Home > Uncategorized > Cleaning Products for a Natural Stone Shower
Published on Thursday, December 7th, 2017
A natural stone shower requires specialized cleaning products, not products homeowners use to clean other types of showers, such as fiberglass, acrylic, PVC, or steel showers. Compared with cleaning these other materials, though, cleaning products for natural stone showers make cleaning stone showers much easier. Caring for natural stone showers is not difficult, but the unique qualities of natural stone that make it an excellent choice for long-lasting tile can quickly dissolve if the wrong cleaning products are used. Read on to learn more about cleaning products for a natural stone shower.
Civilizations worldwide have built different types of natural stone showers for centuries. Natural stone’s various colors and properties make it long-lasting, sustainable, and easy to maintain. Natural stone is abundant throughout the earth, and has always been a widely-used building material of the finest builders in nearly every group of people almost since the beginning of man.
According to composition of the stone, natural stone showers fall under one of two categories of natural stone showers. Home owners either have a Siliceous natural stone shower or a calcareous natural stone shower.
When choosing a cleaning product for a natural stone shower, understanding the differences between the two types of natural stone is critical. Stone showers are made of these types of stone:
Before applying any cleaning product to a natural stone shower, a professional should be consulted to determine what type of stone the shower is made of. Homeowners should also determine, before cleaning, whether their shower stains are organic or oil-based, to ensure they buy the most well-suited cleaning products for their natural stone showers and the types of stains it has.
Cleaners in this category will be mildly acidic. Siliceous stones are extremely durable and can handle some acidity without surfaces becoming ruined or stone flaking off and separating. Top cleaning products for Siliceous natural stone showers include Better Life brand cleaners and Weinman’s brand natural stone cleaners. Never uses solvents or anything that dissolves silicone.
Better Life cleaners are affordable and are a favorite among home owners. Free of harmful chemicals like volatile hydrocarbons (VOCs), petroleum, and harmful alkylphenol surfactants, Better Life offers an array of cleaner and stain removers for natural stone, including scented cleaners.
Weiman’s line of cleaners is the traditional line of choice for cleaning natural stone and other specialty household surfaces. Weiman’s price point is significantly higher than Better Life’s and does not offer scented products. Many believe that nothing beats the cleaning power of Weiman’s for stone surfaces though, so they are willing to pay a little bit more for Weiman’s products.
Bona and Black Diamond are the most preferred cleaners of calcareous natural stone. The lower pH levels of these cleaners ensure that the calcium in this stone doesn’t begin to dissolve, which could cause scratching, dulling, or cracking.
Black Diamond ranks among the best of all cleaning products for natural stone. The solution comes highly concentrated and needs to be mixed with water, so a small bottle goes a long way.
Bona’s line of cleaners are also highly concentrated. Bona’s stone cleaning formulas do not leave streaks like other formulas can and leaves surfaces shinier than with other natural stone cleaners.
Cleaning products for a natural stone shower must be carefully chosen to not damage the stone. Regular maintenance with mild dishwashing soap and warm water will keep a natural stone shower looking fresh between deeper cleanings. Always avoid using any cleaning products on any type of natural stone that contain vinegar, lemon, or other acids, or abrasives and, when in doubt, call a professional. Cleaning products for natural stone showers should help them to last a lifetime.
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