Your visitors seem to always comment on how charming your natural stone bathroom looks – and every time you use it your love is renewed. However, like all bathrooms, they need to be maintained so that you can continue to enjoy their appearance.

Thankfully, there are some very easy ways to keep your natural stone bathroom in top condition – by either preventing damage or by treating it. For your ease, we’ve listed them here.

Ask people to be respectful

Although your visitors may marvel at how stunning your bathroom is, they may not realise that extra care has to be taken with a natural stone one. Therefore, ask them to treat the room with respect by clearing up any mess they might make.

Another great tip is to ask your guests to take their shoes off when they enter your home, then they will not accidentally drag anything from the bottom of their shoes onto your natural stone floor. Dirt, grit, and sand are all very abrasive substances, and will do the greatest amount of damage to these surfaces.

Use non-slip mats and sealant

Water is one of the key features of a bathroom, but it is also one of the main causes of harm to your charming natural stone. One way to prevent this is by buying some non-slip mats for your floor surfaces, minimising water spillages from showers and sinks.

Sealing is also a good idea, as this will protect your stone tiles against both dirt and any splashes of water. There are two different types of sealant to choose from, depending on your natural material. For highly porous stones like travertine, use a topical sealer. For stones that are less porous, like marble, a penetrating sealer will do the job. However, knowing exactly which one is right for your bathroom, and how to apply it properly, requires the help of a team that specialise in stone restoration and preservation.

Clean your bathroom – in the right way

Unfortunately, sometimes damage cannot be prevented. In these cases, the bathroom will have to be treated.

The majority of treatments will require cleaning, and it is extremely important that you do not use standard household products, as these will cause further harm to your natural stones. These products include:

• abrasive cleaners
• vinegar
• lemon juice
• acidic cleaners (like grout and tile cleaners).

Remember never to mix bleach and ammonia together as this will produce a toxic and lethal gas. It is also imperative that you do not use vacuum cleaners on your bathroom surfaces – its wheels and attachments could result in scratches to the stone. Instead we recommend cleaning surfaces with either mild detergent or stone soap, and regularly using a dust mop on your floors.

For stain removal, it will depend on the type of mark, but the following advice should help:

• Oil stains (caused by items like cosmetics): Clean gently with detergent, ammonia, mineral spirits or acetone.
• Organic stains (caused by natural things like urine, leaves, coffee/tea and food): Use a 12% hydrogen peroxide solution with a few drops of ammonia.
• Metal stains (caused by rust): Make a poultice by mixing a liquid cleaner or chemical with an absorbent material to produce a thick paste.

Unfortunately, deep-seated stains may cause a permanent blemish on your natural stone, and you may need specialist help to bring your beautiful stones back to their former glory.

Contact us for a consultation

Some stains just cannot be removed, and it may be that you simply do not want to spend time maintaining your bathroom.

We understand, and our specialist team of stonemasons are here to help. We’ve four generations’ worth of experience in cleaning, installing and reviving all types of stonework.

We focus not just on the immediate restoration of your stone, but also the ongoing preservation of its appearance. Contact us today for an initial consultation, so we can recommend the best course of action and get your natural stone bathroom sparkling again.