How to Make Your Own Stone Countertop and Floor Cleaner
Frederick M Hueston StoneForensics.com
If you’ve ever owned stone countertops or floors, you know that taking care of them is a bit different than cleaning other surfaces. Stone, especially softer types like marble, can be sensitive to acidic cleaners. You wouldn’t want to use something that could potentially cause etching or damage over time. Luckily, making your own stone-safe cleaner is easy, affordable, and ensures you know exactly what’s in the product.
Here are a few simple, non-acidic formulas you can mix up at home that are safe for marble, granite, and other natural stones.
Formula 1: The Everyday Stone Surface Cleaner
This formula is perfect for daily cleaning, whether it’s your kitchen countertops or stone floors. It’s gentle, safe, and leaves your stone surfaces clean without any streaks or dull spots.
Ingredients:
2 cups of water (preferably distilled)
1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
1/4 teaspoon of mild dish soap (pH-neutral)
5-10 drops of essential oil (optional, for a pleasant scent)
Instructions:
Mix the water, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap in a spray bottle.
Add essential oils if you’d like a fresh scent. Lavender or lemon essential oil (non-acidic) works well without damaging your stone.
Shake gently to combine.
To use, spray the cleaner directly onto the stone surface and wipe with a microfiber cloth. This formula is safe for daily use on marble, granite, travertine, and other natural stones. The rubbing alcohol helps disinfect without being too harsh, and the dish soap lifts away dirt and grime.
Formula 2: Deep Cleaning Stone Floors
For those days when you need to give your stone floors a more thorough cleaning, this mild formula will do the trick. It’s still safe for marble and won’t cause etching, but it has a bit more power to tackle dirt and grime buildup.
Ingredients:
1 gallon of warm water
1/4 cup of mild liquid Castile soap (pH-neutral)
1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol
Instructions:
Mix the water, Castile soap, and rubbing alcohol in a large bucket.
Stir gently to combine.
To use, mop the stone floor with the solution, ensuring you don’t let any excess water sit on the surface. For extra shine, dry the floor with a clean, soft cloth or a dry mop. The rubbing alcohol helps to dry the surface faster, preventing water spots.
Formula 3: Polishing and Maintaining Shine
If you want to bring back some luster to your stone countertops without using a store-bought polish, this simple DIY method will give your stone a nice, streak-free shine.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol
3/4 cup of distilled water
2-3 drops of mild dish soap
1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin (optional, adds shine)
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.
Lightly mist the cleaner onto your stone surface and buff with a clean microfiber cloth.
This formula is perfect for countertops or small stone surfaces that need a little extra shine. The vegetable glycerin is optional, but it adds a light polish to the surface without leaving any residue.
Formula 4: Disinfecting Stone Surfaces
Sometimes you need a little extra cleaning power to disinfect stone surfaces, especially in high-use areas like the kitchen. This formula is gentle enough for stone but effective for killing germs.
Ingredients:
1 cup of water (distilled)
1 cup of rubbing alcohol
10 drops of tea tree oil (a natural disinfectant)
1/4 teaspoon of mild dish soap
Instructions:
Combine the water, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap in a spray bottle.
Add the tea tree oil and shake to combine.
Spray the cleaner onto the stone surface, let it sit for a minute or two, then wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. This formula is safe for stone, but powerful enough to kill bacteria without the risk of etching or dulling the surface.
Why These Formulas Work
The key to these DIY stone cleaners is that they’re all pH-neutral, meaning they’re neither acidic nor alkaline. Acids, like those found in vinegar or citrus cleaners, can cause etching on softer stones like marble. On the flip side, highly alkaline cleaners can strip away protective sealers and leave your stone vulnerable to stains and damage. By keeping your formulas pH-neutral and free of harsh chemicals, you’re protecting your stone’s natural beauty while still keeping it clean.
A Few Tips for Stone Care
Always wipe up spills quickly, especially anything acidic like wine, coffee, or citrus juices, even if your cleaner is stone-safe.
Use a microfiber cloth for wiping down stone surfaces. It’s gentle and won’t scratch or leave streaks.
Test in an inconspicuous area before using any cleaner on your entire surface, just to be extra sure it won’t affect the stone.
Avoid abrasive scrubbers—they can cause micro-scratches that dull the stone over time.
By making your own stone cleaners, you not only save money but also ensure that your natural stone surfaces are cared for in the safest way possible. Happy cleaning!
How to Make Your Own Stone Countertop and Floor Cleaner
How to Make Your Own Stone Countertop and Floor Cleaner
Frederick M Hueston StoneForensics.com
If you’ve ever owned stone countertops or floors, you know that taking care of them is a bit different than cleaning other surfaces. Stone, especially softer types like marble, can be sensitive to acidic cleaners. You wouldn’t want to use something that could potentially cause etching or damage over time. Luckily, making your own stone-safe cleaner is easy, affordable, and ensures you know exactly what’s in the product.
Here are a few simple, non-acidic formulas you can mix up at home that are safe for marble, granite, and other natural stones.
Formula 1: The Everyday Stone Surface Cleaner
This formula is perfect for daily cleaning, whether it’s your kitchen countertops or stone floors. It’s gentle, safe, and leaves your stone surfaces clean without any streaks or dull spots.
Ingredients:
2 cups of water (preferably distilled)
1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
1/4 teaspoon of mild dish soap (pH-neutral)
5-10 drops of essential oil (optional, for a pleasant scent)
Instructions:
Mix the water, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap in a spray bottle.
Add essential oils if you’d like a fresh scent. Lavender or lemon essential oil (non-acidic) works well without damaging your stone.
Shake gently to combine.
To use, spray the cleaner directly onto the stone surface and wipe with a microfiber cloth. This formula is safe for daily use on marble, granite, travertine, and other natural stones. The rubbing alcohol helps disinfect without being too harsh, and the dish soap lifts away dirt and grime.
Formula 2: Deep Cleaning Stone Floors
For those days when you need to give your stone floors a more thorough cleaning, this mild formula will do the trick. It’s still safe for marble and won’t cause etching, but it has a bit more power to tackle dirt and grime buildup.
Ingredients:
1 gallon of warm water
1/4 cup of mild liquid Castile soap (pH-neutral)
1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol
Instructions:
Mix the water, Castile soap, and rubbing alcohol in a large bucket.
Stir gently to combine.
To use, mop the stone floor with the solution, ensuring you don’t let any excess water sit on the surface. For extra shine, dry the floor with a clean, soft cloth or a dry mop. The rubbing alcohol helps to dry the surface faster, preventing water spots.
Formula 3: Polishing and Maintaining Shine
If you want to bring back some luster to your stone countertops without using a store-bought polish, this simple DIY method will give your stone a nice, streak-free shine.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol
3/4 cup of distilled water
2-3 drops of mild dish soap
1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin (optional, adds shine)
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.
Lightly mist the cleaner onto your stone surface and buff with a clean microfiber cloth.
This formula is perfect for countertops or small stone surfaces that need a little extra shine. The vegetable glycerin is optional, but it adds a light polish to the surface without leaving any residue.
Formula 4: Disinfecting Stone Surfaces
Sometimes you need a little extra cleaning power to disinfect stone surfaces, especially in high-use areas like the kitchen. This formula is gentle enough for stone but effective for killing germs.
Ingredients:
1 cup of water (distilled)
1 cup of rubbing alcohol
10 drops of tea tree oil (a natural disinfectant)
1/4 teaspoon of mild dish soap
Instructions:
Combine the water, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap in a spray bottle.
Add the tea tree oil and shake to combine.
Spray the cleaner onto the stone surface, let it sit for a minute or two, then wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. This formula is safe for stone, but powerful enough to kill bacteria without the risk of etching or dulling the surface.
Why These Formulas Work
The key to these DIY stone cleaners is that they’re all pH-neutral, meaning they’re neither acidic nor alkaline. Acids, like those found in vinegar or citrus cleaners, can cause etching on softer stones like marble. On the flip side, highly alkaline cleaners can strip away protective sealers and leave your stone vulnerable to stains and damage. By keeping your formulas pH-neutral and free of harsh chemicals, you’re protecting your stone’s natural beauty while still keeping it clean.
A Few Tips for Stone Care
Always wipe up spills quickly, especially anything acidic like wine, coffee, or citrus juices, even if your cleaner is stone-safe.
Use a microfiber cloth for wiping down stone surfaces. It’s gentle and won’t scratch or leave streaks.
Test in an inconspicuous area before using any cleaner on your entire surface, just to be extra sure it won’t affect the stone.
Avoid abrasive scrubbers—they can cause micro-scratches that dull the stone over time.
By making your own stone cleaners, you not only save money but also ensure that your natural stone surfaces are cared for in the safest way possible. Happy cleaning!
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