Natural stone slabs are a popular addition to outdoor spaces, but their care requires special attention to maintain their beauty. We have put together a few helpful tips and effective home remedies that you can use to clean your natural stone terrace so that the sensitive surface is not damaged.
Cleaning natural stone terraces: What should you pay attention to?
We don't have to wait much longer for spring. The first warm days are getting closer and we can finally spend more time outdoors. In order to really enjoy the first rays of sunshine, we should also prepare our outdoor area for the new season: remove the fallen leaves, bring the potted plants outside, clean and set up the patio furniture, and of course also clean the natural stone slabs. Below you will find out how to properly care for your natural stone terrace in spring.
Preparation for cleaning
Before you start cleaning, you should first move all furniture and potted plants to the side. Then remove the coarse dirt, preferably using a broom that simply removes soil, sand and fallen leaves.
Also read:Clean the terrace in spring: Get ready for the new season!
If you want to clean your natural stone slabs after winter, make sure that the temperatures are between 10 ° C and 25 ° C. It is best to choose a sunny day so that the natural stone dries quickly after cleaning and prevents moss from forming.
What should be taken into account when cleaning?
Before using any cleaning product, test it on an inconspicuous area to make sure you are happy with the result. Make sure that you always choose a pH-neutral product and avoid acidic or abrasive products.
- No vinegar or lemon juice:Acidic home remedies should under no circumstances be used on natural stone. These immediately attack the mineral structure of the rock and cause stains and dull surfaces.
- No baking powder:You should also avoid alkaline home remedies such as baking soda and baking powder, especially if you want to clean marble countertops.
- No hot water:When cleaning natural stone, do not use water that is hot or too cold so as not to damage the protective layer of the slabs.
- No scouring pad:Vigorous scrubbing with a scouring pad can damage the surface of your natural stone patio. It is therefore best to use a soft sponge, a brush with soft bristles or a microfiber cloth.
- No high-pressure cleaner:The power of pressure washers can also damage the stones and make them more susceptible to dirt.
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Cleaning natural stone terraces: the right approach
The bestCleaning agent for the terrace tilesmade from natural stone, which you can also make yourself, is a mild soap solution. To do this, grate some curd or soft soap in a bucket of lukewarm water and wait until the soap pieces have dissolved. Using a soft brush, lightly scrub the panels and then rinse them with clean water to remove any soap residue.
You should use this method at least once per season to remove heavy dirt.
To further prevent dirt buildup, don't forget to sweep your patio regularly and rinse it with clean water.
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Remove stubborn stains from natural stone slabs
People enjoy spending time with friends and family outside on the terrace, but it can happen that wine, juice or coffee spills and leaves ugly stains on the natural stone slabs. No worries! We have a few useful tips for you:
- Hydrogen peroxideis an excellent tool if you need to remove wine, juice or grass stains from sensitive natural stone slabs. Some caution is required: always use a three percent solution and don't forget to wear rubber gloves and safety glasses. Apply the product to the stain, cover it with plastic wrap and leave it to work, checking the process regularly as hydrogen peroxide can have a bleaching effect. Then rinse the area thoroughly with clean water.
- From verse, also known as ammonia water, is very effective against stubborn stains. The home remedy is available commercially and is very easy to use. Mix 1 part ammonia with 3 parts water and spread the solution over the stain with a sponge or rag. Leave this on for half an hour and rinse the area with clean water.
Impregnate natural stone
To ensure that your natural stone terrace stays clean for longer, impregnating the natural stone outdoors is the best solution. This effectively prevents dirt and grime from penetrating the surface. To ensure additional protection for your natural stone slabs, choose products that increase stain resistance, repel water and prevent fading from sunlight.
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