Limestone surrounds and hearths are a stunning way to frame your fire. These elegant surrounds are very popular, however, due to the pale and porous nature of the stone, need more TLC than most surround and hearth options.
A quick clean
up every time you use your fire is vital when it comes to limestone. Due to its
pale colour, marks can occur easily. A quick clean up of any dust, dirt and debris
aids in preventing stains from forming.
You will need:
Quick cleaning methods:
Limestone is more prone to marks than other stones and materials due to it being naturally pale and a more thorough weekly clean will help to remove unsightly marks and potential stains.
You will need;
Our recommended weekly cleaning routine is as follows;
Like in all our cleaning advice, while we say weekly, it is dependant on how often you use your fire. During the winter period if you use your fire:
We do
advise cleaning with soapy water once every month during the summer period even
while the fire is out of use, to avoid any stubborn marks and stains forming.
Due to limestone being particularly porous and prone to marks this may have to be done more regularly than what we have stated above. If you feel it needs cleaning more often, then do not hesitate to do so.
Liquid
Spillages
This is the most common cause of markings on limestone/ If you spill water, a
drink etc. clean it up as soon as possible. Limestone is porous so any liquid
spillages can soak in and cause staining. To clean liquid spillages, follow the
same cleaning instructions as you would for a weekly clean using a very dilute
solution of warm, soapy water.
Food Spillages
If food gets spilt on your limestone, clean it off as soon as possible. Due to
granite being porous any oils in your food can soak into the stone. When food
is spilt, follow the same instructions and the weekly clean.
Watermarks
Watermarks are also a common occurrence, vases, glasses and mugs often leave
this mark behind. To clean watermarks away, follow the weekly cleaning
instructions, using very dilute, warm, soapy water solution.
If markings persist after repeated use of a very dilute
solution of warm soapy water, then you can use sandpaper to remove a layer,
which usually removes the stain if it hasn’t soaked to far in. If this does not
work, then a deep clean is recommended.
The best ways to avoid these marks is to;
·Avoid placing anything containing a liquid on limestone, however, we understand that this is not always avoidable or preferable. Therefore, you can also place non-combustible coasters (ceramic, stone etc.) or protective coverings under anything that contains a liquid (e.g. Vases, mugs, glasses etc.).
·Avoid eating near limestone.
·We strongly advise not placing ashtrays or cigarettes near limestone as it can cause brown scarring to the stone that is incredibly hard to remove.
·Avoid standing logs and coal directly onto limestone, if you are using a coal hod/scuttle, we advise placing a non-combustible covering beneath it.
·Avoid standing candles directly on limestone.
You may feel it necessary to do a deep clean, we always advise repeating the weekly cleaning steps on marks and stains before starting a deep clean. Hot soapy water will remove most marks and stains. If you decide a deep clean is needed, we offer the following advise;
As with all types of natural stone hearths and surrounds, sealing limestone can help protect it from marks and stains forming. However, all sealants can affect the natural appearance of the limestone, making it darker. If you decide you would like to seal your limestone our advice is as follows;