Slate floors have many desirable qualities. They are fireproof and serve as a good electrical insulator. Furthermore, they are also known for their chemical inertness and thermal stability. These are the many reasons why people use them as exterior and interior walkways, stairs and flooring. Just like all the other construction materials, they are also susceptible to unsightly stains and stubborn dirt. Learn how to clean slate floors and be able to enjoy neat-looking flooring.
Materials Needed
People need a number of tools and materials to accomplish this moderately easy task. These include a soft broom, a dustpan and a dust mop. Aside from these things, you also need a detergent, a bucket and warm water. In addition, prepare other important items such as a nylon hand brush, a vacuum cleaner, doormats and a wet mop. If you have these materials, you can move on and start learning how to clean slate floors.
Steps
Right before damp mopping, you need to have a non-oil-based mop to remove the dust first. Do not use back and forth sweeps. Instead, mop the floors in one direction only. After collecting enough dust and debris, sweep them using a soft-bristled broom and a dustpan. Throw them away, either in a trash container or outside the house.
Get the bucket. Fill it with warm and clean water. Pour in some detergent. If none is available, using just plain water is enough to get the job done. Dip the mop into the bucket and then squeeze the liquid out of it. Mop the slate floors starting from one particular area and then moving on slowly to the other parts. After a series of wringing and mopping, check if the floors are thoroughly clean.
While the floors are drying, do not let anyone pass through them. Wait until they are completely dry. If streaks and dull films are still visible, mop the floors again until you can no longer see traces of dirt, dust and stains. Allow the floors to dry before letting people pass through them.
Additional Tips and Other Helpful Information
Visit a hardware store and buy a high quality dust mop. The cleaning process is much easier when using good quality materials. To maintain the beauty of your slate floors, make it a habit to clean on a daily or weekly basis, depending on the need for cleaning. In addition, wet mopping can be done on a monthly, weekly or bi-weekly basis. Use a nylon brush for hard-to-clean stains. In order to get rid of stones and dirt, it is good to use a vacuum cleaner. Do not use a dust mop on wet surfaces. Likewise, never use mats with rubber backs on top of slate flooring.