Here Are Our Top Tips For Maintaining Your Stone Floor For Generations! 

1. Make Sure Your Natural Stone Floor is Properly Sealed

We recommend doing the 'droplet test' on your floor once it's laid, grouted and sealed. This is really simple. 

Once you have waited for the sealant to dry (following manufaturers specifications) all you have to do is get a droplet or small thimble of water and drip it onto the sealed floor. 

If the sealant is fully cured and protecting the stone the water will form droplets and 'bead up'. Our preferred sealant company FILA have some great information and advice about this, including the stone sealer we use the most often: FILA MP90 Eco Extreme which is stain repellant, waterproof, breathable, eco-friendly, food, child or pet safe and hypoallergenic!

2. Know When To Vaccumm and When To Mop

At White Hall Flagstones we have a simple motto to maintain our floors forever 'sweep, vaccumm and mop occassionally'. 

We always recommend to let dirt like muddy paw or boot prints to dry, they can then be easily swept or vaccummed up. If you mop a floor with mud or dirt on it can push the particles into the grout joints. This applies to both porcelain or stone floors alike!

Which mop to use?

We recommend using a squeegee mop when cleaning so that you are lifting the dirt rather than sloshing it about.

3. Sweep or Vacuum Regularly

Dust and grit can act like sandpaper underfoot, gradually scratching and wearing away the stone’s surface. To protect your limestone tiles, we recommend:

• Sweeping with a soft-bristled broom
• Using a vacuum with a hard floor setting, for example a soft brush or microfiber attachment
• Doing this weekly or every few days, especially in high-traffic areas

This simple habit keeps your natural stone flooring clean and helps preserve its finish. Likewise it makes keeping the grout joints clean too!

4. Mop with a pH-Neutral Cleaner

Stay away from tile and stone cleaners that contain bleach as it strips the sealant away, which discounts most supermarket cleaners as they normally container bleach. Using the right cleaners (ideally one produced by the selaant company) will avoid the need to reseal your floor more than is necessary. 

Above all limestone floors should never be cleaned with acidic or abrasive products. For example, steer clear of vinegar, lemon juice, bleach, or ammonia-based cleaners. Instead:

• Use a pH-neutral stone floor cleaner, ideally one recommended for limestone. For example we use FILA products for sealing and they provide a matching cleaner.
• Dilute the cleaner according to instructions
• Mop with warm water and a soft mop or microfiber cloth
• Avoid saturating the tiles as this can lead to dirty grout joints, no matter what floor tile you have! Use a damp mop, not a soaking one

Repeat this weekly or as needed, depending on the level of foot traffic.

If you ever have any doubts about what to use, give us a call, our experts are always on hand to help you out with questions.

5. Dealing with Spills and Stains on Limestone Floor Tiles or Flagstones

Limestone is porous by nature, meaning it can absorb spills if not properly sealed. Therefore to keep your limestone floor tiles or flagstones looking pristine:

• Wipe up spills immediately using a soft, absorbent cloth
• For food or drink spills, use warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner
• Avoid scrubbing too hard—gentle cleaning is key to maintaining the surface

If a stain sets in, don’t panic. Specialist poultices are available to draw out deeper stains without damaging the tile. In addition many of the best sealant companies like FILA have appropriate stain solutions to combat all household spills.

5. How to Remove Stains from Limestone Floor Tiles & Flagstones

It's very unlikely to get a stain on a natural stone floor that has been properly sealed. However, here’s a breakdown of how to clean common stains on limestone floors:

Oil-Based Stains (e.g. cooking oil, grease)

1. Blot up any excess oil with a paper towel
2. Apply a stone-specific degreaser or stain remover (E.g. FILA No Spot)
3. Let it sit as directed, then rinse with clean water

Organic Stains (e.g. coffee, wine, tea)

1. Use a product or poultice made for natural stone (
2. Apply and cover the affected area
3. Leave to draw out the stain over 24–48 hours

Alternatively, our favourite is to use FILA SR95 which you can pour onto the stain and watch as it draws any stains out then simply wipe away within 15 minutes.

Rust Stains

• These may need a specialist rust remover made for limestone flooring. For example, FILA provide one specifically for rust and also non-organic stains.
• Do not use generic rust treatments as they may be too harsh. Consequently they could damage the surface of your stone flooring.

If you’re unsure, speak to our team for personalised advice on how to clean limestone tiles safely and effectively.

6. Maintain Your Natural Flagstones of Limestone Floor Tiles for Generations with Wax or by Re-sealing (infrequently)

Natural Matt Floor Wax (FILA)

If you find your floor’s lustrous look has disappeared a few years down the line, you can re-invigorate the floor. Add one part wax to 10 parts lukewarm water and apply over the floor. This will re-instill a soft sheen without the need to completely rewax the floor.

How To Re Seal Your Floor

Most of the stone floors in our showroom have been laid for 15+ years, and they have survived two fully submerged floods from the River Wye in 2014 and 2020!

We sealed them all when they were laid and only resealed the showroom in 2024 when we installed some new limestone floor tiles.

If after 7-15 years you want to bring the stone back to what it was when you first bought it you can use a deep cleaner (FILA PS87). It will strip off dead wax and once you have given the floor a gentle scrub you can reseal it. It will look just like new.

You can find a PDF document with step by step guidance to download below or visit our website for more in depth advice.

Contact Us For Expert Advice

Hopefully these tips help! It is simple to look after your floor to ensure that it has a lifetime of enjoyment. If you have any questions give us a call and we can talk you through it.