Maintaining blue stone: child’s play

INDOORS

Useful to have on hand

• Classic maintenance: Neutral and natural soap based on linseed oil or Marseille soap
• Scratches: Natural anti-slip white beeswax
• Grease stains: Ecosol detergent

Your flooring

Has your flooring just been laid?

If your Belgian Blue Stone flooring has just been laid, the natural moisture of the underlay must be able to escape. Leave your floor to “dry out” for at least three months. During this period, just wipe with a cloth moistened with clean water.

How to clean your blue stone floor?

Wash your flooring with warm soapy water containing a neutral and natural soap based on linseed oil or Marseille soap. This soapy water will seal your stone and tone down any micro-scratches. No need to rinse. Wipe your floor with a cloth rinsed in warm water and you’re done!

A grease stain on your blue stone?

On some light and plain finishes, such as Sawn, Natura Light, Sabbiato Grey and Blue, a grease stain can quickly become unsightly. Using an efficient remover such as Ecosol detergent is one solution.

Another trick to remove these unpleasant little grease stains: K2R powder aerosol that you leave on for a few minutes or hours depending on the age of the stain. Rinse with clean water and your flooring will be like new again.

Light scratches?

If light scratches appear in heavily used areas, use a natural white beeswax and polish with a floor polisher. The mechanical action of the floor polisher will repolish the stone. The light scratches will fade to blend in with the patina.

Ouch, deep scratches?

Don’t worry, the blue stone keeps its structure and can be refurbished. In this case, call on a contractor or a marble craftsman to repolish your Belgian Blue Stone.

Wary of the slightest spot? Waterproof your stone!

Transparent water-repellent products can be applied after laying on clean, dry paving. Your stone will be protected against all kinds of stains. This treatment will need to be renewed every 4 years or so.

Your kitchen worktop

Useful to have on hand

• Stain protection: Linseed oil and/or turpentine

How to prepare and maintain your blue stone worktop?

• Some finishes such as Natura Light, Milled, Sawn or Flamed can be treated naturally to avoid staining. To do so, just after the installation and before first use, coat your worktop with a solution composed of 2/3 turpentine and 1/3 of linseed oil. This all-natural, inexpensive method will protect your stone from grease stains and acid attacks (mayonnaise, sauces, coke, beer, wine, coffee, etc.). Repeat about 2 times a year. 
Note, however, that the surface thus saturated becomes black and satiny.
  Do you prefer to retain the beautiful original tint of your Natura Light or Flamed finishes? We advise you to use an oil repellent product.
• For Light Honed, Sanded, Dark Honed or Conception finishes, a little soap made from linseed oil on a damp sponge saturates and naturally protects your worktop. Wiping down with a damp cloth is then all that is needed for regular maintenance. If necessary, do not hesitate to add 3 drops of cooking oil to moisten your stone.
• Smooth and shiny, a polished finish can be tainted with acids (lemon, coke, wine, vinegar, etc.). This is why less glossy and easier-to-maintain finishes are generally recommended (Black Honed, Blue Honed, Sawn, Natura Blue, Natura Light, etc.).

However, for a polished finish, a natural, colourless wax treatment keeps the polish shiny. The use of a suitable polisher can be useful.

In your bathroom

Useful to have on hand

• Classic maintenance:
  • Linseed oil
• Avoid :
  • Descalers and acid products.

Preparing your stone

A few drops of linseed oil applied with a cloth make it easy to maintain your blue stone. The use of oil and water-repellent products can also be considered.

Maintaining your stone

Wipe your shelves, worktops and tap edges regularly, as the tap water may leave traces of white limescale. If the scale is already heavily built up around the taps, you can remove it without damaging the stone with steam.

Since blue stone is a limestone, avoid any descaling or acidic product.

Outdoors

Useful to have on hand

• Classic maintenance: clean water
• Spring cleaning: bleach
• Grease stains: Ammonia or Ecosol detergent

Nothing like clean water

Placed outside, Belgian Blue Stone does not require any specific cleaning product. It dries quickly and vegetation does not stick to it. A water hose and a brush are enough to clean your Belgian Blue Stone patio.

Considering high-pressure cleaning? It is possible, but be careful not to damage the joints. Think about reducing the pressure.

A stain of grease on your Blue Stone patio?

Any grease stains do not penetrate the stone deeply. Let the rain, the sun and the wind do their job. Don’t want to wait? Use water with two spoons of ammonia or a natural stone detergent to remove the stain.

Spring cleaning

To give a new lease of life to your Blue Stone patio, use diluted bleach or sprinkle with washing powder. Leave it on, brush, rinse with clean water and admire your refurbished patio!