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Cleaning slate floors is a difficult task. If you want to keep your floor looking like new, then invest in the right tools and materials for the job. This how-to guide will show you how to clean slate floors with vinegar and water.
- Sweep or vacuum the floors to remove all debris
- Mix a solution of one part vinegar and one part water in a bucket
- Dip a mop into the solution
- Mop away from your starting point
- Rinse thoroughly with clear water
- Allow time for it to dry before walking on it
- Repeat as needed until the floor is clean
Contents
Sweep or Vacuum The Floor
Before you start cleaning the slate floors, you need to remove all the debris. If there are any loose particles, they might scratch the floor. This how-to guide recommends that you sweep or vacuum all the floors to remove all debris.
Make a Solution of Vinegar and Water
Vinegar is a common household item. It not only can help keep your slate floors clean, but it helps remove soap scum, hard water stains, and spots from anything else. This how-to guide recommends that you mix one part vinegar to one part water. You can also use distilled white vinegar as well as apple cider vinegar. However, the how-to guide does not recommend using any other type of vinegar besides distilled white vinegar or apple cider as this might distort the floor’s color as well as smell bad.
Dip a Mop Into The Solution
Make sure that you use a mop that is safe for your slate floor. The how-to guide recommends using one of our microfiber Mop Select Deluxe Mops, as they are gentle on the surface without scratching or damaging it at all. You can also use any other type of microfiber mop as long as it doesn’t have thick cords or strings attached to it. Also, buy separate bucket and wringers to avoid mixing different kinds of cleaners in your bucket which will distort the color of your floor even more.
Mop Away From Your Starting Point
Before you start mopping the floors with the solution, make sure that you start out by mopping away from your starting point. This how-to guide recommends that you cover up an entire section of the floor before you start mopping diagonally, then continue to mop the next section diagonally. These how-to directions are better than making straight lines, because it leaves less time for the solution to soak into the floor and to dry faster.
Rinse Thoroughly With Clear Water
After you finish mopping the floors and rinsing off the floor, you need wait for at least 24 hours before you can put anything back on the floor like furniture or other appliances. The how-to guide recommends waiting a day to make sure that all of the vinegar is gone from the floors and won’t damage anything else you put on it. Also, this will give enough time for the floor to properly dry and not be wet when stepped onto. After this amount of time has passed, then go ahead and walk on your slate floors again if they seem safe enough. Repeat as needed until the floor is clean.
Allow time For It to Dry
If you have just mopped your slate floors, you will need to allow time for it to dry before walking on it. The how-to guide recommends waiting at least 24 hours, but it is best to wait a day or two so that the vinegar doesn’t damage anything else that you might put back on the floor. However, if in 24 hours or more your floor is still wet, then you should call for professional help.
Repeat As Needed Until The Floor is Clean
If your slate floors are still dirty after trying the steps listed in this how-to guide, then you will need to repeat the steps as needed until the floor is clean. Make sure that you allow time for the floor to dry between each attempt, and if the floor is still wet after 24 hours or more, then you should call for professional help.
What Not To Do When Cleaning Slate Floors
There are other things that you don’t want to do when cleaning slate floors. The first thing would be not using anything besides distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, because this could damage the floor’s color as well as smell terrible. Also, make sure that you don’t use any bleach because it could damage your floor even more. Bleach is definitely not safe for any kind of stone and will cause permanent damage to it. Finally, if the stain doesn’t come off with this how-to guide’s recommended steps, then you might need to call a professional help so they can fix the problem without damaging your floor. Some stains just won’t come out no matter what you try on it and professional help is the only way to solve this problem.
Final Thoughts
Slate floors can be tricky to clean, but with the right steps and a bit of patience, you can get them looking as good as new. This how-to guide recommends using distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to clean your slate floors, because they are safe for the floor and won’t damage the color. Make sure that you rinse off the floor thoroughly after mopping it with the vinegar solution, and wait at least 24 hours for the floor to dry before walking on it. If you have just cleaned your slate floors and they are still dirty, then repeat these steps until the floor is clean. However, if after trying these steps your floors are still wet or stained, then you should call for professional help.