We have available to us thousands of cleaning tips and procedures, as well as years of experience working with cleaning professionals.
Email us at thnkcln@cox.net with any questions you may have about your specific cleaning situation and we will get back to you ASAP with our recommendations
Care of Natural Stone
Marble, travertine, and other natural stones can be very beautiful when proper maintenance methods are used. Marble is easily damaged by chemicals– especially acids (this includes vinegar). Granite is not as sensitive to mild acids, but it is highly recommended to keep all cleaners within a pH of 7-8. To protect the finish, use 100SS ALL PURPOSE, or STRIDE. Another thing that needs to be considered when working on marble is that all marble is not equal. There are over 9000 types of natural stone with three times as many names, so be sure you are knowledgeable about the actual mineral you have. Better safe than sorry, use only neutral pH products to clean and spot clean your surface. If the stone is in the bath area, you need to take great care to wipe down surface after each use. If a soap film or mineral deposit occur, then use either MUD avail in quarts, or TERRA CLEAN avail in gallons.. Both products have been manufactured with marble in mind.
Natural stone comes in a variety of shines. Some are left at a honed state, others are polished to a high shine. With marble, granite, and other similar stones the shine is put on by actually “sanding” the surface with special grinding equipment. When the surface becomes dull by excessive traffic or etch spills, a marble powder is recommended. This process should be done by a contractor who is familiar with your type of stone and who has the correct equipment available. Using DIAMOND GLO with a GORILLA PAD and a weighted floor machine will work well on a lightly scratched or dull surface. When the stone is excessively scratched or etched, a complete honing may be required to get the surface back to its original shine.
Some commercial locations choose to apply a top coat/sacrificial coat to enhance the shine and make a wear coat. PRO-SEEL is considered a light buffable system, while using a coating such as will result in a higher shine, but will need more maintenance. Another product from NCL RESTORE IT is a polishing cream that is used with a buffing machine to restore lightly worn or scratched surfaces.
For best protection and lowest maintenance use a penetrating seal such as IMPREGNATOR PRO or 511 POROUS PLUS. Both products are water and oil resistant and protect the surface while allowing it to breathe. Neither product will enhance the color or create a shine.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE– Dust mopping the floor on a regular basis will help tremendously in keeping scratching and wear patterns to a minimum. We suggest treating the dustmop with DUST-RX treatment which creates a static on the mop rather than leaving an oil film. It is also recommended to get entrance mats and to keep them clean.
When wet mopping, use the above neutral cleaner in cold water. Dilute according to directions, allow solution to sit for a few minutes, agitate the grout lines if necessary and then pick up the dirty water. Work in small sections so the solution does not dry before you can pick it up.
THE ABOVE INFORMATION ARE RECOMMENDATIONS ONLY– it is up to you to determine the best procedure for your type of natural stone.
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CARE OF CLAY TILE FLOORS
There are a few maintenance procedures you will need to follow to insure beautiful tile in the months & years to
Come. The steps involved are simple, but very important.
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SUPPLIES NECESSARY: Quality dustmop- Dust RX Dustmop Treatment- Quality wetmop- 100SS Cleaner
The first step will be the one we suggest you use on a regular basis. Purchase a quality dustmop!!! They are available in 12” , 18” , 24” , 30” , 36” lengths. You will be using the dustmop for many years, so be sure to get the size that best fits your home. Since grouting is recessed, you will also need DUST RX which is the only dustmop treatment we recommend. When used correctly, DUST RX will create a static on the dustmop rather than leave an oil film on your floor. DUST RX is formulated to evaporate, given appropriate dry time, and will static the dust until you shake out the mop. If you prefer not to use a treatment, then get a static dust mop.
The second step will be WET mopping your floor. You have probably been told that you should never get water on this type of tile. There is some truth to this because water cannot be allowed to puddle or stand on finish for any length of time. It water sets too long on the finish it can cause the finish to whiten. Usually a finish will clear back out if caught in time, but avoiding standing water is your best bet. Another thing you may have been told is to use only vinegar in your water. Vinegar is best on salads, not only does it stink, it really doesn’t have any cleaning properties for dirt removal. Always use COLD/COOL water with your cleaners. Hot water/steam/vapor is very hard on a finish. Whenever you need to WET mop your tile use the product 100SS ALL PURPOSE CLEANER. This soap/ cleaner was designed for the hard water we find in the Southwest and contains agents that will help suspend the dirt in the water until you dry the solution. 100SS is an almost neutral cleaner so it will not affect the finish on your floor. There is no need to clear water rinse when used according to directions, but you MUST pick up the dirty solution. Pay special attention to grout, scrubbing as necessary. Don’t allow the dirty water to dry in the grout joint or on the tile itself. A shop vac (wet-dry vac) is ideal for quickly picking up the dirty solution in larger areas. If you don’t have one, use your wet mop to pick up dirty solution. Be sure to keep your wet mop cleaned out with clear water. Change your bucket of clear water often. You can also use towels or rags to dry floor. Sometimes in bathrooms it is preferred to use a disinfectant. ENVIROCARE DISINFECTANT is a neutral cleaner/disinfectant that will not affect your tiles shine. Never use bleach, TSP, or any high alkali cleaner on your floor.
Something you might want to consider are entrance mats. (Take special precautions to the mats backing, some rubbers and jutes will bleed into the finish and stain the floor. Also in bathroom situations, water may get trapped under the mat causing the finish to whiten.) Sand and gravel wear down the finish quickly resulting in traffic patterns and dulling the finish. Also, furniture without cushioned bottoms may need protective FURNITURE TABS placed on their legs to avoid scratching the finish.
Please take note: Many people have the misconception that clay floors when sealed will last and last without any maintenance. The more traffic, kids, animals, and entertaining you have on your floor, means more maintenance required. Your floor should be recoated as soon as you notice a wear pattern, the average time for recoating is 6 mo to a year. When your floor looks like it is time to recoat give us a call for a referral or if you prefer to recoat yourself, then com in and we will walk you through the process and recommend the best finish for your needs.
By following the above advice, your new/ reconditioned floor can be beautiful and give you many years of enjoyment.
If at any time problems arise, feel free to call us.
CERAMIC-QUARRY-MOSAIC-PORCELAIN
Care Instructions
These types of tile look beautiful and are very durable when protected and maintained properly. Although these types of surfaces vary in their porosity and abrasive finish, they all may need aggressive cleaning periodically. Always remember no matter how dense your tile is, the grout is still a cement mix and can stain if not sealed properly.
SAMPLE TESTING– Due to the differences of each surface, several inconspicuous test patches should be completed with each product to assure maximum performance. Users must determine the suitability of the product for their intended use.
TILE AND GROUT SEALING– These types of surfaces vary in porosity. Most can absorb stains such as dyes, etc. and should be sealed before using. All grouting needs to be sealed to offer superior stain resistance. Your high quality impregnators such as 511 Impregnator, Pro-solv and Impregnator Pro will give you the highest level of protection. Be aware though that none will permanently protect your surface, and depending on the type of maintenance and cleaners you use, should be resealed periodically. You should stay away from Mop & Glo type topical finishes with these types of surfaces unless they are specifically labeled for use on your type of tile.
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE– Although these types of surfaces will not show wear as readily as other surfaces, it is still wise to keep them as clean as possible. Dust mop the floor as often as possible. Vacuums are nice, but tend to leave the fine particles of dust. Depending on your traffic, a light cleaning should be done using 100SS All Purpose Cleaner. Dilute the cleaner per label instructions. With a wet mop, apply cleaning solution to a small area-approx. 10x10. Pay special attention to your grout– agitating where needed. Allow cleaner to sit on entire surface for a few minutes agitate with mop then pick up dirty solution. Repeat until entire area is done. A shop vacuum will come in very handy for your larger rooms– Use only non marking squeegees or brushes, not metal bottom tools which may scratch. If you have heavy traffic, you will need to use Klenzall or GP Forward. Follow the above procedures but do a clear water rinse when finished to remove the residue of the cleaner.
A popular method for cleaning is the vapor/steam machines. They will do an excellent cleaning job, but will break down your sealers. Be sure to reseal if you prefer this type of equipment. If using a rotary buffer for scrubbing, use a plastic or nylon brush instead of floor pads. Floor pads will not get into the grout joints where the agitation is most needed.
WATER STAINS/MINERAL DEPOSITS– Important to pretest!! Apply product to brown doodlebug or blue power pad– not directly to the tile. Use Ring Free for extremely bad stains or Scum & Scale for moderate stains. The mineral deposit should slightly “fizz”. Allow to sit for a few minutes, agitate, and rinse with clear water. Follow with 100SS All Purpose Cleaner to neutralize the surface.
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