CARING FOR YOUR STONE INSTALLATION

The natural stone you have purchased for your home or office is an investment that will give you many years of beautiful services. Stone is a natural product and simple care and maintenance will keep it looking beautiful. Here are some recommendations for routine care and cleaning.

PRECAUTIONS:

We recommend very highly that all natural stone surfaces be sealed with a penetrating sealer annually.
Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.
Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that can scratch the surface.

FLOOR SURFACES:

Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean, non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats and area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help To minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface.

OTHER SURFACES:

Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner (PH7), stone soap (available from stone dealer or hardware store) or a mild liquid dishwashing detergent and warm water. Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results. Too much cleaner or soap may leave a film and cause streaks. Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Rinse the surface thoroughly after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft cloth. Change the rinse water frequently. Do not use scouring powders or creams; these products contain abrasives that may scratch the surface. Never use Windex or similar products.

BATH AND OTHER WET AREAS:

In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a non-acidic soap scum remover or a solution of ammonia and water (about ½ cup ammonia to a gallon of water). Frequent or over-use of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone.

VANITY TOP SURFACES:

Vanity tops should have a penetrating sealer applied. Check with your installer for recommendations. A good quality marble wax or non-yellowing automobile paste wax can be applied to minimize water spotting.

FOOD PREPARATION AREAS:

In food preparation areas, the stone must have penetrating sealer applied. Check with your installer for recommendations. If a sealer is applied, be sure it’s non-toxic and safe for use on food preparation surfaces. If there is a question, check with the sealer manufacturer.

OUTDOOR POOL AND PATIO AREAS:

In an outdoor pool, patio or hot tub area, flush with clear water and use a mild bleach solution to remove algae or moss.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do dust mop floors frequently
Do clean surfaces with mild detergent or stone soap
Do thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing
Do blot up spills immediately
Do protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs and countertop
Protect surfaces with coasters, trivets or placemats
Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acid on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces
Don’t use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub and tile cleaners
Don’t use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers
Don’t mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas

Call your professional stone supplier, installer or restoration specialist for problems that appear too difficult to treat.

Stone Products Disclaimer

Today, more than ever, the beauty of natural stone is a favorite choice of designers, architects and homebuilders. For floors, walls and countertops there are a variety of natural stone surface finishes to choose from.

Regardless of which type of material used, all are susceptible to staining and surface wear. To ensure the natural stone provides a lifetime of beauty and function, proper stone care maintenance is recommended.

Natural Stone: All natural stone (granite, travertine, limestone, marble, slate and quartzite, etc.) are inherently subject to variation in shadings and markings and can vary from one shipment to another. Please be advised that each piece of natural stone is virtually unique. Its veining, shading, density and can vary from one box to another.

Understand that these qualities are inherent in the nature of the product. This is part of the beauty of natural stone. They are not considered latent defects and, therefore, Exclusively Yours: The Maui Home Design Center cannot be held liable for them.

Maui's Natural Stone & Tile Center

25 South Kahului Beach Road, Kahului HI 96732
Office: 808-871-7595
Fax: 808-871-7059
Info@EYDesignMaui.com
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
Closed Sunday

25 South Kahului Beach Road, Kahului HI 96732
Office: 808-871-8674,
Toll free: 800-833-2748
Fax: 808-877-0547
JRDoran@CeramicTilePlus.com
Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
Closed Sunday

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