Natural stone tiles such as slate tiles can really set a space apart in terms of its style and visual appeal. These are a beautiful way to create the domestic area you want, helping to contribute to the creation of a home you love.
But as with anything, sometimes slate tiles need a clean. And traditional methods like a sponge and water might not quite do the job in the way you want.
In our latest blog, we have compiled a few tips and tricks to help you get your slate tiles looking pristine again in no time.
The dynamics of cleaning slate tiles
Slate tiles are a superb choice for tiling due to their composition and natural qualities. The journey from within the earth’s surface to your kitchen or bathroom floor is one which sees the natural rock shaped and treated in order to provide you with a brilliant, versatile tile option.
Slate tiles come with a finish to offer the best protection for the natural stone. This may be riven, honed or brushed for example.
One of the best ways to prevent deterioration over time with slate tiles is to ensure they are sealed correctly.
Sealing helps prevent water and dirt from penetrating the tile. We recommend sealing slate tiles to help enable them to keep their fantastic visual appeal over time. It’s important to seal them upon installation, and it can also be beneficial to reseal after a couple of years. We recommend sealing our black and charcoal slate tiles with Mattstone Sealer and our Multicolour stones with Colour Intensifier.
If you prefer a shine to your stone, we would recommend finishing your stone with IronWax Satin sealer and then cleaning with floorshine cleaner.
We have a number of cleaners available that are perfect for using on slate tiles. These Waxwash Neutral Cleaner and Floorshine Neutral Cleaner items are both great for general cleaning of slate tiles, while the Grimex Intensive Cleaner is better if the job at hand is a big one.
If you are wondering how to clean slate tiles outdoors, the same applies. These cleansers can work their magic on outdoor slate tiles too, and with outdoor tiles often quicker to develop dirt build ups, it’s important to clean them regularly.
How to use floor cleaner to get slate tiles looking their best
Waxwash is a high-quality liquid soap that cleans without damaging even the most delicate of surfaces. Ideal for cleaning tiles that are protected with our Mattstone and Colour Intensifier sealers.
When it comes to how to go about cleaning your slate floors, there are a few steps that should be followed.
Before cleaning, be sure to sweep the floor to get rid of any dust and debris that may have built up.
When cleaning, use a mop to help get the cleaner spread across your desired area and gently rub the solution in. After doing this, rinse with clean water and let the floor dry naturally, or use a soft cloth to speed that process up.
Protecting your slate tiles over time
One of the best ways to prevent deterioration over time with slate tiles is to ensure they are sealed correctly.
Sealing helps prevent water getting into gaps between tiles and causing problems down the line. We recommend sealing slate tiles to help enable them to keep their fantastic visual appeal over time. It’s important to seal them upon installation, and it can also be beneficial to reseal after a couple of years in areas that have seen the most wear and tear.
Be sure to also sweep regularly to prevent those unwanted dirt and dust build ups, and don’t shirk on cleaning slate tiles either. It might not be anybody’s favorite job in the world, but regularly cleaning your natural stone tiles is the best way to ensure you keep a brilliant aesthetic in your home and get true value for money.
Removing stubborn grime from your slate tiles
If You have an old floor or ingrained dirt on your slate tiles, then we would recommend Grimex. This is an intensive cleaner, effective for removing stains such as oil, grease, ingrained dirt, grime and old wax layers from your tiles. It is also suitable for the general maintenance cleaning of external driveways, patios and paths if you have slate tiles outside.
After using this product to clean your tiles, it is recommended that you re-seal your slate with the appropriate sealer to re-protect them again.
Buy natural stone tiles at Stone Tile Company
We hope you have found this to be a useful resource. At Stone Tile Company, we have a host of exciting natural stone tiles choices that could be the perfect addition to your kitchen, bathroom, outdoor space or another part of your home.
These of course include our brilliant collection of slate wall and floor tiles. With everything from brushed black slate tiles to natural sheera multicolour slate tiles, charcoal grey slate tiles and even rustic black slate split face mosaic tiles, the choice is huge.
We also have other natural stone tiles for you to choose from, including limestone tiles, quartzite tiles and granite tiles, as well as a host of excellent cleaners and sealers to keep your tiles looking their best.
Take the time to browse through all we have to offer, and be sure to check our delivery options too. And if you have questions about our range, simply get in touch with the Stone Tile Company team.
