Cleaning Sandstone

Sandstone is made mostly of quartz, so it is a very durable stone, containing iron oxide, silica and calcium based deposits. Sandstone is basically sand in natural cement form. It is relatively easy to shape and to work with, and can come in any colour. Just like sand itself, sandstone is most common in tans and yellow colours, so called ‘sandy hues’, but red and gray are also common. Whilst sandstone is durable it is also porous, and is often best sealed. It requires regular upkeep and maintenance, and stains and spills must be treated immediately to preserve its colour and quality. But due to its sensitivity and porous nature, high pressure washing is not recommended at all. Sandstone does also not react well with alkali,  or ammonia based cleaning agents, so specialist softwash care is strongly suggested. At Softwashing UK, we work with detergent blends with mild acidic qualities when cleaning sandstone.

To avoid the need for sandstone restoration, it is important to keep the stone protected when you can by using mats, coasters, covering cloths, cleaning any spills straight away, and avoiding exposure to household chemicals. Sandstone also requires dusting regularly.

But when day to day care fails, Softwashing UK will restore and clean your sandstone. We clean all types of sandstone, and we also have services for cleaning indian sandstone.

The exact process we use depends on whether the sandstone is sealed or unsealed, as it is important to take measures to protect both the sealant and the stone. On sealed sandstone we first check the integrity of the sealant, and then thoroughly dust and perform a superficial clean. The next stage is to apply a softwash detergent blend, which is largely pH Neutral, to remove both organic and non-organic stains from the stone’s surface. As the stone is already sealed there is no need to dry.

When cleaning unsealed sandstone, the superficial clean initially requires greater intensity. We then apply our softwash detergent blend to cleanse both the surface and porous sub-surface. It is then important to dry the sandstone before applying a vaporised softwash detergent blend to keep the stone, over time, at its optimum.

Whether sandstone is used indoors or outdoors, Softwashing UK will clean it, to keep both its condition and its colour.