Marble, Granite, Limestone & Travertine should be washed with a clean, soft cloth and fresh warm water.  Then as an additional safeguard, wash your natural stone surfaces periodically with warm water and a mild neutral detergent. This should remove any residue which may have become ingrained.

• Do not use sandpaper or cleaners containing grit or abrasives on natural stone surfaces.
• Use a coaster 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.
• All natural stone should be sealed to protect the finish.  Please consult a qualified applicator for advice on the correct sealer to use on your stone.

Blot the spill with a paper towel immediately. Don’t wipe the area, it will spread the spill. Flush the area with water and neutral cleaner or stone safe cleaner and rinse several times. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth. Repeat as necessary.

Dust mop interior floors frequently using a clean non‐treated dry dust mop.  Sand, dirt & grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness.  Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimise 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.   Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn, as the metal and plastic attachments may scratch the surface.

Clean the stone surface with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available at hardware stores or from your stone dealer).  Use a clean rag mop on floors and a soft cloth for other surfaces for best results.

• Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on natural stone surfaces.  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.

In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimised 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 one gallon of water).  Frequent or overuse of an ammonia solution may eventually dull the surface of the stone.

Vanity tops may need to have a penetrating sealer applied.  Check with your installer for recommendations.  A good quality marble wax can be applied to minimise water spotting.

Clean your vanity regularly with a neutral cleaner / stone safe cleaner. Dilute product 1:1 with tap water and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

In food preparation areas, the stone may need to have penetrating sealer applied.  Sealing does not make the stone stain proof; rather it makes the stone more stain resistant.  If a sealer is applied, be sure that it is nontoxic and safe for use on food preparation surfaces.  

Consult with your supplier or sealing manufacturer to specify the type of sealer and frequency of use recommended.

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

• Do dust mop floor 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 & countertop surfaces with coaster, trivets or placemats
• Don’t use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on natural stone surfaces
• Don’t use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners
• Don’t use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleaners or soft cleaners
• Don’t mix bleach and ammonia: this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas