Not All Cleaners Are Created Equal

Some Can Destroy Your Stone and Tile Surfaces

Your grandmother always told you that the house is not fully clean until you scrub the floors. And yet, cleaning your stone tile surfaces with the wrong substances or products can do more damage than good. You invested too much into your beautiful stone and tile to ruin it inadvertently with the wrong cleaning practices. 

Revivify Surface, LLC is your area surface experts in Washington and Vancouver. We specialize in cleaning all kinds of tile and other hard surfaces, so we know a thing or two about the best cleaners for tile and stone. Not all cleaners are created equal; in fact — some can completely ruin your expensive tile. 

Dangers in the Subscription Box Trend 

One of the most alluring trends now is subscription services that provide cleaners for everything in your home. They boast that you can eliminate loads of plastic from your routine, which is good for the environment, save time and money over store-bought products, and have on hand all sorts of cleansers for your home. Some even brag about using “natural ingredients” that are better for the environment. 

We know you don’t have time to research all these subscription cleaning products to see what they really contain, so we did it for you. Here are some of the leading services and what their products contain. 

• Blueland — The main ingredient in their multi-purpose and bathroom cleaner is Citric Acid, which destroys stone and tile.
• SuperNatural — This brand’s specific granite cleaner has Citric Acid. 
• Three Main — This brand advertises all-natural Citric Acid and Baking Soda, both of which strips all protective aspects from the porous surface of granite and other stone tiles. 
• Puracy — This brand claims that their “plant-based” Citric Acid cleaning agent is good for you; it just isn’t good at all for your stone surfaces, stripping and etching the surface. 
• Cleancult — These products boast refreshing scents. What they do not warn you about is the Citric Acid they contain is not safe for use on porous or natural stone materials. 
• Honest — They try to live up to their name; buried deep in the fine print they warn that their cleaner is not safe for use on porous surfaces like marble. 

Understanding Stone Tile 

In order to choose the best cleaners for stone and tile, it is important to understand the types of surfaces you have and how they react to different cleaners. For example, stone tile such as marble, quartz, and granite react negatively to high ph levels. This includes products with vinegar or that may be acidic. 

A common type of damage from acidic cleaning products is etching. It shows up as dull, pitted spots on the surface. The acidic materials in the cleaner actually erode the surface over time. If left to sit for any length of time, it can actually pit the surface, leaving tiny indentations. 

Determining Your Type of Stone

Use this basic guide to determine the type of stone used on your surfaces. 

• Granites have a distinct crystal pattern or small flecks. 
• Limestones are widely used as a building stone. Colors are typically gray, tan, or buff.
• Marbles are usually veined, fine-textured materials that come in virtually unlimited color selections. 
• Sandstones vary widely in color due to different minerals and clays found in the stone. Sandstone is light gray to yellow or red. 
• Slates are dark green, black, gray, dark red, or multi-colored. They are most commonly used as a flooring material and for roof tiles. 

You can also perform your own in-home acid sensitivity test to determine if your stone is siliceous (safe for acidic cleaners) or calcareous (can be harmed by acidic cleaners). Choose a hidden piece of stone tile and add several drops of an acidic solution far away from any mortar joint. You should witness two possible reactions: 

1. Acid drops will bubble or fizz vigorously – this means the stone is calcareous. 
2. Little or no reaction occurs – this means the stone is siliceous. 

What Cleaners Should You Use? 

The cleaner you choose for your expensive bathroom or kitchen stone tile should be safe for regular use. It should soften stains or stuck-on grime for removal without harming your porous stone surfaces. It should also not require a heavy amount of scrubbing, as this can also damage your stone tiles. 

When cleaning tile floors, always keep dry debris swept up. Sweeping daily, or at least weekly, is a good practice. When you clean your tile, use an absorbent mop or rag and change dirty mop water often. Use only a mild, non-acidic detergent soap mixed with water. Always dry your tile floors with a soft, dry cloth. Do not leave any mop or detergent residue to air dry. 

Revivify Surface, LLC recommends our Daily Maintenance Cleaner for all surfaces. It is completely safe for use on: 

• Marble
• Granite
• Limestone
• Quartz
• Ceramic Porcelain
• Corian
• Engineered Stone

This product is used daily by our cleaning technicians on a wide variety of surfaces, so you know it is safe to use throughout your home. Contact us today to purchase your own supply of Revivify Daily Maintenance Cleaner and keep your stone tiles safe and clean for many years to come.