How to Clean Slate Hearth Deeply

Published by Hala Zaqqout on May 21, 2022 | Last updated on May 20, 2023

Want a clean slate fireplace hearth surround? It might be time to give it a good cleaning. Don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as it sounds

You may be wondering now how to clean slate hearth? This Cleaners Advisor guide shall help you achieve it.

In this article, you have step-by-step instructions for how to polish slate hearth. Then, you’ll find a few tips on how to clean slate hearth effectively so your slate fireplace looks brand new again.

Follow along and your slate will look cleaner in no time!

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How to Clean Slate Hearth?

Wondering how to clean slate hearth at your home? Rid your bathroom of lurking germs with these bacteria-targeting bathroom cleaning tricks that work. Follow the steps below for both routine and deep cleaning to remove stains and give it the deep clean it deserves.

1. Routine Cleaning

One of the simplest ways of caring for slate is a quick sweep or hoover, and it also makes weekly cleaning easier for you.  

Materials and Tools Needed

Here are the things you should keep in hand if you want to do routine cleaning for the slate hearth:

• Water
• Dish Soap
• Soft Brush
• Dustpan
• Hoover with Brush Adapter
• Bucket
• Towel
• Spray Bottle
• Non-Abrasive Cloth or Mop
• Mild Washing Up Liquid
• Teak Oil
• Slate Oil
• Dry Non-Abrasive Cloth/ Towel for Drying

And here’s how to clean slate hearth in 8 simple steps: 

1. Sweep, dust, or vacuum the hearth using a soft brush to remove any dust or debris from the slate hearth surface before cleaning it with the dish soap mixture. If you have one, you can also use a dry mop.

2. Fill a mop bucket with hot water and a few drops of pH-balanced liquid dish soap or cleaning solution. Stir this mixture with a long wooden spoon until the dish soap is thoroughly mixed in the water.

3. Scrub the slate with a non-abrasive cloth or mop soaked in the soapy water mixture. To remove excess moisture, dip your towel or mop into the liquid and ring it out gently. Then, scrub the slate using circular motions to clean it.

4. Empty and rinse the bucket before refilling with clean water (No soap this time).

5. To remove the soap from the slate, rinse it with clean water. Spray small amounts of water onto the slate with a spray bottle in order to rinse the hearth without making a mess. If you don’t have a spray bottle, a sponge soaked in clean water will suffice.

6. Dry any excess moisture from your hearth with a clean cloth. If the slate is clean, you can dry it with any ordinary towel. Allow the hearth to air dry overnight if you intend to polish it after you clean it.

7. To polish your hearth, wipe it off with teak or slate oil. Apply a little layer of teak oil to the slate’s surface using a soft cloth. Remove any excess oil from the surface with a second clean cloth.

8. Allow it to dry according to the package directions.

2. Deep Cleaning

If you use your fireplace every day during the winter, we recommend a deep clean once a month. If you only light a fire once or twice a week, you can stretch this to once every three months if you sweep and clean regularly with dilute, warm, soapy water.

Materials and Tools Needed

• Paper Towels
• Water
• pH Balanced Cleanser
• Sponge
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Spray Bottle
• Scrub Pad/ Brush
• Baking Soda
• Old Towels

Follow the steps below of how to polish slate hearth for deep cleaning to remove stains from a slate fireplace hearth:

1. Combine hydrogen peroxide with water to make a cleaning solution. In a small spray bottle, combine equal portions of water and hydrogen peroxide. If you don’t have a spray bottle, combine the ingredients in a bucket and apply with a sponge.

2. To get rid of harder stains, make a frothy paste of peroxide and baking soda. Apply the paste to the stain after the bubbles die down and let it set.

3. Spray the stain with the solution of water and hydrogen peroxide. Apply a thin layer of the water and peroxide mixture to the stain’s surface. Allow 5-10 minutes for the mixture to sit before proceeding.

Avoid spraying this mixture near any colored grout, since the bleach in the mixture can discolor your grout.

4. Scrub the stain with a soft scrub pad or brush. Scrub in a circular motion without applying too much pressure in order to clean the slate without damaging it. Scrub the slate with a damp towel if you used baking soda and hydrogen peroxide instead of water.

5. After cleaning the stain clean, let the slate air dry. After you’ve finished, there’s no need to wipe the solution off the slate. Allow the slate to dry overnight before putting anything on it or using the fireplace to get the best results.

6. Use a Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) solution on tougher stains. Make a cleaning paste with TSP and water, following the manufacturer’s recommendations for use. Apply the paste on a sponge and scrub the slate with the sponge.

Finally, remove any residue from the slate surface with a separate clean sponge soaked in water.

To know more about this issue, check out this video below.

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Do’s and Don’ts of How to Clean Slate Hearth

Here are some tips and warnings on how to remove stains from slate hearth:

1. Wipe down the slate with a warm, damp cloth regularly to keep it clean.

2. Acidic cleaners, like bleach, should not be used on slate since they can cause irreparable damage.

3. Always use neutral cleaners on slate tile.

4. When cleaning the slate, avoid using sharp items or abrasive materials, as this can cause irreparable damage and scratches.

5. Attend to spills as soon as possible; use blotting paper for best results.

6. Sealing and deep cleaning might change the slate’s natural look, such as color and pattern.

7. Do not use the hydrogen peroxide solution on colored grout, as it can remove the color.

8. Avoid using varnish or shellac on slate tile.

9. Due to slate being porous liquid spills can seep in and stain slate, all liquid should be wiped up as quickly as possible.

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How to Clean Slate Hearth FAQ

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To Wrap Up

I hope you find these tips on how to clean black slate hearth useful and that they help you eradicate any marks you may have.

Slate, like other stones, is porous. If you want to put anything liquid on it, use a mat, and any spills should be wiped up right once; if not, the liquid will sink in and stain the stone.

But remember not to use any of Cleaners Advisor methods above while the fire is lit! The hearth should be completely cold before you attempt any cleaning.

If you have any questions on how to clean slate hearth, leave us a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

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