Slate is all the rage with homeowners looking to update their kitchen, master bathrooms or entryways. The natural stone features a fine texture that comes from mixing small silt and clay particles under high heat and pressure. The bonding of these particles makes the material resilient and highly resistant to stains. These features make slate an ideal choice for flooring, especially in high traffic areas.
Another reason slate has become a popular choice in flooring is that it looks as good as it is practical. Slate comes in a variety of textures and colors, including black, red, green, gray, and brown. You can also find it in mottled shades and other tones depending on the number of impurities found in the stone.
As amazing as slate floors look in a home, it is just as attractive for its practicality and ease of cleaning. For starters slate floors don’t get as dirty as wood or laminate versions given its smooth and stain resistant make-up. What’s more, professionals recommend that slate floors be treated with a high quality sealer to keep liquids from penetrating the stone. If this is done, then the flooring becomes almost 100 percent stain resistant.
Another way to protect slate floors from dirt, grime and food stains is to place a few throw rugs in high traffic areas, such as the entryway or near the kitchen sink. Some homeowners ban guests from wearing shoes on their slate floors so they don’t run the risk of people tracking in dirt, sand, and debris that will stain or scratch the slate.
Regular maintenance of slate floors includes daily sweeping. A standard broom can loosen dirt and debris from slate. You could also use a soft bristle attachment and vacuum your slate floors. Dry dusting is an option as well; however, if you are trying to clean up a food spill then use a regular mop dipped in a mixture of mild dish soap and water.