Natural Stone Care: A Room-by-Room Guide

Featured Image: Hot Pot Placed on a Trivet on a Natural Stone Kitchen Countertop

Natural stone brings a sense of character and timeless beauty to a home. From the distinctive veining of granite to the soft, natural variation of limestone and the texture of travertine, each stone has its own qualities, as well as its own care considerations.

Unlike manufactured surfaces, marble and other natural stones are porous and can respond differently to moisture, spills, cleaning products, and everyday wear. Understanding the maintenance needs of your particular stone is the first step toward keeping it looking beautiful for years to come.

Image: Wiping Down a Natural Stone Kitchen Countertop Island with a pH-Balanced Neutral

While care requirements can vary by stone and application, a few simple cleaning practices can go a long way toward protecting various types of natural stone. Keeping up with these basics can help minimize everyday wear and keep natural stone looking its best:

• Sweep or dust-mop first – The first step for natural stone flooring care is to remove dirt and grit before adding water or cleaner.
• Consider pets – Dogs and cats can track in dirt, grit, and moisture, so clean up spills promptly and remove loose debris regularly.
• Keep the mop damp – Use a damp mop rather than soaking the floor’s surface and avoid leaving excess water behind.
• Choose a pH-neutral cleaner – For routine cleaning, use a pH-neutral or pH-balanced cleaner specifically formulated for natural stone.
• Wipe countertop spills promptly – Water, food, oils, and other spills should be cleaned up as soon as possible to help minimize the potential for staining.
• Clean countertops regularly – For everyday countertop care, clean with warm water and apH-balanced neutral cleaner. Then dry the surface with a clean, soft cloth.
• Keep stone sealed when appropriate – Sealing can help reduce the absorption of moisture and staining agents. The appropriate sealing schedule varies by stone and use, so follow the recommendations for your specific material.

These basics provide a good starting point, but different rooms put different demands on natural stone. Below are suggestions for how to approach natural stone care in a few main areas of your home.

Natural Stone Care, Room by Room

Each room has its own combination of everyday messes, moisture, and wear. Some simple adjustments to your cleaning routine can help protect the natural stone.

Image: Cleaning a Natural Stone Entryway Floor with pH-Neutral Stone Cleaner

Natural Stone in Entryways

Your entryway is often the first place in the home to encounter dirt, grit, moisture, and everything else that gets tracked in from outside. Over time, loose debris can act like an abrasive against the surface, particularly in a high-traffic area.

Regular sweeping or dust-mopping can help keep grime from accumulating. Placing mats inside and outside exterior entryways can also reduce the amount of dirt and moisture that reaches the stone in the first place.

If the entryway becomes wet, clean up excess moisture right away rather than allowing water to sit on the surface. This simple habit can help protect both the stone and surrounding grout.

Image: Using a Cutting Board when Cutting Food on a Natural Stone Kitchen Countertop

Kitchen Floors & Countertops

The kitchen sees plenty of activity and some of the most common, yet harmful, foods and liquids that come into contact with natural stone countertops and flooring throughout the day:

• Water
• Oil
• Coffee
• Wine
• Citrus
• Tomatoes & Sauce

Wipe up spills as soon as possible rather than allowing them to sit on the surface. Acidic foods and liquids can be extra problematic for more delicate stone, potentially causing staining, etching or changes to a polished finish.

For daily countertop care, use warm water and a pH-balanced neutral cleaner. Avoid abrasive scrubbers and harsh cleaning products, and use coasters, trivets, or other protective items as appropriate to help protect countertop surfaces.

Natural Stone Bathroom

Bathrooms introduce a different set of challenges. Many things found in a bathroom can leave buildup on natural stone, particularly around showers and sinks. Like:

• Standing water
• Soap residue
• Personal-care products

After bathing or showering, a squeegee can help remove excess water from the stone surface and reduce soap-scum buildup. Regularly wiping down countertops and cleaning up standing water can also help keep the space looking fresh.

Choose a pH-neutral cleaner made for natural stone rather than reaching for vinegar, lemon-based cleaners, or abrasive products. While these may be common household cleaning solutions, they can be too harsh for natural stone.

Outdoor Stone Care

Natural stone can be a beautiful choice for patios, walkways, outdoor kitchens, and other exterior spaces, but outdoor stone is exposed to conditions that indoor surfaces don’t experience. Outdoor elements that can affect your surfaces over time include:

• Rain
• Dirt
• Changing temperatures
• Leaves
• Outdoor debris

Regularly remove leaves, dirt, and other debris before they have a chance to accumulate. Sweep the surface as needed and follow the care recommendations for the specific stone and application. Because outdoor conditions vary considerably, sealing requirements and maintenance routines may also differ from those for interior stone.

For larger exterior surfaces or stone requiring specialized maintenance, professional care may be the best approach.

What to Avoid When Caring for Natural Stone

A few common cleaning habits can do more harm than good. When caring for natural stone, avoid:

• Vinegar and citrus-based cleaners – Acidic products can etch or damage certain stone surfaces.
• Abrasive pads and scouring powders – These can scratch even highly durable stone.
• Excess water – Avoid soaking the surface or allowing standing water to remain.
• Harsh cleaning chemicals – Choose products specifically labeled as safe for natural stone.

Letting spills sit – Prompt cleanup gives you the best chance of preventing staining or etching.

Image: Using a pH-Neutral Stone Cleaner on a Natural Stone Kitchen Countertop

Keep Your Natural Stone Looking Its Best

Natural stone is meant to be part of the environment you design. The natural character in its variations, markings, and veining is part of what makes each surface unique. With the right cleaning routine and a little regular attention, you can help preserve those qualities while protecting the surface from everyday wear.

To see what natural stone may look like in your design plans, check out our slab collection and variety of timeless patterns. Then use the Just Imagine Visualizer to explore design possibilities. If you have questions about selecting natural stone for an upcoming project or caring for a surface already in your home, contact us or visit a location near you.