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Unit 208 – 7250 Keele St
Vaughan, ON · L4K 1Z8

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Stone Care · Vaughan, Ontario

Keep Your Stone
Pristine for Life

Natural stone and porcelain are built to last generations – but only with the right care. This guide covers everything you need to know, material by material, from daily cleaning to annual sealing.

The four golden rules

⚡

Act Immediately

Blot spills within 60 seconds. Natural stone is porous – the longer liquid sits, the deeper it penetrates. Blot, never wipe; wiping spreads the spill.

🧴

pH-Neutral Only

Acidic cleaners (vinegar, lemon, bleach) etch marble, onyx, and limestone on contact. Always choose a pH-neutral stone cleaner – or warm water with mild soap.

🔒

Seal on Schedule

A penetrating impregnating sealer is your stone's first line of defence. Natural stone needs resealing every 12–24 months depending on use and porosity.

🧺

Daily Prevention

Use trivets under hot pans, cutting boards for food prep, and felt pads under decorative objects. Heat and abrasion are slow enemies of any polished surface.

Marble · Travertine · Limestone

Marble &
Natural Stone

Marble is calcium carbonate – beautiful, timeless, and reactive to acid. That means the glass of orange juice left on your counter, the splash of wine, or the drop of cleaning spray matters more than you think. With simple daily habits, however, marble surfaces stay pristine for decades.

Seal your marble every 12–18 months with an impregnating, penetrating sealer. To test whether sealing is needed, drop a few beads of water on the surface: if they absorb within two minutes, it's time. If they bead up, you still have protection.

Do

  • Wipe daily with a damp microfibre cloth and pH-neutral stone cleaner
  • Blot spills immediately – especially wine, coffee, oil, and citrus
  • Use trivets under hot pans and cups
  • Apply a penetrating sealer every 12–18 months
  • Dust mop stone floors before wet-mopping to remove abrasive grit

Never

  • Use vinegar, lemon juice, or any acidic cleaner
  • Use bleach or ammonia-based products
  • Scrub with abrasive pads or steel wool
  • Leave standing water on the surface
  • Use generic bathroom or kitchen spray cleaners
Calacatta Marble Carrara Marble Travertine Limestone Natural Stone
Browse Natural Stone → Book a Care Consultation

Translucent · Delicate · Luminous

Caring for
Onyx

Onyx shares marble's calcium carbonate composition but is even softer and more susceptible to etching. Its translucency, which makes it so extraordinary in backlit applications, also means surface damage shows more readily. Treat onyx like you would a fine piece of lacquerware – with gentle, consistent attention.

For onyx walls and panels used decoratively, dry dusting with a clean microfibre cloth is usually sufficient for weekly care. If wet cleaning is required, use the minimum amount of water possible and dry immediately. Never allow water to pool in backlit panel joints.

Do

  • Dust weekly with a dry microfibre cloth
  • Use pH-neutral stone soap diluted in warm water
  • Seal every 12 months with a penetrating sealer rated for onyx
  • Dry immediately and thoroughly after any wet cleaning
  • Protect backlit installations from excess humidity

Never

  • Use any acid-based cleaner – etching is permanent on onyx
  • Allow standing water near panel edges or grout joints
  • Use steam cleaners on onyx surfaces
  • Place hot objects directly on an onyx surface
  • Use wax-based polishes that obscure translucency
White Onyx Honey Onyx Green Onyx Backlit Panels
Explore Onyx → Request a Quote

Porcelain Slab · Sintered Stone

Porcelain &
Sintered Stone

If you chose porcelain slab or sintered stone for your countertops, you made the most maintenance-friendly decision available. These surfaces are fired at extreme temperatures, creating a material with near-zero porosity. They do not need sealing, resist acids and stains, and can handle most household cleaners without issue.

Daily care is straightforward: a damp cloth and mild soap is all you need. For stubborn marks – dried paint, adhesive residue, or grease buildup – a razor blade at a shallow angle removes surface deposits cleanly without scratching the porcelain glaze.

Do

  • Clean regularly with warm water and a few drops of dish soap
  • Use a microfibre cloth for streak-free results on polished surfaces
  • Remove dried deposits with a plastic or razor scraper at a low angle
  • Deep clean monthly with a diluted pH-neutral tile cleaner
  • Rinse thoroughly after using any cleaning product

Avoid

  • Harsh abrasive pads on polished porcelain (safe on matte finishes)
  • Sealing – porcelain is non-porous and sealer cannot penetrate
  • Steel wool or metal scourers that leave rust deposits
  • Dragging heavy or sharp objects across the surface
Porcelain Slab Sintered Stone Porcelain Tile Large-Format Tile
Browse Porcelain Slabs → Visit the Showroom

Tile · Grout · Wet Areas

Tile &
Grout Care

Tile surfaces are highly durable, but the grout between them tells a different story. Grout is porous cement and absorbs moisture, staining agents, and mould spores unless properly sealed and maintained. Investing five minutes a week in grout care prevents years of discolouration.

Seal grout lines every 12 months with a penetrating grout sealer – more frequently in wet areas such as showers. For routine cleaning, a stiff-bristled nylon brush with pH-neutral tile cleaner works better than any foam spray. Avoid steam cleaners on natural-stone tile; they strip the sealer.

Do

  • Seal grout annually (every 6 months in showers)
  • Ventilate bathrooms after every shower to prevent mould
  • Squeegee shower walls after use to remove soap film
  • Clean grout lines with a nylon brush and diluted tile cleaner
  • Re-caulk corners and joints when caulk shows cracks or discolouration

Avoid

  • Bleach on coloured grout – it strips pigment permanently
  • Steam cleaners on stone tile – they remove sealant
  • Acid-based grout cleaners on marble or limestone tiles
  • Letting soap scum build up for more than a week
Porcelain Tile Natural Stone Tile Bathroom & Shower Floor Tile
Browse Tile Collection → Request a Quote

Alabaster · Rare · Delicate

Alabaster:
Handle with Care

Alabaster is one of the softest stones used in interior design – far softer than marble or onyx. Its unmatched translucency makes it spectacular in feature walls and backlit panels, but it requires the most gentle maintenance of any material we carry. Water, in particular, can dissolve the surface of alabaster over time.

For decorative wall applications, dry dusting is almost always the right answer. If light cleaning is needed, use the minimum possible moisture – a barely damp cloth only – and dry the surface completely and immediately. Never use alabaster in wet areas or outdoors.

Do

  • Dust with a soft, dry microfibre cloth weekly
  • Use a barely damp cloth only when dust cleaning is insufficient
  • Dry immediately and completely after any moisture contact
  • Apply a specialised alabaster wax to protect the surface annually
  • Control humidity in rooms where alabaster is installed

Never

  • Install alabaster in bathrooms, kitchens, or any wet area
  • Use any liquid cleaner or commercial stone product
  • Allow prolonged humidity or condensation contact
  • Clean with abrasive materials of any kind
  • Expose to direct sunlight for extended periods (causes fading)
White Alabaster Rose Alabaster Champagne Alabaster Backlit Wall Panels
Explore Alabaster → Book a Consultation

Pool Deck · Terrace · Walkway

Outdoor
Stone Care

Outdoor stone faces Canadian weather: freeze-thaw cycles, UV exposure, pool chemicals, and heavy foot traffic. The right material choice matters – frost-resistant granite, textured porcelain, or natural cleft stone rated for exterior use – and so does the maintenance routine that follows.

Seal exterior natural stone twice a year: once in late spring before the heat and once in early autumn before frost sets in. Algae and moss growth on damp stone should be treated with a stone-safe biocide rather than power-washed at high pressure, which can erode the surface and damage grout.

Do

  • Seal exterior natural stone every 6 months (spring and autumn)
  • Remove leaf litter promptly – tannins stain light stone
  • Treat algae and moss with a stone-safe biocide product
  • Use a low-pressure rinse (under 800 PSI) for general cleaning
  • Clear snow with a plastic shovel – metal blades scratch the surface

Avoid

  • Rock salt or calcium chloride ice melts – use sand instead
  • High-pressure washing that forces water into grout joints
  • Acid-based patio cleaners on natural stone or marble
  • Metal furniture without felt pads underneath
Granite Textured Porcelain Natural Stone Travertine Pool Coping
Browse Outdoor Materials → Request a Quote

Emergency Reference

Spill Response Guide

Natural stone and most spills are compatible – if you act fast. Here's what to do in the first 60 seconds for the most common culprits.

Acidic

Wine, Coffee & Tea

  1. Blot (don't wipe) with a clean white cloth to absorb as much as possible
  2. Mix 1 cup warm water with a few drops of pH-neutral dish soap
  3. Dampen a cloth and blot gently from the outside edge inward
  4. Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly
  5. If a stain remains, apply a stone poultice overnight and re-rinse

Oil-Based

Cooking Oil & Grease

  1. Blot immediately to remove as much surface oil as possible
  2. Sprinkle cornstarch or baking soda on the stain and leave for 10 minutes to draw out the oil
  3. Brush away the powder gently and wipe clean with a microfibre cloth
  4. Clean the area with a few drops of pH-neutral dish soap and warm water
  5. Rinse and dry completely

Acidic

Citrus & Vinegar

  1. Blot immediately – acid etch begins within seconds on marble
  2. Rinse the area thoroughly with clean water to dilute and remove the acid
  3. Dry with a clean cloth
  4. If etching (dull spot) has occurred, call us – light polishing may restore the surface
  5. Do not try to re-polish with abrasive products yourself

Organic

Food Stains & Sauces

  1. Remove any solid food debris with a soft spatula, not a metal utensil
  2. Blot the stained area to absorb liquid
  3. Clean with warm water and a few drops of pH-neutral stone cleaner
  4. For stubborn organic stains, apply a 12% hydrogen peroxide solution to light stone (test first)
  5. Rinse and dry; repeat if needed

Ink & Dye

Marker, Ink & Dye

  1. Do not rub – rubbing spreads ink into the stone's pores
  2. Blot only, with a dry white cloth
  3. Apply a small amount of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to a cloth and dab gently
  4. Rinse thoroughly with water
  5. If the stain remains, a professional poultice treatment will be needed – call us

Mineral

Hard Water & Rust

  1. Hard water deposits: apply a stone-safe calcium remover (never vinegar) and rinse
  2. For stubborn scale, use a plastic scraper to lift mineral buildup first
  3. Rust stains: apply a commercial stone rust remover, following the product directions
  4. Rinse thoroughly and dry
  5. Prevent recurrence by wiping around taps and fixtures daily

Year-Round Care

Your Annual Checklist

A simple routine keeps your stone surfaces looking exactly as they did the day they were installed.

Daily & Weekly

  • Dust mop or vacuum stone floors before wet-mopping (removes abrasive grit)
  • Wipe countertops with a damp microfibre cloth after each use
  • Blot spills immediately – no wiping, no waiting
  • Squeegee shower walls after each use
  • Ventilate bathrooms to prevent soap scum and humidity buildup
  • Use pH-neutral soap and warm water for wet cleaning
  • Rinse cleaning products off thoroughly; dry with a clean cloth

Monthly & Seasonal

  • Deep clean grout lines with a nylon brush and tile-safe cleaner
  • Inspect and re-caulk corners, thresholds, and wet-area joints as needed
  • Check sealer effectiveness with a water bead test
  • Reseal natural stone countertops every 12–18 months
  • Reseal exterior natural stone every spring and autumn
  • Reseal grout in showers every 6 months; elsewhere annually
  • Polish marble with a stone-specific polishing cream (2× per year)

We're Here to Help

Questions about your
stone surface?

Our team at 7250 Keele St, Vaughan has seen every stone scenario imaginable. Whether it's an etched countertop, a stubborn stain, or simply choosing the right sealer, we'll point you in the right direction – no appointment necessary for quick questions.

Book an Appointment → Contact Us