Granite floors have been some of the most widely applied stones for flooring in commercial offices and residential buildings. And why shouldn’t they be? They offer a variety of practical benefits over other stone surfaces, one of which is that they are far harder than marble, more durable and cheaper too. However, cleaning and polishing granite floors are often considered difficult as they can get easily scratched, stains and can easily accumulate dust, oil deposits and harmful microorganisms. This is one of the main reasons why granite floor cleaning should be undertaken by an experienced team of professionals before reopening commercial places of business while the lockdown restrictions are getting lifted.
One of the reasons why cleaning granite can be tougher than other types of stone flooring is the range of methods that are implemented to remove dirt. Rust stains can be cleared using special detergents and chemicals but if there are scratches on the granite surface, then physical polishing methods are highly recommended. As granite is harder than marble, polishing tools used for granite have to be different from those used for marble.
Why does granite lose its shine so easily?
The surface of a granite floor is made up of an almost mosaic-like pattern that consists of various minerals interlaced together. These minerals hide small punctures or slight pores that are the primary reason of deterioration of even the hardest type of granite. It is difficult to remove the small droplets of water that can easily get lodged into these pores and cause small cracks and reduce the gloss of the surface. Now in the season of COVID-19, these small droplets can be extremely contagious as they have the potential of spreading the virus rapidly among the employees or staff that are occupying the space, if not cleaned properly.
Having said that, it should be noted that water spillage is not a concern for granite flooring but the constant exposure to water is. If the granite is polished and sealed using high-quality industrial sealants, then simply drying the floor can go a long way. Problems arise only when the floor is exposed to water over a long period of time and/or not effectively sealed and polished. So in order to avoid health risks and positively impact the durability of the stone, regular cleaning and maintenance work should be carried out by a team of professionals with experience in stone care.
Below are a few tips for granite cleaning that are widely regarded by stone experts.
- Get it sealed
As mentioned before, granite is very hard put full of small pores. Which is why, unsealed or weakly sealed granite will soak up oils, spills and stains. Without proper sealing, cleaning your granite floor can result in an accelerated rate of deterioration. One quick way to check if your granite is sealed is to leave a few drops of water on the surface and check if it beads up. If it beads up, you have a secure seal; and if it soaks into the surface in a few minutes then you should considering resealing.
- Check the chemicals
Household cleaners and phenyls; acidic cleaners with vinegar and lime; or ammonia and bleach-based cleaning agents should be avoided. They can dull the shine and weaken the sealant over time. Simply using soap water and soft cloth should be preferred for intermediate cleaning, if hiring a professional cleaning team is not on the cards.
- Keep it gentle
Another important tip is to only use soft cloth or sponges to prevent adding unnecessary scratches on the surface. Use warm water, a mild soap and a microfiber cloth for daily wiping and maintenance.
For sanitization purposes, using industry-grade disinfectants are the best that are suitable for stone flooring. However, we recommend letting your cleaning and maintenance team handle the sanitization treatment as you need to be sure of the office before reopening for employees and visitors. Simply ensure that the disinfecting agents being used are not ammonia-based but alcohol-based with 70% v/v so as to avoid further dilution.
We hope the above information will be helpful for you to make your workplace safe before you open doors to welcome your employees. Hindustan Facilities, through our professional granite cleaning and polishing services, use proven methodologies and protocols to combat the spread of COVID-19. To learn how our experts deliver an industry-leading experience, please contact our team for a quick consultation.
