Your San Antonio Tile Cleaning Expert: 2014

Friday, December 26, 2014

Finding the Best Marble Care

Marble care is all about knowing what to do with this remarkable stone.

Get Marble Cleaning in San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

Why Get Professional Marble Care?

Why get professional marble care? Well, marble, like travertine, can be damaged if you don't know what you're doing.

Marble is a favorite stone for construction and decoration. It is a noble material that gives a distinguished touch to your environments and lasts for several generations. But for that, you must keep it clean with techniques to keep for years. As a porous material, marble easily absorbs stains. The good news is that these stains can be removed successfully if you act fast. The longer, more liquid is absorbed and the harder it is to remove from the stone.

How to clean marble is very simple; simply pass a sponge or cloth soaked in a mixture of soap and water. Of course, if the spots are deeper, you will have to apply other techniques. If there is a mark of rust or rust on the floor from the action of some furniture, we recommend using water and lemon (juice). You can also add a little salt. When vinegar or lemon is used to remove a stain, keep in mind that are corrosive to the stone, so it should be used with care. Otherwise, you can ruin the marble permanently. To prevent this from happening, apply the mixture to the stain, rub gently for a few minutes and immediately it with water and soap. If the stain persists, clean it again, taking care not to let it set more than a few minutes on the stone. It's a good idea to clean your marble in sections, so that only a small portion of floor is vulnerable at a time.

Marble Cleaning and Sealing

One thing that a lot of people do wrong with marble cleaning is to apply wax to it to make it shine. While wax can give your floor a temporary shine, wax has a tendency to build up to the point that it can attract dirt and make your floor look dingy and worn out. What's surprising about marble is that you can actually hone it with the right sort of abrasive pads and powder to get that shine. The shine level of your marble depends on the finish you're looking for. Full gloss, for example, is where marble literally looks like a mirror, and you can even see your face in the floor.

Ultimately, regardless of how you do it, you want to take care of your marble. One of the best ways is to call a marble cleaning service.

Read more about marble care...

Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
Contact Us

Friday, December 19, 2014

Professional Travertine Cleaning in San Antonio, TX: What You Should Know (Contd.)

Travertine cleaning is more than just the tile, it's the grout that lies between them and under them.

: Get Professional Travertine Cleaning in Cibolo TX | Call Us Today (210) 637-5050

Travertine Care and Your Grout

Travertine is a stone that is in the calcium carbonate family of stones that include travertine, marble, and limestone. Each of these stones despite looking very different than each other require remarkably similar care. For example, part of a proper travertine care regimen includes avoiding exposure to anything acidic or any harsh chemicals. Another thing that you have to be aware of, is you want to make sure that the grout that is between your tiles is in good condition as well as the grout that is underneath the tiles as well.

We know what you're thinking. Without a high powered ultrasound machine or X Ray device, how can you know if the grout that is underneath your tile is good? Well, the grout that is between the tiles is a key indicator. If it is good, it's likely that the grout under the tiles is good too. And you want to make sure that when you're thinking of travertine care that your grout is good too because grout helps to strengthen as well as protect the stone. Each and every day, you have the weight of an adult or two, plus maybe some kids as well. If there is sufficient grout under the tile this isn't a problem. However, if the grout's damaged, then sooner or later you're going to hear a sound that you don't want to hear, namely, the sound of a travertine tile cracking. A cracked tile can sometimes be repaired, but most of the time, you end up having to replace it. That's why you want grout cleaning and care done on your travertine. A service that does both stone and grout is the best one to pick as that way everything is done all in one visit.

Travertine Cleaning: Call a Pro

A travertine cleaning professional knows the difference between slate, marble, travertine, limestone, granite, or whatever other type of stone you have in your home and/or office, and more importantly knows what can and can't be done to each of the stones in question. Travertine is a fairly hard stone, but it is surprisingly vulnerable to anything acidic.

So remember, it is easier to clean something than replace it. With that in mind, make sure you get a stone cleaning service in to clean and protect your travertine.

Friday, December 12, 2014

Professional Travertine Cleaning in San Antonio, TX: What You Should Know

How easy is it to clean travertine? Is there anything I should be careful of doing with my travertine floor?

Call in a professional for travertine cleaning in San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

Travertine Cleaning San Antonio: Watch Out

How easy is it to clean travertine? That depends on what you consider easy. Travertine is a natural stone that has been used as a building material for centuries. Travertine adds beauty to your home. One thing that you must be careful of however, is how to clean your travertine.

Is there anything I should be careful of doing with my travertine floor? First off, you never want to wet mop travertine. While water itself is harmless, what may be in your water is not, particularly any chlorine. Anything acidic put on travertine can eat away at the stone. And you'd be surprised at what can cause damage to travertine. Bleach, of course, is a given, but did you know that something as simple as spilling a cup of coffee or a glass or wine or orange juice on your travertine floor can damage it too. In addition, certain species of bacteria can also eat away at the stone and these bacteria are often found in municipal water sources. Another problem with using anything acidic is that travertine is usually not one piece, it has gaps and voids that form in it naturally and these are usually filled with resin or other filling material that is as vulnerable, if not more than the stone itself.

Call a Stone Cleaning Service

Although travertine is extremely durable, it can lose its glossy appearance with wear and tear. That's why its important for you to contact a professional who can restore its original appearance, preferably one who specializes in stone cleaning. They know what can be used on your stone as well as how to bring back it's lovely luster and shine. One thing that a professional stone care service will likely recommend is to seal your stone. This is a good idea from so many angles. Stone is naturally porous, and a stone sealer sinks into the pores and makes it more resistant to stains as well as damage.

Ultimately, you want to make sure that one of two things occurs where your travertine floor is concerned. Either you know exactly what to do at all times in regards to cleaning it and taking care of it, or you get on the phone and call a stone cleaning service in San Antonio, Texas.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Natural Stone Care: Tips, Tricks, and What to Avoid (Contd.)

Natural stone care is all about knowledge as we covered previously...

: Get stone sealing in San Antonio, TX | (210) 637-5050

Natural Stone Cleaning

Stone care includes things like stone cleaning. But how do you safely clean natural stone? One major step to take in ensuring that your stone surface is in a perfect condition is by using warm water and a neutral cleaner while always ensuring that you use a clean rag mop on your floor and soft clothes for cleaning the other surfaces.

Excessive use of the cleaner may leave a film on your stone surface thereby needing one to be very keen with the manufacturer recommendations while others opt for an easy way out by hiring a tile cleaning service. Thorough rinsing of the floor after using soap during cleaning is also vital with one required to make sure that he or she dries up the floor thereafter. Mild bleach is always the best way to go when dealing with wet surfaces as it is very good in removing algae and moss. When cleaning you are not allowed to mix ammonia and bleach because the combination causes a lethal gas and for this you are highly encouraged to get a professional help to do the cleaning whenever there is chemicals involved. You also want to protect your stone after you have cleaned it, and one of the best ways to do it is to seal your stone.

Stone Sealing

This is a common form of precaution used against staining of the stones. Although most of the stones do not required sealing, people still use the sealing products to make their stones resistant to stains.

The first procedure in removing a stain from a stone surface is being able to tell the type of stain which later determines how you are going to get rid of the stain. An oil-based stain for example must be chemically dissolved before using mineral spirits to completely get rid of the stain. Organic stains on a stone surface on the other hand are removed by use of hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia while metal stains can only be removed with a poultice. Ammonia, hydrogen peroxide or bleach is used to get rid of a biological stain with other stains such as the ink stain also being removed by the same procedure. Call a tile cleaning service if you have any questions

Friday, November 28, 2014

Natural Stone Care: Tips, Tricks, and What to Avoid

Natural stone care is all about knowledge. How much should you know before you do any work on your floor? Well, how much do you want to keep your floor?

: Get Natural Stone Care in San Antonio, TX | (210) 637-5050

Natural Stone Care Tips

What type of stone do you have? Getting to know the geological classification and composition of your stone is one of the most important steps when taking care of your tiles. This type of information may be considered irrelevant by many homeowners but it is actually very important as it assists one in choosing the best cleaning products and methods to use in taking care of the natural stone. Natural stones are categorized into three depending on the process of formation it undertook. Metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary types of stones sum up the formation category with each of them either being calcareous or siliceous. Calcareous stone is made up of calcium carbonate which reacts with acid and therefore one is highly recommended to use non-acidic cleaners. Siliceous stone on the hand comprises of silicates that are resistant to acid solutions but one is still advised to be keen when using acidic cleaners as the stone might contain minerals that are sensitive to the acid. This entire process of knowing your stone and choosing the right cleaning products may be too much for you to handle so in order to avoid making a mess no your tiles you are highly advised to hire a tile cleaning service to do the job for you.

For you to achieve a long lasting and preserved beauty of your natural stone you need to make sure that you use coasters with those that contain citrus juices or alcohol being the most recommended. Despite the fact that almost all stones withstand heat, you are highly advised to make use of trivets and mats.

Weekly Stone Care

Make sure that you use a non-treated dry dust mop to regularly clean the interior floors while also ensuring that you place a rug at the entrance of your house to prevent sand or rather any dirt that may cause scratches on the floor. A vacuum cleaner is another important part of natural stone care that one should use but with a lot of keenness because the moment the metal or plastic that is attached to the wheel of the cleaner gets worn out it can cause scratches to some stone surfaces when being used. In case of a spill, you are not supposed to wipe the area immediately but rather take a paper towel and blot the spill to prevent it from spreading after which you will be required to wash the area with a mild soap and a soft cloth.

When you have questions, make sure you ask. You can call a tile store, or visit a home improvement center. And don't forget another good source of information: your local stone cleaning service.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Why a Tile Cleaning Service May Save You Some Money (Contd.)

Tile cleaning that's done by a service may actually end up caving you far more than it costs to hire them. It is because they handle things that you might easily overlook, such as the grout.

In our last article, we covered this cost versus gain scenario, but let's expand on it.

: Get Tile Cleaning Done | (210) 637-5050

Tile Cleaning: It Includes the Grout Too

Grout isn't easy to clean. In fact it is the most tiring part of tile cleaning. It can easily get damaged when cleaned using harsh cleaning methods. If not cleaned properly, the grout can be very dangerous as it becomes a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. This can render your family vulnerable to illnesses and to avoid this, they must be kept clean at all times. But in real life situations, this is an unavoidable part of living and therefore you should watch them closely before they spread into the bathroom floor and kitchen tiles. You should consider having a professional tile cleaning service coming over and cleaning these parts for you.

Another great benefit of hiring professional cleaning companies is that you won't need to equip yourself with materials necessary for cleaning. The tile and grout cleaning companies will be equipped with the right kinds of equipment and cleaners. Most cleaning service companies use specialized cleaning solutions that focus on the extraction and purification of your carpet and tiles, without causing too much stress on the material that may cause them to break. However, there are even more reasons to hire a tile cleaning service.

The Other Services of a Professional Tile Cleaning Service

When you hire professional tile cleaning services, they may offer additional tile services such as hardwood floor cleaning and natural stone care. The best part of using the service of such service providers is that the work will be done professionally without causing any damages to the carpets, floors and other accessories.

The cleaning service you choose will depend primarily on the type of tiles you have since there are specific cleaning methods for each type of tile. After they have been cleaned the technician will give you tips so that you can keep your tiles clean till when the next cleaning is due.

Maintaining your tile and grout can be a difficult to endeavor, and damage can be frustrating to repair yourself and therefore professional and ethical tile cleaning service can help you keep your tile looking amazing for years and years to come.

Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
Tile and Grout Cleaning

Friday, November 14, 2014

Why a Tile Cleaning Service May Save You Some Money

Everyone knows that a tile cleaning service can help to keep your tiles and grout clean, but did you know that it may help to save you some money?

: Call in a professional for tile cleaning in San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

Why a Tile Cleaning Service Can Make a Big Difference

Every homeowner’s nightmare is dirty tiles and grout. Toilet and kitchen tiles can be so dirty and even permanently stained prompting homeowners to constantly replace them. However, such an activity can be very expensive and time consuming. Yet, there is a remedy that takes a very short time that's hiring a tile cleaning service

Tile cleaning is a specialized service and for this reason, it’s not a utility service that is offered by every service provider. Tile cleaning is one of the most sought after home services around as it is tough to do on your own. If you hire professional tile cleaners, then you can expect 100% clean tiles and well as grout. Professional tile cleaning services that are offered by cleaning companies include a wide range of services including: cleaning ceramic tiles, cleaning of marble floors, cleaning of brick tiles, cleaning of unpolished ceramic tiles, cleaning of grout and so forth.

Tile Cleaning is Harder Than You Think

Tile cleaning may not be as easy as most people take it to be. For instance if you have a vast area of flooring, it will be a huge task to effectively clean. You will also be required to have a cleaning machine to do the cleaning. As there are various types of tiles, you may be required to use different preventive measures and procedures for each type. This will help to prevent any kind of damage to the flooring. Also, grout cleaning is also a tedious process which has to be done carefully. If not done carefully it could cause some damage on the tiles like chipping or discoloring. Therefore, it’s advisable to use tile cleaning service providers to do the job for you. This will be of great advantage to you if you are a busy person and you do not have enough time to look into cleaning matters. If you make a fair amount of money, isn't paying a little bit to a tile cleaning service better than doing it yourself?

But how does this save you money? For one thing, lower medical bills. For another, less risk of damage. As your floor is an investment, keep it up with one of the best ways possible: hire a tile cleaning service in San Antonio.

Friday, November 7, 2014

Ceramic Tile Cleaning: The Skinny on Tile

There is a big difference between doing it yourself and professional tile cleaning. It is a totally different level of service....

: Tile Cleaning and Sealing-San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

Tile Cleaning Tips

First off, a professional tile cleaning service will provide you with some simple tile cleaning tips so that you can keep your floor up between visits. And more importantly, they will tell you what you can and can't do with your tile. For example, if you have a calcium based stone such as limestone, marble, or travertine, you're going to have to avoid anything acidic. Ceramic tile requires different care than terracotta does as does saltillo.

In a previous article, we covered ceramic tile fairly well. Porcelain is a bit more durable than regular ceramic tile, but if you're going to use a floor buffer or something like that, make sure that your pad is not abrasive, or you could end up stripping the glaze away from the tile, which can lead it to cracking or getting stained. Even though they differ from natural stone tiles, ceramics have some common care tips such as avoiding using harsh chemicals and only wet mop if you have had a tile cleaning service seal your tile. This all the more important if you have terracotta or saltillo. While saltillo is essentially sliced bricks, and terracotta is unglazed ceramic, they are both very porous and as such, they can be prone to stains if you haven't sealed your tile. One thing that you want to always do between visits from a tile service is to sweep your floor

Sweeping Your Tile: How to Do it Right

After you have gotten tile cleaning and sealing done, you want to make sure that you sweep your tile at least once a week. Even though it is a relatively simple task, so many people do it wrong. First off, you want to open any outside doors, and sweep dirt outside. To keep it out of your home, put mats at each of the entry points of the room. You also always want to sweep with a soft bristled broom instead of one with hard bristles. If you're using a dustmop, make sure that it also hasn't worn out in any way, or you could end up scratching the surface of your tile.

So remember, keeping your tiles clean isn't as hard as you might think. When in doubt, make sure that you call a tile cleaning service in San Antonio, TX, or wherever you call home.

Read more about tile cleaning here.

Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
http://www.lonestartileandgroutcleaning.com

Friday, October 31, 2014

Hardwood Floor Refinishing: Wrapping Up

Hardwood floor cleaning also depends on a lot of other factors other than the type of wood involved...

: Get hardwood floor refinishing in San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

Types of Hardwood Flooring

When we are referring to types of hardwood flooring, we aren't talking about whether the floor is made of oak or hickory. Instead, we're talking about plank size, solid hardwood flooring, and engineered hardwood flooring. Let's start with the plank size.

While plank size can vary, the most common sizes of planks are ¾” thick X 2 ¼” wide. Where hardwood floor cleaning and restoration is concerned, this is considered a standard strip wood floor. Hardwood flooring usually comes from trees found primarily in North America: maple, white oak, white ash, red oak, cherry, hickory and pecan. Wood from outside of America is more exotic hardwood such a Brazilian Cherry, ipe, teak, or rosewood to name but a few

Solid Hardwood Floors Vs Engineered

Where hardwood floor restoration is concerned, hardwood floor fits into two categories: solid or engineered. Solid hardwood floors are usually made up of a single piece of wood with tongue and groove sides. Most come unfinished, but there are many pre-finished 3/4" solid hardwood floors. Solid hardwood flooring is moisture-sensitive. That means you want to protect them from a lot of moisture, so as we covered previously, do not wet mop. This will almost certainly warp your boards. Solid wood floors do have certain advantages, however. For example, they can be refinished and re-coated multiple times throughout their lifespan. Because it’s an natural product, hardwood flooring expands and contracts in response to seasonal changes in moisture. Engineered hardwood flooring also has its advantages.

Engineered hardwood floor is made of three or more thin sheets of wood that are laminated together to form a single plank. The plies are usually laid in opposite directions (called cross-ply construction) to each other during the manufacturing process. This “cross-ply” type of construction creates a hardwood floor that is much more stable and unaffected by changes in moisture and temperature variations like traditional 3/4" solid wood floors.

Regardless of the type or size of hardwood floor that you have, you want to make sure that you take care of it. Never wet mop hardwood, nor use harsh chemicals. Sweep it periodically with a dustmop or a soft bristled broom. Never use any hard metal wire brushes on your floor. Finally, if you have any questions, call a professional hardwood floor cleaning service.

Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
Contact Us

Friday, October 24, 2014

Hardwood Floor Cleaning: Oak Floor

Hardwood floor cleaning depends on the type of floor you have. While every type of wood floor has certain commonalities, such as no wet mopping, no hard scrubbing, and no harsh chemicals, some floors require more and different care than others.

: Hardwood Floor Cleaning| (210) 637-5050

Oak Flooring: Hardwood Cleaning and Restoration

For example, hickory flooring needs different care than oak does. Oak flooring is used in a lot of homes. Oak is usually categorized as either red oak or white oak. Oak is typically installed unfinished, except for a thin polyurethane coating. The finish that is put on oak should be protected, as otherwise, you can end up damaging the wood itself. You should never use harsh chemicals on your oak. Like hickory, however, a little white vinegar and water won't hurt it, but again, no wet mopping. If you make a mistake and it ends up that you would have to replace your floor.

That's a reason why you may wish to call a hardwood floor cleaning service. Bleach, for example can not only whiten the wood, it can strip away the manufacturer's finish. Usually, oak flooring is a mixture of oak and other woods as well. You never want to get too rough on your oak flooring even though oak is very tough compared to woods such as pine or even hickory. Oak, however, because of it's toughness, is a great wood to look at refinishing. Refinishing brings back your floor to it's former appearance by stripping away damage and revealing the raw wood underneath.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing

Hardwood floor refinishing works particularly well on oak. A bit of sanding, a bit of dusting, and then a clear coat is applied, protecting the floor from any further damage. This coating is tough, tougher even than the oak that it is covering. Like hickory, you want to protect your hardwood floor by putting carpets at the entrances of each of the rooms that have hardwood floors installed. This will help to trap dirt and keep your floor from becoming scratched or pitted.

Oak is golden, beautiful, and long lasting. It smells wonderful and goes with pretty much any decor. It will probably outlive you and even some of your grandchildren. So why not take care of your floor? Lightly sweep it once a week. Use a bit of water and white vinegar. Get a professional hardwood floor cleaning service in San Antonio, TX.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Hardwood Floor Cleaning: Hickory Floor

Hardwood floor cleaning is all about knowledge. First off you have to know what type of wood your floor is made of.

: Get Hardwood Floor Cleaning San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

Hickory Hardwood Floor Cleaning & Care

For example, one type of floor that needs hardwood floor cleaning is hickory. According to this article excerpt from WIKIPEDIA.ORG:

"Hickory wood is very hard, stiff, dense and shock resistant. There are woods that are stronger than hickory and woods that are harder, but the combination of strength, toughness, hardness and stiffness found in hickory wood is not found in any other commercial wood. Hickory is also highly prized for wood-burning stoves and chimineas, because of its high energy content. Hickory wood is also a preferred type for smoking cured meats. In the Southern United States, hickory is popular for cooking barbecue, as hickory grows abundantly in the region, and adds flavor to the meat. Hickory is sometimes used for wood flooring due to its durability in resisting wear and character." [READ MORE]

If you have a hardwood floor that is made of hickory, there is some simple steps you can take to keep your wood floor clean between visits from a hardwood floor cleaning service. First off, never wet mop any hardwood floor. Instead you either want to spray mop a mixture of white vinegar and water. If you wet mop your floor, you run a good chance of warping your floor's floorboards. Unless your hardwood has been sealed, remember that all wood is porous. Also, with vinegar, remember less is more, or whatever room you are spraying it in will end up smelling like salad dressing. A good rule of thumb is two tablespoons for every gallon of water. Another thing that you want to have at the entry points for each room that you have hardwood in are throw rugs, which will help to stop grit and dirt from scratching your floor. You also want to avoid using any cleaning products that have wax in them. Wax will give your floor a temporary shine, but it will also build up and dull your floor's finish.

Hickory: Some Final Thoughts

If you have hickory flooring, you have a touch of southern elegance in your home. But even though your floor is beautiful, it is also more than that. Hardwood floor is also an investment. As such you want to take care of it. Sweep your floor every now and then with a dust mop or a soft bristled broom.

So if you have a hardwood floor, take care of it. And call a hardwood floor cleaning service if you need any help

Friday, October 10, 2014

Ceramic Tile Cleaning: The Skinny on Tile

If you want to hire a service to clean your tile, you need to know a few pieces of information. One of the things you should know in addition to your square footage is the size of your tile.

: grout tile cleaning San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

What are Standard Tile Sizes?

First off, know that there is no such thing as standard tile size. Tile manufacturer offer sizes from 1/2 of an inch by 1/2 of an inch to a whopping 24 inch tile. There are typical sizes of tile to be found, however. Ceramic tile for example is usually in squares or rectangles 4 X 4, 6 X 6, 8 X 8, etc. Tiles are of different thickness. For example, 12” x 12” ceramic tiles are 1/3 of an inch thick. Generally bigger tiles are thicker, and smaller tiles are thinner. The size, type, and thickness of the tile will determine the sort of tile cleaning that will be involved. Of equal, but often understated importance is the grout.

Grout helps to cushion ceramic tile as well as strengthen it. And you want your tile strong to prevent tile from cracking. While ceramic tile and porcelain tile are relatively cheap, you don't want to have to replace your tile and run the risk of your tile being mismatched as it will stand out in your floor. For example, let's say that you have a lovely Mexican cobalt blue tile, and you break it. No problem. It's just a matter of going out and buying another cobalt blue tile. Wrong. More likely your tile will be newer and as such will have a slightly darker hue than your original tile will. And it will be very obvious that you replaced it. That's where tile cleaning comes in.

Tile Cleaning Vs. Replacing

With tile cleaning you can usually walk on your floor within a few minutes. Replacing your tile will make the room that you're doing it in unavailable for a day or two at least. Professional tile cleaning services also have techniques that not only clean y our tile, then protect your tile as well. With things such as grout sealing and tile sealing, it will help to protect your tile and make clean up a breeze.

So remember, there is a big difference between cleaning tile and replacing it. As such, you want to hire someone that you can trust to clean your tile.

Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
lonestartileandgroutcleaning.com

Friday, October 3, 2014

Professional Stone Cleaning and Your Floor Part 3

Marble cleaning, like other forms of stone cleaning is something you should only start when you have all the facts.

: Get Marble Cleaning in San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

Marble Cleaning Do's and Don'ts

While marble is a stone, it isn't as hard as you might think. Stone hardness is measured by the Mohs scale. Stove with a Mohs hardness level of 10 is hardest, which is the diamond. Marble is only a 3 on the Mohs scale. That's why you really should consider getting a professional marble cleaning service in to take care of it. What gets a lot of people in trouble where marble is concerned is the fact that it is surprisingly easy to damage.

Not by marble polishing and marble honing mind you. On the contrary, these activities are actually quite beneficial where marble cleaning is concerned. Marble honing is essentially grinding, and should only be done by a professional service. Use the wrong abrasive and you could end up scratching your marble. Don't use a tough enough abrasive, and it won't help your floor. As for marble polishing itself, it may be tempting to use a store-bought solution. One of the problems with store bought cleaning solutions for marble is the fact that a great many of them give your floor a shine by using wax. Wax can give your floor that shine, but there is a downside to it. Over time, wax builds up, and traps dirt and other impurities which causes your floor to lose it's luster. Another component of marble cleaning products is worse than wax, though. A lot of products like this have acidic compounds in them. As we covered in a previous article, marble is a delicate stone, and anything acidic spilled on it from coffee to wine can have a disastrous effect on marble.

Final Thoughts on Marble Care

You have to know what to do as well as what not to do. If you use the wrong product to clean your marble, you could find yourself having to clean it more because of buildup, or have it damage your stone. If you buy a honing powder, and get it too abrasive, you can end up scratching your marble or having nothing happen. So, why take the chance?

Remember, that even cheap marble is expensive. So instead of replacing your marble, clean it. And get the right help: a marble cleaning service in San Antonio.

Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
http://www.lonestartileandgroutcleaning.com

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Professional Stone Cleaning and Your Floor Part 2

Part two of our series on stone cleaning explores travertine.

: Call in a professional for travertine cleaning in San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

How to Clean Travertine: An Insider's Guide

If you would like to know how to clean travertine, here is some information for you. First off, know that travertine is a lot more sensitive than a stone such as granite, particularly to anything acidic. To avoid etching your floor, make sure that you blot up spills immediately. Even tap water may have trace amounts of chlorine in it, which is very bad. Make sure that you blot, don't wipe. A lot of people instinctively wipe a spill instead of blotting it. Wiping the spill simply spreads it around.

When you're blotting, make sure that you use either a soft cloth or a sponge. Use hot water and a stone cleaner and stone sealer that is specifically designed for travertine. You may also want to keep your travertine products separate from other cleaning products to avoid any mishaps, and make sure you clearly label them with something as simple as TRAVERTINE CLEANING ONLY. While it is possible to use a pH neutral soap such as dishwashing detergent periodically, be aware that while it won't damage your stone, it will dull its finish.

Another thing that you can do with your travertine is to use a dust mop on it at least once a week. Make sure that your dustmop gets replaced when it starts to get worn, or you could end up scratching your stone. Door mats, like with hardwood floors, are a good idea as they help to trap grit, dirt, and sand.

What to Avoid When You Want to Clean Your Stone

Knowing what to avoid can also save you a lot of trouble where travertine cleaning is concerned. First off, don't ever use any store bought or generic products as these produces often contain acids, ammonia, or alkali, with can not only etch your stone, it can strip away any protective coatings and make your stone susceptible to staining and damage. You also don't want to use anything citrus based or anything like vinegar. You also don't want use anything abrasive either as these will dull the finish of your travertine.

So remember, taking care of your travertine is all about not only knowing what to do, but what not to do as well. And when in doubt, call a travertine cleaning service.

Travertine is only type of stone that needs specialized care, another one is marble...

Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
http://www.lonestartileandgroutcleaning.com

Friday, September 19, 2014

Professional Stone Cleaning and Your Floor Part 1

Before you try to do any sort of stone cleaning, there are several things you need to know. Let's look at travertine for example.

: Get Professional Travertine Cleaning in Cibolo TX | Call Us Today (210) 637-5050

Travertine Cleaning and Hiring a Pro

Travertine should always be done by a professional stone cleaning service, unless you are 100% sure that you know how to handle travertine. The reason is that travertine is a surprisingly fragile stone particularly were exposure to certain things is concerned. Travertine is a calcium-based natural stone in the same family as marble and limestone. It is formed when deposits of calcium carbonate congeal. One of the traits of travertine are the many holes and gaps in the stone which form when carbon dioxide escapes during the formation process. Travertine is graded based on the amount of holes in the stone. The more holes there are, the lower the grade of travertine you have. However, whether low-grade travertine or high grade, these holes give travertine its distinctive texture but they also make travertine more porous. These pores make travertine also more prone to staining. Some stains are worse than others however.

For example if you spill anything acidic on travertine such as coffee, orange juice, red wine, or vinegar for a few examples, you also have a good chance of damaging your stone. And if you think this problem is confined to what you spill, sometimes the wrong cleaning solution can damage your travertine as well. To make matters worse, wet mopping your floor may also cause long term damage as well.

Travertine Care and Cleaning

A stone cleaning service knows how to clean travertine, however. They also know what not to do as well. First off the stone is gently cleaned and then it is sealed. Stone sealer seeps into all the pores and helps to protect your stone from further stains as well as damage. Stone sealer is a relatively modern invention that works very well and lasts at least five years, sometimes as more as a decade. Another reason to contact a professional for your travertine cleaning is that he can give you some tips to help keep your travertine looking its best between visits.

Travertine is a beautiful addition to any home, but if you're not careful, you could end up damaging your stone...

Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
http://www.lonestartileandgroutcleaning.com

Friday, September 12, 2014

Grout Sealing: What it Is and Why You Need it Part 2

Part two of our series on grout sealing explores giving your floor a new look.

: Bathroom remodeling in San Antonio | (210) 637-5050

Grout Sealing Vs. Grout Color Sealing

There are two types of grout sealers. This sealant is either solvent based or water based. Which should you go for? Grout sealing or grout color sealing? Well that depends on you and your tastes. If you just want a clean look for your floors and you wish to keep your floor looking the same, then you will want to go for regular sealing. What about when you want to change your floor? That's were color sealing comes in.

When you call in a professional service for grout color sealing, it can totally change the way your floor looks, while at the same time protecting your floor from spills and stains. You can choose from all of the major supplier grout colors, and give your floor a new look without ripping up the floor and re-tiling and re-grouting your floor.

Why Go For Color Sealing Your Grout

Grout color sealer is used in two ways. You can either re-capture the color that you used to have, or you can go for a new color instead. There are arguments for both. Matching your original color can make your grout look like it is new instead of years or even decades old. It is also more about restoration. However, if you want a fresh look, you want to change your color. Be aware that if you want to change your grout's shade, you want to make sure that you pick something compatible. You don't want a darker color on grout that looks better white, and vice-versa. You want to give it careful thought before you do anything to change your floor's look, as it is can be difficult to change back.

If you change your grout color, the color can transfer to the tile and give it a new look as well. Be aware however, that certain types of tile such as natural stone you want to use caution on using grout color sealing as it can also change the color of your stone. When in doubt, call a professional to help you where grout color sealing is involved.

This concludes part two of our series on grout sealing. For more information on this topic, be sure to read part one and part three as well.

Lone Star Tile and Grout Cleaning
4019 Stahl Rd, Suite 202
San Antonio TX 78217
(210) 637-5050
http://www.lonestartileandgroutcleaning.com