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Stone and Tile Cleaning Guide

Professional Stone and Tile Cleaning Products Guide

AK Surface Solutions supplies professional neutral, alkaline and acidic cleaning products for natural stone, porcelain, ceramic tiles, concrete, terrazzo, terracotta, grout and other specialist hard surfaces.

Daily maintenance cleaning Heavy-duty deep cleaning Post-installation cleaning Wax and coating removal
Suitable surfaces:
Marble Limestone Travertine Granite Porcelain Ceramic tile Terracotta Terrazzo Concrete Grout
Choosing the correct cleaner

Match the cleaning product to the surface and contamination

The correct cleaning product depends on the surface material, its finish, the type of contamination and whether the work involves routine maintenance, restoration cleaning, post-installation residue removal or stripping an old treatment.

A neutral cleaner is normally used for routine maintenance and sensitive or polished surfaces. An alkaline cleaner is used where grease, traffic film, organic dirt, wax or heavy contamination must be removed.

Acidic cleaners are normally reserved for suitable acid-resistant surfaces where cement residue, grout haze, mineral deposits or inorganic contamination must be removed.

Understanding cleaner types

Neutral, alkaline and acidic cleaning products

Each cleaner type performs a different role. Using a stronger product does not automatically produce a better or safer result.

Neutral cleaners

Routine and maintenance cleaning

Neutral cleaners are suitable for regular cleaning and for maintaining sealed, polished or sensitive hard surfaces.

  • Daily and routine cleaning
  • Low-residue maintenance
  • Polished natural stone
  • Porcelain and ceramic tiles
  • Previously sealed surfaces
Alkaline cleaners

Degreasing and deep cleaning

Alkaline cleaners help break down grease, organic dirt, traffic film, wax residues and stubborn contamination.

  • Heavy-duty floor cleaning
  • Grease and oil contamination
  • Tyre and rubber transfer marks
  • Wax or polymer stripping
  • Restoration preparation
Acidic cleaners

Mineral and post-installation residue

Acidic cleaners are used on suitable acid-resistant surfaces to remove cement, grout and inorganic residue.

  • Cement and grout residue
  • Post-installation cleaning
  • Mineral deposits
  • Inorganic contamination
  • Acid-resistant materials only
Quick selection guide

Which cleaner should be used for each task?

Surface or task
Contamination
Recommended cleaner type
Polished stone or porcelain
Everyday dirt and footprints
Low-residue neutral maintenance cleaner
Commercial or high-traffic floor
Grease, traffic film and ingrained dirt
Concentrated alkaline deep cleaner
Terracotta or treated porous floor
Wax, polymer or previous treatment
Professional alkaline wax stripper
Newly installed acid-resistant tile
Cement residue and grout haze
Acidic post-installation cleaner
Polished stone or polished concrete
Routine cleaning and gloss maintenance
Neutral protective maintenance cleaner
Professional cleaning products

Select the product according to the cleaning task

Review the surface compatibility and individual product instructions before beginning the full cleaning process.

Professional working sequence

How to complete a deep-cleaning process

Dilution, dwell time, agitation, extraction and rinsing all affect the final result.

01

Identify the surface

Confirm the material, finish, absorbency and whether an old sealer, wax or coating is present.

02

Identify the contamination

Determine whether the problem is grease, organic dirt, cement residue, wax, traffic film, mineral contamination or a specialist stain.

03

Complete a test area

Test the selected product, dilution and dwell time in a small area before treating the full surface.

04

Remove loose debris

Vacuum or sweep the floor thoroughly before applying the cleaning solution.

05

Apply the correct dilution

Dilute the product according to the surface condition and cleaning task. Avoid using an unnecessarily strong concentration.

06

Allow controlled dwell time

Allow the product to work without letting the cleaning solution dry on the surface.

07

Agitate the surface

Use the appropriate brush, pad, scrubber dryer or rotary machine to release dirt from the texture and pores.

08

Extract and rinse thoroughly

Remove the contaminated solution using a wet vacuum or extraction system and rinse until the surface is free from cleaning residue.

Application methods

Manual cleaning and machine-assisted cleaning

Small areas and detailed work

Manual cleaning

Manual application may be suitable for small floors, edges, steps, walls and controlled DIY projects.

  1. Remove loose debris.
  2. Dilute the product correctly.
  3. Apply with a mop, brush or suitable cloth.
  4. Allow the required dwell time.
  5. Agitate with the correct hand brush or pad.
  6. Remove dirty solution before it dries.
  7. Rinse thoroughly where required.
Large floors and professional work

Rotary machine or scrubber dryer

Mechanical agitation provides more consistent cleaning on larger or heavily contaminated floors.

  1. Select a pad or brush compatible with the surface.
  2. Apply the diluted product evenly.
  3. Allow controlled dwell time.
  4. Agitate without allowing the surface to dry.
  5. Extract the contaminated solution.
  6. Rinse with clean water where required.
  7. Inspect the dry surface before sealing or polishing.
Avoid common cleaning problems

Mistakes that can damage the surface or reduce results

Using acid on sensitive stone

Acidic products can etch marble, limestone, travertine and other calcite-based materials.

Allowing cleaner to dry

Cleaning chemicals and dirty solution left to dry can create residue, marks and uneven areas.

Using the wrong pad

An aggressive pad or brush can scratch polished stone, porcelain, resin floors or sensitive finishes.

Insufficient extraction

Moving dirty solution around the floor without extracting it can redeposit contamination into the surface.

Sealing before the surface dries

Residual moisture and cleaning contamination can interfere with the performance of a sealer or protection treatment.

Skipping the test area

Surface compatibility, dilution, dwell time and cleaning method should be confirmed before full application.

Protect the surface after restoration cleaning

Once the surface is fully clean, neutralised and dry, apply the appropriate impregnating sealer, stain protector or finishing treatment where required.

View Stone Protection Guide
Need cleaning advice?

Choose the correct cleaner before treating the surface

Tell AK Surface Solutions about the material, finish, contamination, floor area and available cleaning equipment. We can help you identify a suitable neutral, alkaline, acidic or specialist cleaning product.

Practical guidance

Stone and Tile Cleaning FAQs

These answers provide general guidance. Always check the product instructions, surface compatibility and required dilution before beginning.

Neutral cleaners are normally used for routine maintenance and sensitive, polished or sealed surfaces. Alkaline cleaners are used for grease, organic dirt, traffic film, wax and heavy contamination.

Acidic cleaners are used on suitable acid-resistant surfaces for cement residue, grout haze, mineral deposits and other inorganic contamination.

Use a suitable pH-neutral maintenance cleaner. ALGAFLOOR is designed for routine cleaning of surfaces with minimal absorption and produces very low residue.

FABER SOAP is suited to polished natural stone and polished concrete where cleaning, gloss maintenance and protective action are required.

A concentrated alkaline cleaner such as FABER 30 is suitable for heavy-duty cleaning of grease, traffic dirt, tyre marks, wax residue and stubborn organic contamination on compatible hard surfaces.

FABER 30 can be used on compatible natural stone, including marble and limestone, when the correct dilution, dwell time and extraction process are used.

Always test first, avoid allowing the product to dry and rinse the surface thoroughly after deep cleaning.

The required dwell time depends on the product, dilution and contamination. FABER 30 guidance allows approximately 10 to 15 minutes for heavy-duty cleaning.

Agitate periodically and do not allow the cleaning solution to dry during the dwell period.

COTTOSOLV is a concentrated alkaline stripping product for waxes, resins, polymers and previous treatments. It is particularly useful for restoration cleaning of terracotta, concrete and treated porous surfaces.

DISYCOTT is designed for post-installation cleaning and removal of cement-based grout residue from suitable acid-resistant materials.

Do not use an acidic product on marble, limestone, travertine or another acid-sensitive surface unless specifically approved.

At the recommended routine-cleaning dilution, ALGAFLOOR is designed to leave very low residue and does not normally require rinsing.

Excessive concentration may leave more product on the surface, so always follow the dilution instructions.

Yes, where appropriate. Select a brush or pad that is suitable for the stone, its finish and the required cleaning action.

An overly aggressive pad can scratch or dull polished surfaces. Always complete a test area first.

Yes, deep-cleaning and stripping processes normally require thorough extraction and rinsing to remove dirt, chemical residue and dissolved contamination.

Neutralise and rinse the surface as required by the individual product instructions.

The surface must be fully dry before sealing. Drying time depends on the material, absorbency, temperature, ventilation and amount of water used during cleaning.

Porous natural stone may require substantially longer than compact porcelain or polished stone.

Yes. Provide details about the material, finish, contamination, approximate area and available cleaning equipment.

AK Surface Solutions can help you select a suitable neutral, alkaline, acidic or specialist cleaning product and an appropriate application method.