Natural stone floors are prone to getting stained, especially by oily spills. The reason is that natural and concrete stone floors have porous surfaces, which easily absorb all kinds of liquids. As a result, when oily substances are spilled and are left to soak in, unsightly dark stains can occur.
There are some important steps and precautions you need to take to avoid such oily stains as well as to treat them once they have occurred:
The sooner you act, the better the chances of avoiding staining! Cooking oils quickly get absorbed into stone floors. Machine, engine, hydraulic and synthetic oils are lubricants which make them easier to remove from a stone floor!
A well and a properly sealed stone floor are very difficult to stain – so make sure next time you use the services of a professional stone floor cleaning company to ask for the best possible sealant to protect the floor for as long as possible. Also, ask about the regularity at which new sealant needs to be applied.
If you spill an oily substance on a well-sealed stone floor use paper towels to soak up the liquid. Always blot and never rub the spill. Use neutral pH soap or washing solution with water – use a sponge to apply it on the stained area so you can remove any remaining oil. Make sure you rinse off the area with a clean sponge and water. Use a squeegee or dry cloth to dry the area.
As for oil spills on non-sealed stone floors, the treatment is slightly different. Once again blot away as much of the spilled oil with paper towels. Make a paste of some corn starch and a little-added water. Wet the affected area with a dampened sponge and then proceed to apply the corn starch based neutral poultice with a spoon or spatula on the entire area of the spill. After you are done, cover it with plastic wrap and press it on. Use a toothpick or other sharp object to poke holes in the wrap. Let it sit for 24 to 48 hours. After you remove the wrap and poultice, the oily stain should have disappeared. If not – repeat for as many times as necessary.
After you are happy with the results, wash the treated area with some neutral pH soap and some water and then rinse it with a clean wet sponge. Dry the area thoroughly once you are done.
For persistent oily stains, get in touch with your local preferred professional stone floor cleaning company for further assistance.
