Caring for natural stone
is simpler than it sounds

Sealing: your first line of defence

A sealer doesn't make stone stain-proof — what it does is buy you time. It repels oils and liquids so a spill sits on the surface rather than soaking straight in, giving you a genuine window to wipe it up before it has any chance to mark the stone. Your fabricator will seal your stone professionally upon installation, and the right ongoing routine depends on which stone you have — marble and limestone generally need more frequent attention than granite or quartzite.

Sealing itself is straightforward: a cloth wetted with impregnating sealer is applied to the entire surface, including edges and any upstands or splashbacks, left wet but not soaked. The first coat is given five to ten minutes to dry before a second coat goes on. Resealing later on is genuinely simple and can be done yourself.

It's worth being realistic about what sealing can and can't do. Even the most effective sealer cannot fully protect every stone from every spill in every situation — particularly anything left to sit overnight. The single most protective habit isn't the sealer itself, it's catching spills early.

Everyday cleaning

Most days, natural stone barely needs more than a soft, damp microfibre cloth — often a dry one is genuinely enough for basic dusting. For a proper wipe-down, a diluted mixture of methylated spirits (not the dyed kind) and water, in a 70:30 ratio, applied with a paper towel or microfibre cloth, is an effective and inexpensive everyday cleaner for most natural stone.

A couple of small habits make a real difference over time: dry surfaces off after cleaning rather than letting them air dry, since standing water — even clean water — can leave streaking on a polished finish, and keep a cloth or mop set aside exclusively for stone surfaces. Residue from other household cleaning products can interfere with how well your stone cleaner actually works.

Kitchens & benchtops

A kitchen benchtop sees more action than almost any other stone surface in the house — cooking oils, sauces, wine, citrus, spices, all in regular contact, especially when you're entertaining. The single most useful habit here is simple: clean up spills as soon as you notice them. The longer something acidic or staining sits, the greater the chance it leaves a mark.

With a house full of people, that's sometimes easier said than done — so it's worth taking a couple of minutes before bed to give the bench a final once-over. Even the best sealer can't guarantee protection against everything left to sit overnight, but a quick check at the end of the night closes that gap nicely. Coasters, trivets and chopping boards under glasses, hot pots and sharp knives are an easy, permanent habit worth building in from day one.

Bathrooms & vanities

Marble, limestone and travertine are popular choices for bathrooms and vanities, prized for their softer, more elegant colouring. Because their polished surface is also comparatively softer than granite's, a little extra attention goes a long way. Sealing protects a vanity top against everyday spills, but it's worth knowing that a few specifically bathroom-related culprits — perfumes, toothpaste, and nail polish remover in particular — can etch or dull the polish directly.

A simple, practical fix: keep toiletries in a small glass or ceramic tray rather than directly on the stone, the same way you'd use a soap dish. If you use a coloured toilet cleaner ("blueing" the bowl), keep an eye out for splashes and wipe them up promptly. The same gentle methylated spirits and water mix used elsewhere in the home works well here too — just remember to thoroughly rinse and dry surfaces like shower vanities after use, which also helps reduce soap scum and mould build-up.

Floor areas

Stone floors mostly need protection from grit more than anything else — small particles tracked in on shoes are what actually cause most everyday scratching, not foot traffic itself. Good mats both inside and outside entrances catch the bulk of it before it ever reaches the floor. A commercial fringe mop is genuinely the easiest day-to-day tool for picking up dust and grit — lightweight, fast, and a couple of minutes is usually enough for an average floor area, followed by a vigorous shake outside.

If you vacuum a stone floor, take care that metal components on the suction head don't make direct contact with the surface, since they can scratch it. It's also worth fitting felt or rubber pads under chairs and heavy furniture. One detail worth knowing: even an old, worn mop can cause damage — rust flakes from corroded metal components have been known to leave small but noticeable stains on stone tiles. Checking mops periodically for wear, and retiring them once they look tired, is a small habit that pays off over the life of the floor.

This is a general guide. For repairs, stain removal, or repolishing, we always recommend professional assistance — feel free to ask us for a recommendation.