Cleaning And Maintaining Your Marble Patio
Posted on: 8 April 2016
From brick or stone to mulch or pea gravel, choosing a material for your patio floor can be overwhelming. However, the addition of this outdoor space is a smart investment for your family's function, home value, and overall appeal, so placing emphasis on the patio material and design is smart. While each material option offers its own benefits, marble is a unique selection that is becoming more and more popular for outdoor patio floors. Marble is not only durable, but its wide variety of colors and sizes ensures you can create an outdoor space that complements your home. Of course, proper cleaning and care is essential. Using these natural, DIY tips, you can clean your outdoor marble patio.
Dust Mop
Light dirt, dust, and debris can be removed from your marble patio with a simple dusting tool. While it may seem more efficient, do not use vacuums on your marble tiles. The vacuum's wheels and hard brush bristles will most likely scratch the marble surface. For the safest removal of surface residue, use a dust mop that offers an electrostatic dusting pad.
Begin at one corner of the floor and move the duster mop head across the floor. When an excessive amount of dirt and dust accumulates on the mop head, shake off the debris in a trash can or outdoors.
Run the dust mop across the entire marble floor, shaking off debris after every few swipes of the mop.
Mop with Light Cleaning Solution
Cleaning a large outdoor space with a pressure washer may seem efficient, but this excessive amount of water pressure is not necessary for your marble tiles. If your floors require a more involved cleaning, consider creating a safe, natural solution to use while mopping. White vinegar may be a popular option for natural cleaning, but do not use this ingredient on your marble tiles. The acidic properties in vinegar will not only strip the sealant from the marble surface, but it can also corrode the stone and grout of your marble tile flooring.
A solution containing warm water and liquid dish soap is a safer alternative for your floor. In a bucket, combine the following ingredients:
- 3 gallons of warm water
- ¼ cup of liquid dish soap
Soak the head of your mop in the solution. Wring out the excess liquid before mopping your floor. Move the mop head across the marble surfaces a few times. Then, rinse the mop head in a bucket containing only warm water. Wring out the excess water before rinsing up the leftover soapy cleaning solution from the floor.
Soak the mop head in the soapy solution before mopping and new section of flooring, but be sure to rinse the mop head in the clean water after a few swipes. Repeat the process until the entire floor is clean and rinsed.
Scratch/Etching Repair
While overwhelming and stressful, small scratches or etching on the surface of your marble tiles may occur. Your first inclination may be to panic and contact flooring specialists to replace the marble. However, this is unnecessary, since these scratches usually affect the surface sealant only and not the actual marble of the tile.
To repair this light etching, use 120-grit sandpaper on a radial sander. Work the sander of the etched area of the marble surface, applying medium pressure. Use your hands to feel the surface as you sand. If you still feel the etching, continue sanding. If the etching has disappeared during the sanding process, wipe away the dust using a clean cloth.
After removing the dust, apply a thin layer of wax to the surface before buffing the marble. Then, add a coat of marble polyurethane sealant to the repaired area of your floor. Allow to dry for a few hours before applying a second coat of sealant.
A marble tile patio is a great investment for your home, but proper cleaning and care is smart. Using these natural, non-toxic solutions, you can clean and repair your marble flooring.
For help installing your new marble patio, contact a hardscaping services company in your area
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