Stone Care and Maintenance (Including Granite, Marble, and Limestone)

Regular Cleaning

Natural stone products are porous, and require a different maintenance program than traditional ceramic tile.  Cleaners that are used on ceramic tile can damage or dull stone.  Stone cleaners should never contain acid or bleach, which will etch and eventually damage natural stone.  This is especially true of marble and limestone.

Natural stone should be cleaned with neutral pH cleaners.  Use only cleaners that are specifically designed for stone.  We recommend the use of Miracle Sealants Mira Clean #1.  Dampen the surface of the stone with clean water to help keep the cleaner on the surface.  Apply the cleaner according to manufacturer’s directions with a sponge or mop.  Allow cleaner to sit for the specified time, and agitate with a sponge or soft bristle brush.  Rinse thoroughly with clean water when finished.

Protection

We recommend that you seal your stone with a good-quality, impregnator type penetrating sealer as soon as you move in.  Impregnators penetrate into the substrate, creating a barrier resistant to water penetration, oil penetration and stains.  They also decrease surface absorption and reduce wear, without altering the natural look.  To maintain the natural beauty of your stone, you should clean and re-seal once a year.  There are many brands out on the market, but we recommend that you use Miracle Sealant 511 Impregnator.  Miracle products can be purchased online at www.miraclesealants.com.  Miracle Sealants has a whole line of sealing and cleaning products suitable for your natural stone, tile, and grout.

Prefinished Hardwood Maintenance Procedures

This package has been prepared in an effort to avoid or prevent many of the problems commonly associated with hardwood flooring maintenance. Following these recommendations will help ensure many years of trouble free use of your new floor. It is very important that you read and understand this information completely, since abusing your floors and improper treatment can void the warranties.

DO:

·  Wipe up spills immediately.

·  Use door mats and throw rugs outside room entrances and in front of kitchen sinks, dishwashers and

    refrigerators to keep dirt and grit off your floor and to prevent damage and excessive wear.    

·  Place runners and area rugs (with slip resistant, breathable backing) along high traffic areas.

·  Move heavy appliances by using an air sled or plywood/masonite (hardboard) over cardboard.

·  Use furniture leg protectors under all furniture legs.

·  Replace hard narrow furniture rollers with wide rubber rollers.

·  Keep the relative humidity in your home between 35% and 55%.

·  Keep the temperature in you home between 65 – 75 Fahrenheit degrees.

·  Protect your floor from direct sunlight.

·  Clean your floor with a manufacture-approved hardwood floor cleaner.  (Cleaner must be pH5; 

    hardwood care products are available at this website:

 http://floorcleaners.net/Hardwood-Floor-Cleaners-C38.aspx

DO NOT:

·  Clean wood floor with a mop and water. (will cause floor to cup)

·  Clean wood floor with soap and water. (will leave film)

·  Clean wood floor with oil soap. (leaves residue that attracts dirt)

·  Clean wood floor with vinegar and water mixture. (will etch the finish over time)

·  Clean or maintain a wood floor with any spray wax product. (will not penetrate and is very slippery)

·  Allow water to stand on your hardwood floor for any length of time.

·  Walk across your hardwood floor in poorly maintained shoes with heel taps, spike heels or with any

    sharp object protruding from your shoe.

·  Allow furniture to rest on the wood floor on metal tips or hard domes.

NOTE:  These guidelines are taken from National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) and the National Oak Flooring Manufacturing Association (NOFMA) documents.  Riverside Interiors is not responsible for any transactions made with the website recommended for hardwood care.

Hardwood flooring, being a natural product, will continue to expand and contract through heating and non-heating seasons. Properly installed hardwood flooring may consequently experience some separation between boards at different times of the year. If such separation occurs, it is not considered a defect and is not covered by the manufacturers warranty.