Steam mop

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Colin Nash

Cleantalk Member
A friend of mine has a marble floor. She cleans it by hand but is thinking of getting a steam mop.

She asked my wife and was told they're rubbish. However my wife has only ever used one, once!

Are there any that any of you would recommend. 6 x 4 marble floor, cleaned weekly. Also what World of Clean product would be best?

Many thanks Colin
 
Nick Robertson-Vousden

Nick Robertson-Vousden

Solution World of Clean
Hi Colin

I have one for a small Kitchen floor, find it quick and easy ( we have dogs so ........) I use it with STS diluted 1:200 and haven't had an issue floor looks like new mines a wooden floor that looks like slate!!

On marble though I would suggest a microfibre flat mop instead of steam mop
 
Andrew Evans

Andrew Evans

Cleantalker Veteran
Colin I would never use a steam mop on marble.

If it is sealed either with an impregnated seal or a topical seal the steam will damage it.

You may not notice for a while but it will go cloudy over time and even strip a topical seal.

If it isn't sealed I don't think it will damage although I am not sure.
 
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Jacob Ward

Cleantalker Veteran
You don't even need steam to strip a finish

Brand new Slate floor i did, they used beach and flash to "covid clean " it each night.

4 months and it was gone

And my aftercare cleaning package sat on a shelf unopened :rolleyes:

J
 
Andrew Evans

Andrew Evans

Cleantalker Veteran
Colin Nash said:
Spoke to her last night, apparently its limestone slabs. Does that make a difference?
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Not really, it is more about the seal, if there is no seal then I don't think it would hurt the slabs although limestone is very soft and a sedimentary stone, which is why you get the fossils embedded in it.

It is very acid sensitive so should only be cleaned with a neutral PH cleaner. Acid will etch it and anything to high will turn it black.

You need to ask her if it has been sealed. Or do some tests. Teaspoon of water on the surface and see if it beads.

Even if it hasn't been sealed I don't think I would use a steam map for fear of efflorescence.
 
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Jamie Biles

Cleantalk Member
Andrew Evans said:
Not really, it is more about the seal, if there is no seal then I don't think it would hurt the slabs although limestone is very soft and a sedimentary stone, which is why you get the fossils embedded in it.

It is very acid sensitive so should only be cleaned with a neutral PH cleaner. Acid will etch it and anything to high will turn it black.

You need to ask her if it has been sealed. Or do some tests. Teaspoon of water on the surface and see if it beads.

Even if it hasn't been sealed I don't think I would use a steam map for fear of efflorescence.
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I may stand corrected but didn't think water vapor/steam would contain any salt as its already a gas. Thought effervescent was primarily from underground water bringing up salts with it etc.
 
Andrew Evans

Andrew Evans

Cleantalker Veteran
Jamie Biles said:
I may stand corrected but didn't think water vapor/steam would contain any salt as its already a gas. Thought effervescent was primarily from underground water bringing up salts with it etc.
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The salts can be inherent within the stone. Whilst the salt isnt in the steam it can be within the stone itself.

It is often referred to as spalling or flaking.

The extra moisture being pushed into the pores can draw the salts from the back of the stone.
 
Nick Robertson-Vousden

Nick Robertson-Vousden

Solution World of Clean
I would think if you can't clean with an acidic solution then an alkaline at the correct dilution wouldn't be an issue. I have never had any issue myself using STS, that's on the basis of using it for over 20 years!! on numerous surfaces

As for steam mops I really can't get my head around why you couldn't use one, its not like you leave the thing placed on the floor generating steam for any length of time, it pretty much constantly moving, so how the hell can it heat the stone?? surely its the micro fibre pad doing the cleaning, I think this is being made way more complicated than it needs to be
 
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Colin Nash

Cleantalk Member
Just dropped STS to a customer that wanted to clean the safety floor on her balconies this morning. She just phoned about some new carpet and while on the phone was full of praise for the STS.

May have to suggest that my friend with the Limestone floor lets us fit safety-floor over the top. After all I am a flooring retailer! :lol:

On a side note. The STS was ordered yesterday pm and was delivered with my other stuff this morning. Fantastic service as ever. If the carpet sales trade was half as efficient I'd be very happy!
 
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