Firework Night can cause a number of issues when it comes to surface staining. There are the usual culprits, like food, drink, wax and grease, but there are others that can cause particular issues, especially on natural stone paving.
Black soot stains from gunpowder are a major bug-bear at this time of year, as are rust-type stains caused by iron filings used to create gold sparks. The residue from some fireworks also contains salt which create a powdery efflorescence. And, there’s a whole spectrum of marks that can be caused by the mineral elements of the fireworks: Barium produces bright greens; strontium creates deep reds; copper produces blues; and sodium yields yellow. These elements can also be mixed to create bright orange, silver and purple.
What not to do
Unsurprisingly, most website searches throw up the usual advice to use bleach-based or acidic cleaner to tackle these stains and, as always, this is not recommended, especially on acid sensitive stone. Natural materials like travertine and limestone are sensitive to strong acids and corrosive alkaline solutions like bleach. Both can erode or ‘eat away’ the surface and damage any protective sealer that’s been applied.
How to remove stains safely
When applying an LTP cleaner or stain removing solution always wear gloves and follow the instructions. Children and animals should be kept away from the area during treatment and until pavers have dried. Any run-off onto grass or plants can be diluted with water.
Black soot & most coloured stains
LTP Grimex intensive cleaner will safely and effectively remove most stains from stone and porcelain, including organic residue, wax, grease, soot and marks left by minerals.
For mild stains, use a 1:10 dilution, apply the cleaner with a cloth or mop and then rinse with clean water.
For more severe staining, use a 1:3 dilution, agitate the tiles with a scrubbing brush, leave the solution for 5-10 minutes – keeping tiles wet with additional solution – and agitate again, before rinsing with clean water. LTP Grimex can also be applied neat in severe cases.
Rust stains from iron fillings
For these stains, we recommend LTP Rust Stain Remover – a non-caustic solution that’s also safe to use on all surfaces.
First, wash the area with a 1:10 diluted solution of LTP Grimex. Then, cover the stain with undiluted LTP Rust Stain Remover and leave it to act for 15 minutes. The product colour will change to a deep purple as it reacts with the rust. Then, remove the residue and rinse with clean water. Repeat application until the stain is completely removed.
Salt marks and efflorescence
To safely remove white stains for unpolished natural stone, we recommend LTP Cement, Grout & Salt Residue Remover . Once again, the treatment is applied neat and should be agitated immediately with an LTP Black Emulsifying Pad. Then, rinse with clean water and remove the released deposits with a sponge, before rinsing again. Repeat application until the stain is completely removed.
Stubborn wax residue
For severe wax residue and paint stains, we recommend LTP Solvex – a non-caustic remover suitable for all surfaces. Here, use the solution neat, once again, and generously dab onto stains with a cloth or brush. Work the solution in manageable areas – as far as you can reach without treading into the cleaner. Leave it to react for up to 30 minutes, applying more solution if it starts to dry out. Using a coarse, stiff brush or an LTP Black Emulsifying Pad, lift the softened residue from the surface. Repeat if any staining remains. Lastly, rinse tiles with LTP Grimex, using a 1:3 dilution applied with a cloth, mop or brush, and then give the surface a final rinse.
Topping up protection
If the surface sealer on your tiles is worn or quite old, it’s worth applying a new coat after removing stains, to top up the protection. This can be carried out once the surface is sufficiently dry; this may take a minimum of 24 hours. We recommend LTP Mattstone H2O for natural stone and barrier treatment, LTP Porcelain Tile Protector for matt porcelain pavers.
For further information, please contact LTP on tel. 01823 666213 or email [email protected]
