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SECTOR FOCUS STONE & CERAMIC FLOORING

A case in point anti-bacterial all-purpose cleaner and
I often use a vein-cut marble project it states that it isn’t suitable for natural
as an example. The case in point was stone because it is acid-based. It’s
an installation in a high-end London always worth reading the small print.
home which cost about £10,000. The Another common misconception is
housekeeper applied a spray detergent that an extra dose of the right product
and left it to run down the face of the will do an even better job. But this
vein-cut marble in the shower enclosure. can actually create problems. Using a
The detergent was a general-purpose stronger concentration may mean that a
kitchen and bathroom cleaner, designed surface needs to be rinsed; if it isn’t, the
to remove limescale and dirt. residue may form a film on the surface,
On a marble-effect porcelain or which could make future cleaning more
ceramic surface, this probably wouldn’t difficult and potentially create a slip
Poor maintenance advice and have caused too much of an issue. But hazard.
incorrect cleaning products can because the product was highly acidic, Why pH-neutral is a strength,
contact with the delicate polished
cause costly damage to tiles and marble caused etching and irreversible not a weakness
natural stone surfaces, says damage to the whole of the wall Natural stone should always be cleaned
Mark Atkins surface. In some instances, an attempt with a suitable pH-neutral solution.
could have been made to reburnish the And, pH-neutral doesn’t mean that a
product is weak or ineffective. It just
The real cost marble, to polish out the damage, but means it’s fit for purpose. Quality
the amount of water needed and the
of using the size of the bathroom ruled this out. cleaning products, like our own, are also
more concentrated than supermarket
wrong product cleaners, so they generally work out to
be better value in the longer run.
Choosing a suitable product is also
T can be difficult to get customers
Ito invest in a good tile maintenance key, for all types of tile. For example,
washing up liquid is generally neutral to
regime. Having made the initial tile
purchase, any add-ons are often seen as slightly alkaline and is branded as being
just that; an opportunity for the retailer gentle. It appears to be harmless but
Hampton School
to bump the price up. Thankfully, the when water evaporates, it leaves a layer
functional role and performance benefits of detergent on the surface of the tile.
of sealers are now better understood This tactile layer builds up and
but when it comes to cleaning products, creates a key, which attracts dirt, and
the question often arises: can’t you just potentially a slip hazard. Some contract
use a standard household cleaner? cleaning products which contain
In the case of porcelain and ceramic, waxy ‘maintainers’ for a just-mopped
opting for a multi-purpose cleaner finish can also create similar issues.
generally won’t cause too many issues Professional tile and stone cleaners,
– although grout, being porous, can be Example of acid damaged stone used at the correct no-rinse dilution,
damaged by aggressive solutions. Natural don’t leave any residue, eliminating
stone, on the other hand, is not forgiving. The insurers got involved. It became these problems.
Using a product that’s too acidic or too clear that the marble suppliers didn’t Avoiding an unhappy ending
alkaline will damage the stone surface offer any maintenance advice at the The London case study serves as a
and strip out any protection – and this point-of-sale and the installers didn’t good example all these years later; the
applies to seemingly natural solutions as give any guidance on aftercare. The investment is worth it – and it’s always
well as ‘heavy duty’ products. architects who commissioned the worth offering that best practice advice,
Let’s take cleaning hacks; some of the marble didn’t specify a sealer or provide no matter how prickly the customer
most popular are homemade mixtures any care advice – and the cleaners might be.
of vinegar, lemon and soda. Vinegar and couldn’t have been expected to know Shockingly, the cleaning product
lemon are both very acidic, while soda the difference between a glazed that caused the damage cost just
has high alkaline levels. Most general tile engineered tile and polished marble. 64p. A concentrated, specialist neutral
cleaners fall into the alkaline category If the correct advice had been given at detergent, like our own ECOPROTEC
and an AI overview today states any stage, the issue might have been Multi-Purpose Cleaner, wouldn’t have
that they are “safe for most ceramic, avoided. cost any more, per wash. 
porcelain and stone tiles.” With regard Eco-products and an extra dose 01823 666213
to stone, this is incorrect and yet it’s the Surprisingly, many eco-products can technical@ecoprotec.co.uk
information that many consumers refer also cause damage to natural surfaces. www.ecoprotec.co.uk
to time and time again. Look closely at the label of a leading Mark Atkins is LTP director

www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk 81
@CFJMagazine CFJ July 2026