How to care for natural stone tiles

When choosing natural stone tiles, certain maintenance needs to be conducted on a semi-regular basis to keep your stone protected and looking good. Natural stone is porous, even when polished, so the surface of the tile can become vulnerable over time to marks and spills. In this guide, we take you through protection during the installation process all the way through to regular aftercare.

Before you begin, we always recommend performing a patch test of sealant in a small inconspicuous area to ensure you have the right sealant for the material used.

For instance, limestone and marble are acid-sensitive stones, and some products cannot be used on these due to adverse effects. If in doubt, speak to our customer services team or in store specialists.

Once natural stone tiles are laid, the initial cleaning is pivotal to their ongoing care.

Not performing this clean can have a detrimental effect and alter how the stone performs over time. This clean will not only remove surface dirt from the installation but also promises straightforward maintenance for natural stone long-term.

Fila's Porcelain Cement Residue Remover can be used for pretty much any surface to remove adhesive and grout and ensures even acid-sensitive stone gets the best start in life. But for natural stone, it's best to use Fila's Stone Cement Residue Remover as this is suitable for all natural stone and terrazzo.

A couple of rounds may be required depending on how bad the grout haze is but the sooner the residue remover is used the more effective it will be.

After you've removed the grout haze, you can then proceed to protecting the stone from future spills with a dedicated stone sealant.

The main reason natural stone needs to be sealed is to protect its appearance against stains caused by everyday wear and tear. And if the worst should happen, such as the spill of a drink, a sealer will also allow you the time to take action.

Stone protectors not only hamper the absorption of stains but also facilitate cleaning, meaning maintenance is usually pretty straightforward. Even better, some sealers can actually enhance the colour of stone should it naturally fade such as Fila's Colour Intensifier.

This solvent-free sealer provides an environmentally friendly treatment for limestone, slate, marble and granite. It can also be applied 24 to 48 hours after the initial cleaning to provide colour-enhancing and water-and-oil-repellent protection.

For more information, read our in-depth sealant guide.

Once natural stone has been sealed, maintenance should be easy and performed on a regular basis. This will ensure it’s kept looking its best, even in high-traffic spaces.

The Fila Multi Surface Cleaner has a pH neutral formula and is gentle enough to use on all types of natural stone. This cleaner is also particularly great for stones that have a polished finish.

For more tips on how to clean natural stone and other tiles, read our dedicated cleaning guide. You can also read up on the best way to protect your grout.

The best way to avoid staining your natural stone is to keep up regular sealing maintenance however, if it has been sealed then quickly clean the spill up with an absorbent cloth and wipe with a non-acid based cleaner.

In the event that you spill on natural stone and either haven't sealed it or have left it too long, there are a couple of methods depending on the stain itself.

A good quality Multi Surface Stain Remover should work but if it's a particularly stubborn stain try the below technique on the particular area of the stain.

- Wet the area with water either by spray or sponge

- Mix a Poultice stain remover (suitable for stone) with water to the manufacturer's instructions

- Test the mixture in a small and inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn't damage your stone floor

- If the sample doesn't discolour or stain your test area, apply a thin layer of paste over the stain

- Tape some plastic wrap over the stain then make two slits in the wrap to let the mixture breathe

- Allow the mixture to dry, usually a 24 hour period, where it will harden and draw out the stain

- Once dried, scrape off the mixture with a plastic or wooden scraper, take care not to scratch the tiles underneath

- Finally, give the area a clean with a pH neutral detergent and warm water.

You may need to repeat the above steps several times depending on how bad the stain is. Once gone, ensure you seal the floor to avoid further spills saturating the stone.