cleaning_superhero_blog

The number 1 concern among homeowners with natural stone in their bath and shower area is removing soap scum and mildew. A soap film can become a problem within 6 months and mildew will begin as a result, causing mildew stains.

The Cleaning Superhero offers this tip:

In the bath or other wet areas, soap scum can be minimized by spraying a light mist of a stone safe cleaner and using a squeegee after each use. To remove soap scum, use a soap scum remover made specifically for natural stone. If soap scum and hard water deposits become difficult to remove, contact the Cleaning Superhero for a FREE evaluation and estimate on professional cleaning. Many of his repeat clients have their shower and bath area cleaned every 6 months to remove soap scum and have a mildew treatment applied. At the time of cleaning, it would be a good idea to have a stone sealer applied. Very important if the stone in the shower is slate.

Want to do it yourself? Call the Cleaning Superhero at 205-856-1720 to get the same concentrated soap scum remover, mildew treatment, and spray on cleaning product he uses for natural stone.

Remember these easy tips for cleaning your marble, granite, or other natural stone counters, table tops, or vanities.

For daily cleaning in your kitchen, simply clean the surfaces with warm water and a clean microfiber cloth or when necessary use a stone cleaner to remove residues from cooking oils and everyday food spills. Use coasters or mats under glasses and cups especially if they contain alcohol, soda pop, or citrus juices. Trivets or mats should be put under your hot dishes or cook wear and place mats should go under china, ceramics, silver, or any other objects that may scratch the surface of your stone. In food preparation areas, your stone may need to be sealed with a good, impregnating sealer that is non-toxic and safe for your foods.

Vanities should also be cleaned with a stone safe cleaner to remove hairspray, cosmetics, perfume, toothpaste, mouthwash, etc., that contain acids and other ingredients that may damage the stone surface.

Natural stone should be sealed at least once a year with a quality impregnating sealer. Call the Cleaning Superhero (205) 856-1720 for a low cost estimate for sealing your marble, granite, limestone, travertine, or other natural stone.

Now you know what to do and what not do. What other precautions should be taken with natural stone? Here are more tips to add to your Natural Stone Owner’s Manual

Walk Off Mats and Rugs
Use good quality, dirt-trapping walk-off mats at all exterior doors to prevent dirt and sand (which can act like sandpaper) from entering your home. Normally, it will take a person about six to eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Use area rugs on high traffic pathways and pivot areas—at ends of steps, near doorways, etc. All rugs should allow floors to breathe. Avoid rubber-backed or non-ventilated rugs. Use no-slip rug underlayment made especially for hard surface flooring to prevent your rugs from moving.

Floor Protectors
Always put felt protective pads on the legs of your furniture. They allow the furniture to be moved easily without scratching or denting your floor’s finish and can also provide a sound deadening barrier. Replace your felt pads often as dirt and grit can become embedded in them or as they become worn.

Plants and Planters
Never place potted plants directly in contact with your stone flooring, even if they are placed in waterproof saucers. Condensation can develop under these saucers and damage your flooring. To avoid this place your plants on trivets or stands so that air can circulate underneath.

Remember, soil is acidic. When feeding plants be extra careful not to spill fertilizers onto natural stone surfaces.

You’ve designed the perfect natural stone look for your home and now that it’s installed, how do keep natural stone looking good for a long time?

The Cleaning Superhero will begin a series of blogs to help you with natural stone care tips.

Today, here is what to do and what not to do when maintaining natural stone.

DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citric juices and use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware.

DO dust mop floors frequently preferably with a microfiber dust mop.

DO clean surfaces with cleaners designated safe for natural stone.

DO thoroughly rinse and dry the surface after washing.

DO blot up spills immediately to minimize potential permanent damage.

DO protect floor surfaces with non-slip mats or area rugs.

DON’T use vinegar, lemon juice or any cleaners containing acids on marble, limestone, travertine or onyx surfaces.

DON’T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub & tile cleaners.

DON’T use abrasive cleaners such as dry or soft cleansers.

DON’T mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.

DON’T use a standard floor wax on your natural stone. It will only take away from the natural beauty of
the stone and could lead to more costly and constant maintenance. If you want a shine to your stone, have your stone professionally polished.

DO call us for any questions or problems that appear too difficult to treat

Can’t wait for the remainder of the 2 page guide? Simply go to the Cleaning Superhero’s “request an estimate” webpage, fill out the contact information with a valid email address and enter FREE Stone Care Guide in the “Description of Project” area. The complete guide will be sent to your inbox.

www.cleaningsuperhero.com/estimate.php

Before and After Cleaned and Sealed Slate

Slate in a shower / bath area can be a constant problem to clean. The picture shows the result of cleaning with a stone safe soap film remover. However the soap scum was there long enough to etch into this soft stone.

To help prevent greater problems with slate in showers, I would suggest regular sealing with a professional stone care product. As often as every 6 months after some serious cleaning with a stone safe soap film remover. This will make it easier to maintain.

The Cleaning Superhero can advise you about the best course to take when cleaning a slate shower or bath area.

The Cleaning Superhero is now making available a peroxide based cleaning solution for his residential and commercial clients.

This newly developed professional cleaning product will provide cleaning power you can see and smell. You can see the solution boil as it begins to loosen soils, cleans away stains, and elminate allergens on furniture upholstery and in the carpet. The room will freshen as the clean aroma fills the air. The peroxide solution is allowed to work for 20 minutes before being rinsed and extracted.

If you are ready to experience a new sense of clean, call 205-856-1720 and schedule a free estimate with the Cleaning Superhero.

The Cleaning Superhero suggests that you do not attempt to clean furniture upholstery or carpeting with household peroxide. The product used is highly concentrated and for professional use.

Next time you light a scented candle be aware of how it will affect your home.

Most candles are made from oils that put out an almost invisible smoke containing the scent you smell. Your home’s heating and air systems distribute the oily smoke to all areas. The results appear over time. The walls will darken. The carpeting will look dirty because as it becomes an air filter around the walls and door frames. Furnishings will get a greasy film. You get the idea.

So what to do? If you must burn candles, choose the soy or beeswax based products. If the results of burning candles are starting to show, call on the Cleaning Superhero to begin reversing the damage before it becomes permanent and ruins the inside of your home.

Do it yourself tile and grout cleaning

The homeowner placed his home up for sale and needed to clean the kitchen tile and grout. Over the years, coatings had been applied to the tile to help make it shine and the applied finish yellowed. The result was a dirty looking coating all over the floor.

Before his real estate agent, Nancy, called the Cleaning Superhero for help to clean the flooring; this homeowner went down the do it yourself path indicated in the upper portion of the photo. He bought a rechargeable scrubbing brush and cans of powdered cleanser. For hours at at time, the floor would be coated with this cleanser and progress was very slow and only partially successful.

The Cleaning Superhero took over as the homeowner stated that it would only be several more hours and the floor would be ready. After only 45 minutes of proper cleaning the results were clear.

Cleaned tile and grout

The easy choice for cleaning tile and grout is to call a Cleaning Superhero.