The Ultimate Stone and Tile Care Guide: Laticrete Stonetech

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Your investment in natural stone or premium tile deserves the right product to ensure it retains its beauty and function over the long term

STONETECH® makes caring for your natural stone or tile easy, helping you to be confident that you will extend the life and preserve the value of this investment in the look of your home.

Here we run through a few top tips from LATICRETE on how to best protect your stone and tiles:

1. Prevention is better

The best way to prevent stains on stone is to treat it with a STONETECH protective sealer. Natural stone can be very porous. Sealers repel spills on the surface, giving you time to wipe them away before they have a chance to penetrate your stone.

Some sealers can enhance (darken) your stone while others retain the stone’s natural hue. Also, different stone types require different grades of sealer depending on what you will be using your stone for and what you want your stone to look like. The chart at the end of this booklet will aid you in your sealer selection.

Tile grout is generally cement-based, very porous, and needs sealing as soon as possible. Penetrating grout sealers like STONETECH Advanced Grout Sealer work best to protect grout joints against water and oil-based stains.

2. Select the very best tile and stone cleaner for the job

Once your stone or tile is sealed with a STONETECH sealer, cleaning up is easy. Just as you wouldn’t wash your expensive car with a harsh ordinary household cleaner, the same applies with your beautiful natural stone or tile. Natural stone demands the same kind of attention – it needs cleaning products that are specifically made for its unique mineral composition.

For everyday cleaning, STONETECH® REVITALIZER® Cleaner & Protector cleans with a gentle formula that removes soiling while reinforcing the original protective seal to help prevent future staining. General spray and wipe style household cleaning products not specifically formulated for natural stone or tile are not recommended. These can break down the sealer, thereby removing its protective properties and making the stone or tile grout susceptible to stains.

Worse yet, many cleaning products, including those that contain abrasives, lemon, vinegar, bleach or ammonia can etch away the polish, degrade the sealer, discolour the surface, or even scratch your stone. Avoid using these products. STONETECH products are scientifically formulated for use on natural stone and premium tile – your investment deserves the best and that is STONETECH.

3. Etch Marks or Water Stains – Know the difference

While everyday mess, is not the end of the world, many common household items have the power to degrade the beauty of your stone or tile.

Etching is a result of a chemical reaction that occurs when acid comes in contact with a susceptible surface. Etch marks on stone surfaces resemble water spots or a worn polish.

Seemingly innocent everyday spills from orange juice, coffee, vinegar, wine, tomato products, mustard and many soft drinks are highly acidic and will etch, dull or discolour most marble, limestone, travertine, and grout. Ceramic and porcelain tile, and acid-resistant stones such as most granite, slate and sandstone will typically not etch.

Sealing will give you time to wipe up a spill, but sealers cannot stop the chemical reaction that may leave an etch mark or dull spot. Remember to always use coasters and place mats on acid-sensitive stones.

4. Maintenance of your Natural Stone – a handy guide

You can keep your stone and tile looking its best by taking some simple precautions. Keep the following list handy, as your guide:

Kitchen and Bathroom Counters

Many household foods, beverages, and cosmetics can degrade tile grout and damage stone. Common toiletries like perfume, mouthwash and toothpaste, as well as common foods such as orange juice and soft drinks contain acids and other ingredients that can degrade sealer or damage your stone’s surface.

Whether you have stone slab counters or stone, ceramic, or porcelain tile counters, using STONETECH® Stone & Tile Cleaner will remove residues from cooking oils, everyday food spills, and hairspray.

Stone and Tile Floors

Clean your interior stone and tile floors frequently using a clean, non-treated dry dust mop, as abrasive particles of sand and dirt can damage natural stone and tile surfaces. Mats outside your entrance ways will help minimise damage. Also, be careful when using a vacuum cleaner as the metal or plastic attachments and wheels con scratch the surface.

Damp-mop your stone or tile floor with a properly diluted solution of one of the daily STONETECH Stone & Tile Cleaners. Avoid walking on the floor until it’s completely dry to avoid slips.

Bath and Other Wet Areas

Frequent use of STONETECH® REVITALIZER® Cleaner & Protector or STONETECH Stone & Tile Cleaner will minimise soap scum and mineral deposits. In the bath, shower or other wet areas, using a squeegee after each use can minimise these common residues. Be sure to read and follow the step-by-step instructions on the back label of all STONETECH products. As needed re-seal with STONETECH® sealers.

5. Know what do when a spill occurs

No matter how careful you are, spills are going to happen, it’s a part of life. However, knowing the proper care steps to take will make a big difference when it comes to prolonging the life of your stone and ensuring that

Food and Drink Spills

Quickly scoop up a food spill or wipe up a liquid spill with a clean, dry cloth. Spray the area with STONETECH REVITALIZER Cleaner & Protector and wipe with a clean, dry cloth. Repeat if necessary.

Challenging Spills

Pets and kids can potentially present you with the messiest stone and tile care challenges. Spills should be cleaned up as quickly as possible to minimise damage caused by acids. Clean the area, spray your stone with STONETECH REVITALIZER Cleaner & Protector and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

Mud

Let the mud stain dry completely before removing with a soft plastic or nylon brush. Spray affected area with STONETECH Stone and Tile Cleaner. Wipe dry with a clean cloth. Repeat if necessary. If the stain remains, contact a stone care professional.

Oily Stains

If you know the stain is oil-based (from foods like salad dressing, cooking oils, butter or some cosmetics), use STONETECH® Oil Stain Remover to pick up the stain from deep within the stone.