Natural stone lasts a long time if you keep acid and grit off it. One acidic cleaner can etch marble in seconds, and one missed reseal can turn a splash into a stubborn stain.
This is what we tell GTA homeowners and facility managers every week. For damage that's already there, see stone problems.
Rules for every room
Do
Use coasters, especially under wine, citrus, and cocktails
Blot spills at once, and never wipe them across dry stone
Use neutral hand soap (many liquid soaps are acidic)
Keep cosmetics and perfume in a tray
Clean mirrors with neutral cleaner, since glass spray landing on marble can etch it
Don't
Leave wet toothbrushes or razors on the stone
Use powder or cream cleansers, which scratch
Colour hair or paint nails over marble or travertine
When to call a pro: Etched rings by the sink, holes opening up in travertine, or failed caulk letting water behind the stone. See shower and grout restoration.
Showers, travertine, and limestone
Travertine and limestone are calcite stones. Like marble, they etch from acid and need regular sealing, so a travertine shower needs as much care as a marble one.
Do
Squeegee walls and floor after the last shower of the day
Use a stone-safe soap-film remover (ask us which cleaner to use)
Put a mat at the washroom door to keep grit off honed floors
Write a neutral daily cleaner into the janitorial contract
Don't
Let night crews use "bathroom disinfectant" on stone vanity tops
Ignore uneven or loose floor tiles, which trip people and let water in
Wait until water darkens the whole floor before resealing
Scheduled sealing protects washroom stone, and anti-slip treatment on wet honed floors lowers the risk of slips.
Toilets on stone floors
Standard toilet bowl cleaner is acidic. Its splashes and fumes etch marble, limestone, and travertine on contact, so use a non-acid cleaner and wipe up drips right away.
Floors and entryways
Do
Put mats inside and outside exterior doors, especially in winter
Put felt pads on chair and table legs
Dry-mop or vacuum grit before you wet-mop
Don't
Let salt, sand, or mud dry into the floor
Drag luggage, boxes, or metal legs across the stone
Use a steam mop without the installer's OK, as heat and pressure can break down some sealers
When to call a pro: Flaking, white powdery deposits, or widespread etching need a look before anyone tries an acid wash, which can make them worse. See deep stone cleaning.
