How to Clean Slate Floors

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Rate: (0 Ratings)

Slate floors enrich any area of the house. They come in either measured tiles or random shapes. The color of slate results from the material it contains. Green slate, for example, has an abundance of chlorite. Clean a slate floor on a regular basis to eliminate potential scratches and dirt build up.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Dust mop
Dustpan
Soft broom
Bucket
Warm water
Detergent
Wet mop
Doormats
Vacuum cleaner
Nylon hand brush

Step1

Use a non-oil-based dust mop on your slate floors before damp mopping. Move the dust mop in the same direction without back and forth sweeps.

Step2

Get a dustpan and soft bristled broom to sweep up the collected debris. Discard outside or in a trash container.

Step3

Fill a bucket with clean warm water. Add a small amount of detergent, as you use for clothes, if needed. It's OK to use just water.

Step4

Take a wet mop and squeeze the water out.

Step5

Push the mop slowly over one area at a time. Wring and mop the entire floor.

Step6

Keep traffic off the wet floor while it dries.

Step7

Look for dull films or streaks on the slate and, if necessary, mop again. Use fresh water in the bucket.

Tips & Warnings

Purchase a quality dust mop from a hardware store or home outlet. After each use, take the dust mop outside and give it a good shaking.
Consider daily or weekly dry mopping with the dust mop. This depends on traffic flow across the floor. When you see pebbles or dirt present, always clean the area.
Wet mop your slate based on need. Develop a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly schedule for normal washes.
Keep an outside doormat in front of the entrance to your slate floor. Place another mat or rug to catch debris from shoes on the inside near the door opening. Vacuum or shake the mats clean of dirt and stones.
Vacuum a slate floor with a soft-bristled brush.
For stains that the mop can't clean, use a hand brush made of nylon or other non-metal brushes. Use a small amount of water and detergent and scrub the area, then rinse.
Never use a dust mop on wet floors.
Avoid rubber-backed mats on top of slate.