Tips On Properly Maintaining Your Marble Floors

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Marble is a very soft, yet quite durable stone, and is much softer than granite. It is also considered to be highly porous, as such, it could be easily etched by vinegar, orange juice, tomato juice and other acids. Some marble types are also prone to developing water stains and spots.

Limestone, tumbled marble, and slate tiles are among the most elegant flooring materials used for homes, and are valued as much for their unique textures and color hues. Natural stone tiles, like marble however, must be sealed to prevent stains. The right sealants and treatment methods can help in bringing out the elegance of marble floor tiles.

What You Need To Consider When Choosing The Right Floor Tiles

When selecting materials for your living room, dining room or kitchen flooring, you need to consider materials that are both beautiful and durable.

A room's flooring can be used to accent the counters, cabinets, and other appliances that are present. However, the type of floor tile must be able to endure daily wear and tear, such as spills and heavy traffic. It's important to choose the right material to be used in flooring. If you are looking for elegance and durability as well, marble floor tiles make for a wise and economical long-term choice.

In addition, a floor tile's finish can even show effective perceptions of size and space. A high-gloss finish can add to the perception of spaciousness. A more subdued or a matte finish can make a space look smaller. Using a marble tile with light colors, such as white or pale cream will generally work well with a wooden cabinet finish and most counter tops and kitchen floors.

Simple, Yet Effective Cleaning Options For Marble Tiles

If your polished marble tiles are protected by a floor finishing sealant, the finish should be buffed and reapplied periodically to keep the surface regularly clean and sparkling. Since marble is a sensitive and porous material, it is advisable to only clean it with a neutral pH cleaning solution.

Common kitchen detergents are not advisable, since they may have ingredients that could corrode the tile's surface, or cause it to discolor. After applying the cleaning solution, wipe the tile dry to remove water spots and blemishes. Here's a simple, hassle-free method of regularly cleaning your marble tiles, and keeping them shiny and appealing for longer periods.

- Keep marble surfaces dust free. Dust and mop them occasionally with a soft, clean mop.

- Carefully clean with water and a mild neutral ph cleanser specially developed for stone surfaces.

- Use a separate mop/cloth, specifically reserved for stone. Change mop water always.

- Install floor mats at entrances to trap dirt, sand, gravel, etc.

- Polish, rather than wax the tiles with a polishing method suited to your particular type of stone.

The steps noted above are among the simplest methods in cleaning marble floors. Obviously this isn't a restoration program, and just a typical floor tile cleaning guide. However, if your floors require more than this, you may need to consult with your nearest home improvement store, in looking for more appropriate and effective cleaning solutions for your marble floors.