Care and Cleaning of Slate Floors

Care

Slate is a porous stone material, so should be sealed. Get a special stone floor sealer from the flooring dealer or building supply. The sealer penetrates the upper surface of the slate, and protects it from soil and scratches, and from grease.

Cleaning

Slate floors can be washed with a detergent and water solution, and rinsed well. They are not damaged by alkali cleaners, but strong solutions are not needed for cleaning. A water-based, self-polishing wax can be applied over a clean, dry, sealed floor for extra protection and shine. Weekly damp mopping with a barely damp mop on a waxed floor will keep it clean for quite a while before the washing with detergent is needed.

If one has an electric polisher, solvent-base polishing wax may be used to clean and wax. This must be buffed.