Cleaning and resealing slate

[arnzentile]

Hello,

I have a customer who has about 1000 sq ft of some normal blue/black slate and it looks like her house cleaner uses alot of water mixed with some vinegar to clean the floors. It looks like some of the grout reacts too much with the water and vinegar and then deposits a grey stain on the tiles or is it effloressence or water stains that could be the problem? And do you have any advice on cleaning it and getting the gray residue off of the tiles?

Thanks, Will

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[Davestone]

Well,if it's cleaning affluent you need to clean the tiles with a brush,alkaline cleaner and a wetvac.If it's effloresence let it dry and keep brushing it off, water will only create more problems.Some say a good heavy sealer helps prevent effloresence, i don't know this for a fact myself.

[doitright]

Hi Will, Welcome! :)

You may want to also try neutralizing the vinegar/water solution on the slate with an application of ammonia/water (1:3). Let dwell, agitate, follow with wet vac.

Try to start maintaining the floor with a tile & stone specific neutral pH cleaner.