Slate Tile
If you have slate tile in your home or business, you know it is very textured,
which make them hard to clean.
The texture is from the layers of sediment that have been compressed over the millions of years
to form the slate.
The slate rock or now tile, shows the natural "cleave" or natural break in the rock
along the preferred plane of weakness.
This is where the texture shows the planes of the slate and uneveness of the tile itself.
It is this uneven part of the slate tile where the dirt builds up and needs to be cleaned and
scrubbed once in a while.
Cleaning slate tile
can be a challenge due to the uneveness of the slate and the only way to clean them is by
scrubbing them with a bristled brush.
In general, mopping slate floors regularly with a
neutral floor cleaner
and a flat mop, will be the best and easiest way to maintain your slate floor.
Whether
cleaning slate floors,
cleaning slate showers,
or cleaning slate countertops,
we know it is a challenge, but keep reading and learn how you can clean your
slate surfaces.
Sealing slate
after they're installed and after a deep cleaning is always a great idea if you want them to stay looking good.
How to Clean Slate
The first thing you want to do before you begin with the heavy duty cleaning is, sweep or vacuum the
entire area you're going to cleaning.
You also want to have a plan of where to begin and end, working small areas at a time.
Work an area about 5 ft. X 5 ft. or you can even double this area if you want.
Spread your cleaning solution with either a mop or your deck brush, saturating the slate tiles.
After dwelling, use your grout brushes for the grout lines, and your deck brushes for scrubbing the slate.
Scrub rigorously, cleaning the lowest areas of the slate the best you can.
Either mop up the dirty solution or use a wet/dry vac to suck up the dirty solution.
If you use the wet/dry vac, make sure to remove the filter before sucking up the solution.
Now rinse with warm water with a mop or pour water on the area and use your wet/dry vac to suck it up.
Dry with cotton or microfiber cloths.
Continue with this method until the entire floor has been cleaned and you are satisfied.
Allow the slate floor to dry completely before sealing. It's important to seal the slate floor, because
slate tile is porous and will stain.
The
slate sealer
we recommend is a color enhancer penetrating sealer.
A
color enhancer
will not only protect the slate, but darken the stone, bringing out the natural colors.
When it comes to cleaning slate or just maintaining natural stone and tile and grout, we strive to help educate our
customers on the best protection they can have, helping them save time and money in costly restoration costs down the road.