How To Clean Slate Tiles
Slate tiles are a popular and durable material for both indoor and outdoor flooring, offering an attractive blend of natural patterns and textures. Many people are interested in how to clean slate tiles, and so this post will cover how to maintain slate tiles, as well as which products to use to achieve the best results and keep your slate tiles looking excellent or years to come.
Pre-Installation - first clean after unpacking
Slate tiles are often available in rich black and grey hues, loved for their ability to provide a striking contrast to other elements of a room. Due to natural slate being darker in tone, when first unpacking from a crate there can often be a noticeable build up of dust on the surface of the tiles, which it is necessary to remove before the sealant is applied. This can be done by using a 1-5 dilution of a suitable natural stone cleaner with water, along with a clean scrubbing brush or mop. We recommend Lithofin Power Clean. Ensure that you refresh the solution regularly to avoid using dirty water to clean the tile. To help dry the tiles and remove any excess dirt, wipe over with a clean towel or microfibre cloth, washing them out frequently or using multiple if they become too dirty. As per our usual installation guidelines, we recommend waiting until the tiles are fully dry before sealing.
Natural slate can also show minor scratches in the surface, which is a normal feature of slate tiles. Sealing your slate tiles will minimise the appearance of these, but we do recommend using things such as furniture buffers on chair and table legs to prevent them marking the surface, particularly if metal.
Before Cleaning
After Cleaning
Post-Installation - how to clean slate floor tiles
As with other natural stones that are quarried from the earth, it is important to use a cleaner suitable for natural slate tiles. Harsh chemicals such as bleach can damage the surface of the slate, causing uneven or patchy marks where applied. Lithofin Wash & Clean is a great product for everyday maintenance cleaning, suitable for natural stone.
This product can be applied by first vacuuming the area (with the brushes down or a brush attachment) to remove any loose grit or dirt, and then diluting the cleaner into warm water and mopping until clean. We recommend flat microfibre mops rather than string style mops as these are more effective at lifting and removing ingrained dust and dirt. You can then let the slate dry naturally. If opting for a cleaner of your own choice, then we always recommend looking for products that state they are ‘suitable for natural stone’, as well as testing on an inconspicuous area first.
For bathrooms, wet rooms and shower enclosures, the same process can be followed. If wanting to keep your slate tiles cleaner for longer in these areas, then we recommend squeegeeing the area of excess water after use. This will prevent the build-up of soap scum and other products on the surface of the tile. For outdoor spaces, the cleaning process is again similar, with products such as Lithofin Power Clean and Outdoor Cleaner being great options. As with other natural stone outdoors, jet washers can be used, but on a very occasional basis and at a safe distance away from the pavers – at least half a metre.
Brazilian Black Slate
Brazilian Grey Slate
Do you need to seal slate tiles?
Slate tiles need to be sealed during the installation process, which will help to protect your natural stone flooring against contamination from day-to-day use, as well as highlighting the natural riven surface texture of slate. When following the correct maintenance guidelines, we normally recommend resealing internal dry areas every 3-5 years, with areas such as bathrooms or wet rooms needing to be resealed every 1-2 years.
Sealed Brazilian Slate
When installing natural slate tiles outdoors, sealing becomes a matter of a personal preference. Sealing will help to protect areas such as outdoor eating and cooking spaces, as well as lengthening the weathering process. However, if you are happy for your slate tiles to weather in sooner, then sealant need not be applied.
What is the best product to deep clean slate tiles with?
Slate tiles may require deep cleaning on occasion, especially if dealing with a high traffic or busy space such as hallways, family kitchens or bathrooms. Lithofin Power Clean, diluted with warm water, can be used to provide a deeper clean for these areas. This will help to lift dirt and grime, as well as efflorescence (white chalky dusting), and for more ingrained stains the same product can be scrubbed over the area with a white emulsifying pad.
What cleaners should you avoid with slate?
You should always avoid any form of aggressive cleaners such as limescale removers, bleach, or anything else that is not PH neutral. If any of these sorts of cleaners do come into contact with your slate tiles, and damage the surface finish, then you may need to speak to a professional restorer who will need to resurface the area for you.
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We hope this helps with any queries you may have with cleaning your slate tiles. Our how to clean natural stone tiles post is a great reference for more general cleaning advice that will also apply to slate but do feel free to contact our experienced sales or customer support teams if you have any further questions.
