Tips for Removing Stains on Terrazzo Floors
Terrazzo flooring is marble-like
material that’s used for floors and countertops. It’s a mixture of marble and
cement with extra marble chips sprinkled on the surface when installed, leaving
around 70% of the finished material surface marble. Unfortunately, the cement
part of terrazzo absorbs stains pretty quickly. Here are some tips on cleaning
different stains that spill onto your terrazzo floors and countertops:
Alcohol
If the stain is caused by alcohol, you can usually get away with just hot soapy
water, or if the stain won’t go away, denatured alcohol. If the stain continues
to persist, your best bet is soaking a towel in hydrogen peroxide and placing
it right over the stain with a cloth soaked in ammonia right after that.
Blood
Bloodstains can be removed by using cold water, possibly with a few drops of
ammonia if it’s a stubborn one. Letting powdered malt stand on the stain for an
hour or so and rinsing can also get rid of any tough bloodstains.
Coffee
Coffee stains can be treated with a glycerin solution. Put one part glycerin in
three parts water and let it sit on the stain for a few minutes.
Oil and Grease
With oil and grease stains, you will want to use warm water mixed with a little
detergent and gently wipe the surface. This also works with paint stains.
Ink
Ink stains can also be cleaned with warm water and detergent. For the more
stubborn ink stains, you can try ammonia in a water solution. Don’t use this on
the terrazzo surface directly, but apply to a layer of cotton first, then
clean.
Any of these are great ways to get rid of those pesky spills on our terrazzo
floors and countertops. Just remember if using commercial stain removers, some
products are not on the recommended list for general floor care, so be sure to
make a note of that if using store-bought brands.