How to Clean Natural Stone Tile Without Damage

Natural stones are a beautiful addition to your home. Today, you see marble, travertine, limestone has become a popular choice for homeowners to make their spaces alluring. But what if you find any natural stone flooring deteriorating rapidly? That's a red flag.

In this blog, we will discuss useful tips about how to clean natural stone tiles without damage helping you maintain their durability and appearance.

In 2025, natural stone care is defined by sustainability, advanced technology, and a focus on restoration over replacement. Homeowners are increasingly opting for eco-friendly, non-toxic products and preventive maintenance routines tailored to stone type and room usage, ensuring longevity and beauty while reducing environmental impact.

How to Clean Natural Stone Tile

To clean your home without ruining stone tiles, you need to follow these tips:

Vacuum or Sweep Regularly

Cleaning natural stone floor with a mop to maintain shine.

Sweep and vacuum the natural stone tiles with a soft-brush attachment daily or weekly to prevent grit from scratching, as this low-cost, high-ROI practice preserves the sealant and finish.

The best thing about natural stones is: that they are forgiving. Due to natural details, fossils, and variation from tile to tile, these stones disguise the daily dirt easily.

Prefer Occasional Mopping

Professional cleaning polished stone tile floor in a kitchen setting.

Following regular vacuuming and sweeping, we recommend occasional mopping with a pH-neutral, eco-friendly cleaner specifically designed for natural stone to prevent etching and dullness while supporting sustainability.

Before mopping, ensure your floor is clear of any extra mud, dirt, or dust.

Don't go for excessive mopping because it wears away at the sealant and also causes grout to discolour over time.

Moreover, avoid using steam cleaners on natural stone like Nero Marquina or Thassos White as it will affect the longevity of the sealant.

Pro Tip: Combining mopping with sweeping ensures you get desirable results, especially for large surfaces.

Consider a pH-neutral Stone Cleaner

Bottle of pH-neutral cleaner placed on natural stones, safe for cleaning stone tile surfaces. Using harsh detergents such as Cif leave residues and harm natural stone eventually. What's the alternative? You can try pH-neutral products specifically designed for natural stone like rubbing alcohol instead of Vinegar that's an acidic cleaner.

They help you clean tiles effectively without dulling or damaging the surface. What you have to do is dilute it as instructed and then mop it (with a microfiber mop or soft mop).

Spot Clean Spillages As Soon As Possible

Hand using cloth to clean coffee spill on marble countertop. You may protect natural stone against many day-to-day spills with sealant but it doesn't work with harsh chemicals or acidic spills.

For example, wine, orange juice, lemon, coffee and puppy accidents. We suggest you spot clean any spillages immediately. Using a cloth and warm water is the best option ensuring all traces of the spillage are removed and leave no mark.

Have a Power Clean Bottle Ready

Sealed natural stone is resistant to staining, but for stubborn issues, use power cleaners formulated for specific stains, such as hydrogen peroxide for organic stains or oxalic acid for rust, to target problems without damaging the stone.

Re-seal the Tiles When Needed

Consider sealant upon installation as it works as a protective barrier against water and stains. For indoor spaces like the ground floor, hallways, or kitchen, reseal the tiles every 4-6 years.

However, for areas with high moisture levels like the bathroom, you may need it more often. As it's a piece of cake, you can do it yourself.

Pro Tip: Do a water test to know whether your floor needs resealing. If the water soaked straight into the tiles, it indicates that your natural stone floor needs resealing.

Beyond resealing, consider investing in regular professional maintenance, such as deep cleaning and anti-slip treatments, to extend your stone's life. Innovations like diamond polishing and laser cleaning are making restoration more efficient, while textured finishes like honed or leathered surfaces are trending for their durability in high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

Use a Steam Mop Cautiously

Steam mops are safe on porcelain but can damage natural stone or degrade sealant if overused. Always check the manufacturer's advice and avoid direct, prolonged contact with stone surfaces to prevent harm.

So how to clean grout on natural stone tile? Steam mopping is good if you check whether steam is safe for your specific type by inspecting the stone's manufacturer or installer.

Cleaning Different Surfaces

Dirty natural stone tiles with coffee, tea, and other tough surface stains.

Here are some specific instructions to clean different surfaces of your natural stone floor tiles in the table below:

Surfaces	What to Use	What to Avoid
Countertop	Neutral cleaner, stone soap, dishwashing detergent, and warm water. Clean soft cloth.	Products containing lemon, vinegar, or other acids. Scouring powders or creams.
Floor	Clean, untreated dry dust mop. Mats or area rugs inside and outside of the home entrance.	Allowing sand dirt, and grit. Slippery underside mat or rug.
Bath and Other Wet Areas	Use non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners or a pH-neutral solution. Avoid ammonia-based mixtures, which can be harmful, and opt for eco-friendly products to maintain a safe, sustainable environment.	Frequent or overuse of an ammonia solution.
Outdoor Pool and Patio	Use a mild bleach solution for areas like the pool, patio, or hot tub.
Exterior Side of Stone	For large installations, give a periodic overall cleaning.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Cleaning

Damaged natural stone tiles due to harsh cleaners, marked with a red X. Let's have a look at common mistakes homeowners make when cleaning natural stone:

Using the wrong cleaning agents i.e acidic commercial cleaners and those containing harsh chemicals (bleach) on Calacatta Gold, Ivory or Onyx surfaces.
Tools such as abrasive sponges, brushes, and scouring pads can scratch or otherwise damage softer stones.
Mixing bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.
Neglecting cleaning for too long.
Using vacuum cleaners that are worn.
Delay in cleaning up spills.

Do you know? The easiest to clean natural stone is Granite because it's resistant to heat, stains, and scratches. However, marble is the most difficult stain to clean as it's more prone to visible stains and etching.

Tips for Stain Removal to Prevent Damage

Red wine spill on white marble tile showing potential stain risk on natural stone surfaces.

Spills happen but don't worry — act fast. Follow these general guidelines while removing stains on the natural stone tiles.

Steps You Can Take for Any Kind of Natural Stone Surface:

First of all, remove any loose debris.
Now wipe the area to spread the spill (wine, fruit juice, coffee, tea, or oily food items).
Utilize plain water and mild soap to flush the area and rinse several times.
Then get a soft cloth to dry the area. You can let the air circulation come into the room for quick drying.
Repeat until it's done.

Solutions to Specific Problems:

Outdoor stone patio being cleaned with a pressure washer under sunlight.

Are you worried about how to clean stone tile floors naturally if they have specific problems? It's no issue! We recommend productive solutions.

Oil-based stains

Example: Grease, cooking oil tar, food stains etc
Solution: Scouring powder with bleach, household detergent

Organic Stains

Example: Paper, tea, coffee, fruit, bark and leaf litter, etc
Solution: Hydrogen Peroxide with a few drops of ammonia

Biological Stains

Example: algae, moss fungi, mildew
Solution: Dilute ammonia or Bleach

Iron Stains Inorganic Metal Stains

Example: Iron, rust, copper, bronze
Solution: Oxalic Acid

Ink Stains

For Light Colored Marbles: Bleach or Hydrogen Peroxide
For Dark Marbles: Lacquer Thinner or Acetone or Methyl Chloride

Scratches

Re-polish, Re-hone, super fine sandpaper

Paint Stain

Solution: Lacquer thinner
Warning: Experts don't

recommend the usage of acids or flame tools.

When to Consult a Professional

Gloved hands scrubbing stone tile grout gently to remove stains.

If the stain persists or the stone has deep scratches or etching, it may be best to consult a stone care professional. These specialists lend a helping hand by providing expert restoration services to bring back the natural beauty of the stone.

Natural stone is celebrated for its classic beauty and tactile appeal, imparting a unique elegance to your floor. But it's important to follow care guidelines when cleaning Dolomite, Haisa Light or Travertine (Philadelphia).

Refer to the specific care instructions or contact with our expert to get personalized advice on tile care if you're unsure about cleaning methods.

Sunlight casting on clean natural stone tiles in a cozy living space. By offering customized services, we at MOSAICENTER keep your floor looking fresh and well-maintained.

FAQ's

What is the Best Way to Clean Natural Stone Tile?

The best way to clean natural stone floor tiles is to start by vacuuming, then mopping with the cloth. After that rinse it and must avoid harsh chemicals.

Can You Use Dawn to Clean Natural Stone?

Yes, using a pH-neutral cleaner, like Dawn, prevents the risk upsetting balance of neutral pH. It has effective properties making it a champion in caring for delicate surfaces like marble.

Can You Use Baking Soda and Vinegar on Natural Stone?

No, we don't recommend using baking soda or vinegar because it does not work well with the natural stone countertops. They cause discoloration and stains.

What Does Vinegar Do to Stone Tile?

Products like vinegar corrode the stone and cause etching and dulling.

Halil I Oguz

At Mosaicenter's, Halil I Oguz brings a unique blend of strategic insight and creative flair to our digital experience. As our dedicated Content Strategist, he masterfully curates the online journey, allowing the inherent quality and design artistry of our premium tiles to truly shine.

From showcasing the intricate patterns of our mosaics to detailing the robust, scratch-resistant and water-resistant finishes of our porcelain and natural stone, Halil crafts content that is both informative and deeply engaging.

His work empowers Mosaicenter's clients to confidently select from our extensive range, helping them transform spaces with tiles that reflect both enduring style and practical excellence.