Stone Care & Cleaning

To perpetuate the beauty of any stone, proper care, sealing, and maintenance must be implemented. There are numerous types of stones in the world, each having it's own unique qualities and composition. In order to proper maintain your stone it is imperative to know the exact stone you are dealing with. The sealing and preservation of your stone is as important as your selection itself. A marble bathroom, kitchen counter top, fireplace or whatever stone installation you may be doing can easily be more costly than that precious diamond ring. To perpetuate your satisfaction with your stone it must be sealed, maintained and preserved. All of Cancos Tile Corp.'s stone care products are mainly water based, therefore, consumer friendly and generally safe to use on all stones. All of our cleaners also have a pH level equal to neutral with a suitable activity level that is safe for all stones if properly used. But remember to always wear protective gear, ventilate, keep out of reach of children and test small inconspicuous spot before use. Generally speaking after each stone is installed it should be thoroughly cleaned with Cancos tile stone cleaner #200. Let dry for at least 12 - 24 hours. Then the stone should be sealed with Cancos tile stone sealer #100 (or appropriate for your particular stone).

Facts about sealing - New installations only:

Read label for all safety measures. Turn off ALL surface heat ducts so sealer dries properly. All porous stones should be sealed with Cancos 150 Penetrating Sealer. This sealer should only be applied on to a dry absorbing surface. Never seal an undusted or unclean surface. Seal with the prescribed Cancos applicator. Always use a clean bucket and applicator in sealing. Let sealer set on floor for 5 minutes. If the sealer disappears before 5 minutes, seal again. If a seal stays on top of the floor it should be cleaned off with mineral spirits. Protect your floor with mats from grit and outside residue, frequently dust clean your floors. WIPE UP STAINS IMMEDIATELY. Remember the longer the stain remains, the greater the danger of permanent damage. It is recommended that sealing should be done once a year. Always contact a professional to remove stubborn stains. Hard alcohol, wines, oils, and acids are the most difficult stains to remove. Wipe immediately to prevent permanent damage. Cancos Tile recommends that you take a sample piece of your stone. Seal it, let dry then try staining it with different stains. By this method you will know what is dangerous to your particular stone.

Prescribed Sealers and Cleaners:

Cancos 100 - Penetrating sealer Cancos 150 - Porous stone penetrating sealer Cancos 200 - Stone cleaner Cancos 250 - Tile cleaner Cancos 300 - Stone polish Cancos 500 - Stone enhancer

Daily Care and Maintenance of Natural Stone

The individuality of each piece of stone gives a natural stone floor its natural beauty. By following these simple instructions your stone floor will retain it's appearance.

Sweeping

• Tracked in dirt is very abrasive and can damage your flooring surface. • Sweep floor regularly to prevent loose dust & abrasive particles from scratching your floor.

Mopping

• Mop floor weekly to maintain appearance using a string or cloth-type mop. • Sponge mops can streak your floor and shouldn't be used. • Clear water (distilled water) or neutral pH cleaners like Cancos 200 are recommended for stone tile and grout surfaces. Follow manufacturer instructions on cleaning and rinsing for best results.

Squeegee

Squeegee showers daily and wipe down showers weekly.

Stain Removal

• Clean up spills within a reasonable amount of time to prevent discoloring. Alcohol and citrus spills   should be wiped up immediately to reduce possible etching.

Protect Your Investment

• Equip furniture legs with felt floor protectors. Dirt and sand imbedded into plastic or wooden    legs act as sandpaper as furniture is moved across your floor • Place rugs or mats both inside and outside of exterior entryways.

Accidental Damage

• Damaged stone floor can usually be replaced and restored to original   condition by a professional. • Purchase several extra pieces to keep on hand.

Never

• Use vinegar or bleach for regular cleaning. They can adversely affect the stone tile and    grout with continual use. • Use steel wool or abrasive cleaners for ongoing maintenance. They can mar your stone tile    surface if used repeatedly.

NOTES: 1) Some minor staining on marble tile can be removed using a commercial marble poultice, while others will require special poultices formulated by an experienced marble professional. 2) Due to normal wear of polished marble floors, we recommend that all traffic areas be powder polished once a year. This will depend on the amount of traffic on your f loops. 3) Periodically, stone floors must be cleaned and resealed using products specifically formulated for your type of stone. The severity of the traffic pattern will dictate the frequency of the maintenance.