Limestone flooring is both beautiful and hard wearing, making it a great addition to any home. It’s also fairly low maintenance, but it’s important that you understand how to clean it properly to keep your floor looking its best.

Here are some dos and don’ts when it comes to cleaning limestone flooring.

Do: Sweep up debris

You should sweep your floor daily to get rid of grit and debris that has accumulated throughout the day.

While they’re only tiny particles, this type of dirt can actually cause lasting damage to your floor. As dust and other debris build up and are walked on, they wear on the surface of the stone, dulling the shine and even causing scratches.

Do: Use cloths, mops and brooms

To avoid damage while cleaning, only use soft cloths, brooms, or mops without any hard edges or surfaces that could scratch the floor.

While you might wish to use a vacuum cleaner to suck up dust, they can often scratch hard floors. You should therefore be extremely careful or avoid using this method altogether.

Do: Seal your limestone flooring

Sealing your limestone is a great way to get the best out of your investment. As well as protecting the surface against staining and damage, it also makes cleaning easier.

Professional sealing should last for up to two years before your floor needs to be re-sealed, giving lasting peace of mind.

Don’t: Leave stains to sit

Limestone is a porous rock and it can absorb stains if they are left to sit for too long. To avoid permanent discolouration, make sure to clean up any spills as soon as possible.

This is especially important for spills of acidic liquids like lemon juice, vinegar, tomato sauce or wine. Contact with acid can cause what’s known as etching, where calcium on the surface dissolves, creating a cloudy watermark on the stone.

Don’t: Use harsh chemicals

Although limestone is very durable, it’s a soft stone that can be damaged by the wrong cleaning products.

Where possible, use a pH-balanced cleaner specially formulated for limestone. Avoid harsh chemicals and homemade cleaners that use lemon juice or vinegar, as these can cause etching and ruin the surface of your stone.

Don’t: Neglect regular cleaning

The best way to ensure the best condition of your limestone floor is through regular maintenance.

The longer dirt is left to sit on the surface of the stone, the harder it will be to clean. Due to the softer nature of limestone, it’s better to avoid frequent deep cleaning and to use regular, light cleaning to prevent staining and the buildup of grime.

Your limestone flooring experts

Here at Stamford Stone at Home, we know all there is to know about limestone and its many uses around the house. We can even advise you on the best ancillary products to complete your flooring project, including recommendations of tried and tested adhesives, grouts and sealants that perform well with our stone.

If you have any questions about cleaning or maintaining your floor, simply get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.