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Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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Posted by gillylily (My Page) on Sun, Feb 7, 10 at 9:48
| I finally moved into my house and had a chance to begin sealing the slate bathroom. Before I started sealing I noticed a bunch of white stuff/residue in the slate crevices- I tried wiping it down, but it remained on the floor. I was very diligent about wiping up excess sealer but I am afraid the installer either did not wipe away the grout soon enough or did not wipe away the excess sealer when he did it.
I am hoping over time it will disappear but in the mean time is it safe to use a steam vac on the slate? I have a shark steam cleaner which i am hoping will help pick some of it up!
Thanks in advance for your help! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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| I don't want to claim you may have the same problem, however, when our slate was installed, the GC didn't wipe up the grout well enough and it was in all the clefts and crevices. Since it wasn't the look I wanted he ended up having to do an acid wash and chisel it out. |
RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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| Oh no... It is one of those things that I didn't notice until last night which was my first opportunity to seal the slate again. We moved in last wednesday but I have not let my DH use the bathroom until i sealed it.. I am hoping it is not the grout, but i think at this point, since papers have been signed and sealed it is my issue now.. Bill I may end up needing the name of the local installer down here ( south of Boston area) sooner than later b/c I don't think I want to use the builders' installer.. Finding all sorts of issues with my other tiled areas with regular porcelain and ceramic tiles... I will try steaming the floor to see if that works in the mean time! |
RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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| Shoot me an email, and I'll send you his contact info. |
RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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| Could it be that they're just lime deposits from hard water? |
RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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| I don't think it was lime b/c I noticed it before we had even used the bathroom, unless it could show up from one cleaning.. Another question.. do any of you know of a towel of some sort to use to wipe down the slate after showering? My husband thinks I am being a bit neurotic, but after each use I wipe down the shower with a towel to avoid possible penetration... Is there a specialty towel of some sort?
Thanks |
RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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| A couple of years ago, bought 3-4 of those packs of white terry clothes from Costco or Sam's. They're larger than wash clothes and often you'll see them used at car washes and the like. You get 12 or so for 10-15 bucks and those things are great for wiping down anything. We use them for all sorts of stuff, including any wiping down we do in our shower. You can find them in the hardware mechanical section. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Sam's club towels
RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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| Thanks Lukki- Were you this crazy when you first had your slate installed? I still so nervous about water seaping through.. Driving my husband crazy, to the point of him saying, "that's it we are ripping out the slate and putting porcelain in b/c you are going crazy".. LOL |
RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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| I was nervous yes, but once it was installed and the grout was all cleaned from the cracks and crannies (cause that was pretty ugly) then sealed several times I was fine. Right or wrong, here's what we do to keep it maintained: 1. We only use liquid soap.
2. We wipe down the black frames around our design & niche because they spot.
3. We wipe off the chrome & glass & I keep on of those white towels handy to use for all of that.
When the sun shines through the window into the shower, I can see where there are some water marks on a couple of the stones which can't really be helped. We'll need to get that off the stone before resealing and I need to find out what to use to do it, but all in all, it's holding up really well. Now which tile did you end up installing and where's the pics of your finished bathroom? Did I miss the thread you posted them in because I've been watching for them and don't recall seeing them. :c) |
RE: Can I steam clean my slate bathroom?
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Thanks for that info.. I haven't posted pictures yet.. Still waiting on some last minute decorative details.. I used California Gold and I love it. NOT totally thrilled with the job- the white stuff in crevices, and the un-eveness of the layout. I know slate is uneven in general, but i feel like the installer did not take the time to make it as even as possible.
BUt since I was building, I wasn't living here yet so I couldn't be here all the time to make sure it was too my liking.. That being said. I still love it and I am definitely getting the spa like feeling that I was looking for!!! as soon as I finish I up i will definitely take good pictures!! Thanks for all of your help!! |
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