It is a perfectly reasonable question to ask as to why anyone would want to bother to go steam cleaning slate floors. However, the simple fact of the matter is that cleaning a slate floor with steam is better for both the slate floor and the environment, compared to using some of the more traditional chemical preparations for cleaning slate. Furthermore, using steam to clean a slate floor, especially in a kitchen or bathroom, will ensure also that any harmful bacteria or microbes are completely eliminated.

Steam Cleaning Mops

The best way to steam clean a slate floor is to visit your favorite hardware store and purchase one of the new, specially designed, steam mops. Ergonomically designed and weighing as little as 1.5kg steam mops use water from your regular domestic supply which, using the in-built heater, produces super-heated steam at around 1300C.

With a typical 850 watt heating element the steam can start being produced within 30 seconds and can be delivered at an entirely safe 0.5 bar (16.93 hPa) of pressure to the mop head pads. To help you get into those awkward corners and around fixtures fitted to the floor, the mop head will also swivel.

How to steam Clean your Slate Floor

Over time slate cleaners that use abrasives, acids or alkalis will begin to alter the surface of a slate floor. So using a steam cleaning mop is an ideal way to clean your slate floor as any residual water from the cleaning will have no effect on the slates and can be left to dry quite naturally.

The first step in cleaning your slate floor is to wipe over any obvious stains that you can see using a pH neutral cleaner or pure soap and then rinse over the area.

As a general rule, of course, some stains are always best dealt with as soon as they occur or that you see them; rather than leaving them for days or, even worse, weeks.

Before starting the steam cleaning process, after removing any floor coverings over the slates, either thoroughly brush or vacuum the slate floor to remove and dust and surface dirt. You can then start steam cleaning the floor with your steam mop, not only will the mop clean the slate surface but it will also vacuum up the resultant condensation and the dirt that the steam has liberated into an on-board reservoir, which you can empty when the job is done.

Things to Look for in a Steam Pop

Whether you decide to buy a steam mop from an online DIY store or a High Street one - you’ll find there’s a large range to choose from, so hopefully you’ll find these pointers useful when considering which one to buy. First of all take a look at the mop head design, if you have large open slate floors to clean then a large mop head is fine, if alternatively you have lots of corners and awkward spaces to get into - then a smaller mop head might be better for you.

Don’t forget it needs to be plugged in to the electric supply for the heating element to make the steam, so how long do you need the cord to be? You’ll find lots of different pads and pad designs available so do buy a selection to meet the various cleaning tasks you’ll be putting the steam mop to. Some pads are disposable whereas others are designed to be washed and re-used. Either way do look carefully to see if they are micro-fiber ones that will safely capture bacteria and microbes.