Tips from Marbrerie Bertrand for maintaining natural stone

Whether for construction or interior decoration, limestone, granite, marble or onyx add a touch of authenticity to any living space. However, despite their durability, these stones are not immune to everyday stains and dirt.
So how do you maintain a stone floor, staircase, basin or sink, and clean them using appropriate techniques and cleaning solutions?

Day-to-day maintenance of natural stone doesn’t require a lot of resources.

Products to avoid on natural stone

Two types of product should be avoided on natural stone:

• acidic products (such as vinegar, lemon, wine, champagne…)
• chemical products and detergents such as limescale remover or bleach.

These products destroy the natural protection of the stone, reducing its lifespan.

La Marbrerie Bertrand’s suggestions for protecting natural stone

To protect your natural stone, La Marbrerie Bertrand recommends :

• Black navoir soap or Marseille soap: to keep your stone in good condition, we recommend cleaning it regularly with a brush, mop or sponge moistened with water and a few drops of black soap. Don’t forget to rinse thoroughly afterwards.
• Clay stone: you can also opt for clay stone for simple, effective stone cleaning. In this case, use a sponge soaked in white stone or clay stone.
• Soda crystals: to clean a very dirty stone, use a damp brush soaked in a solution of hot water and one cup of soda crystals per litre of water. Then rinse the stone with clean water using a sponge.
• Baking soda: to remove everyday stains, use a damp brush sprinkled with baking soda. Then rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Whichever solution you prefer, we always recommend using natural products!

How to clean?

Dust surfaces regularly with a dry, untreated feather duster. Clean with a soft cloth that is dry or slightly dampened with soapy water. Use a neutral cleanser, Marseille soap or a mild liquid detergent. Rinse the surface thoroughly.

How to remove stains?

• Acid-based stains: stains can only be removed by surface repolishing. Any worktop can be repolished as many times as you wish.
• Oil-based stains: gently clean with a mild, liquid product. Over time, this type of stains might disappear.
• Other stains, such as inks, paint, metal (rust …): For any other type of stain, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will always be available to advise you in the maintenance and cleaning of your countertop.

Usage tips

• Daily cleaning: Regularly dust the surfaces with a dry, untreated feather duster, or with a cloth lightly dampened with soapy water. Dust and dirt are abrasive and can damage your natural stone over time. In addition, daily maintenance prevents cleaning with more aggressive products from becoming necessary.
• Trivets: While all types of stone are heat resistant, the use of trivets or area rugs is recommended.
• Coasters: Use coasters, especially for glasses containing alcohol or citrus juice.
• Hand vacuums: Make sure metal or plastic accessories or wheels are not worn, as they could scratch the surface of some soft stones.