Natural stone flooring, such as marble, granite, travertine and limestone, is often featured in the common areas and lobbies of upscale facilities — and special care needs to be taken to keep these surfaces clean and protected.

As a precursor to cleaning with chemicals, stone floors should be dry mopped to remove dust and debris, which can, when walked upon, cause scratches in the surface of stone. Placement of entryway mats is also crucial to preventing that debris from ending up on the flooring. Damp and wet mopping with a neutral cleaner that is formulated specifically for stone floors removes dirt build-up without damaging the floor finish. While wet mopping, water should be changed frequently to avoid leaving dirty streaks.

Any acidic, abrasive or ammonia-based cleaners should be avoided, as they will damage sensitive stone floors. Less frequently, stone floors can also be cleaned and polished with a non-abrasive white autoscrubber pad.