mix a small amount of rubbing alcohol, approximately 120ml, with water
- Dampen a cloth and wipe at the stain gently, working from the outside of the stain to the centre
- If the stain is tough and doesn’t lift the first time, repeat the process until the spot is cleared
- Rinse the area with a damp cloth and clean water. You must ensure that no water is left sitting on the surface of the stone
- Dry the area with a microfibre cloth or towel
You should always avoid abrasive cloths or mops on natural stone floors. Never use an acidic floor cleaner, and stay well away from DIY methods that involve vinegar. When used in the correct way on certain tile types, vinegar can do a very good job at lifting stains and spots from flooring – but it is very acidic and can cause lasting damage to the stone tiles.
We recommend using warm water and a mild cleaning solution. A floor cleaner with a neutral PH or mild alkaline properties will work wonders on your tiles without damaging them.
Daily Cleaning and Maintenance
One of the most attractive properties of slate is its durability. Slate is one of the strongest natural stone floor types – making it naturally resistant to scratches, chips and cracks. Despite its hard-wearing nature, you need to be clean slate regularly. With regular cleaning and sealant application, slate is a brilliant choice of flooring for any kitchen or bathroom.
Daily cleaning and maintenance of slate flooring is not as gruelling as you may expect. The stone should be dust-mopped regularly – a daily dust mop would be ideal but a few times per week would also be sufficient depending on the amount of foot traffic in the tiled area. Dust mopping or vacuuming the stone tiles should be a regular task as it will remove surface dirt and debris from the floor. Be mindful of vacuuming stone tiles as old, worn wheels can leave scratches on the stone – you can read how to keep your vacuum in tip top condition here on our blog.
The slate tiles should be cleaned once per week to keep them looking their very best. A damp mop and a mixture of warm water with a gentle cleaning solution will remove any dirt and dust hiding below the surface. A mild cleaning product that is designed specifically for slate or natural stone tiles will also be suitable.
Once you’ve cleaned the stone flooring, go over it once again with the mop and a clean water. Make sure there are no puddles or spots of excess water, lightly towel dry and leave the tiles to dry thoroughly overnight.
A few things to consider
- Depending on the quality of the tile, slate can be much more expensive than other stone tile options such as granite
- Due to the unique texture and style of slate, it will be difficult to find tiles to match if you need to repair or replace a section of the flooring
- Natural stone flooring requires professional installation and removal due to the heavy lifting and expert knowledge involved
Conclusion
Natural slate tiles are unique, beautiful and very hard-wearing. Perfect for any kitchen, bathroom or high traffic area in the home, slate tiles will last years with regular cleaning and proper maintenance.
To keep your slate tiles in the best condition possible and your investment protected, we would always recommend using a professional cleaning service like XL Cleaners at least once per year. A professional will also apply a sealant to the tiles for you to protect against stains or damage.
Areas we cover:
We cover Liverpool and surrounding areas including Southport, The Wirral, St Helens, Widnes, Burscough, Formby, Hightown, Ormskirk, Rainford, Rufford & Skelmersdale