There are few if any floors that offer as many design options as RAVELLO stone carpet. Moreover, RAVELLO stone carpet is very easy to clean, low maintenance and, with the right treatment, it is very durable and will last a great length of time. Due to the fact that RAVELLO stone carpet is usually an open pored floor, it needs to be looked after slightly differently from floors with a smooth surface for instance. In a floor with an open pored structure dirt that only becomes visible after a certain length of time can accumulate. If treated and cleaned according to the instruction guidelines, you will notice that RAVELLO stone carpet on the whole needs very little cleaning and will be enjoyed by the customers for many years.
CLEANING – OUTDOOR
The superficial cleaning of RAVELLO stone carpet outdoor can be done with a broom or a vacuum cleaner. In outdoor areas there should be a thorough cleaning at least once a year for instance in spring. The surface can be scrubbed with water and washing-up liquid, after that it can be cleaned thoroughly with a hose or a mild high-pressure cleaner (max. 80 bar, no pointed nozzle). RAVELLO stone carpet will be cleaned naturally in every shower of rain (self cleaning effect).
CLEANING – INDOOR
The cleaning of RAVELLO stone carpet indoor can be divided into two categories:
1. Daily or weekly cleaning
2. Periodical cleaning / thorough cleaning / specific cleaning
In all cases, the cleaning needs to suit the way in which the floor is used as well as the frequency of that individual usage.
1. DAILY OR WEEKLY CLEANING
From time to time RAVELLO stone carpet should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, so that loose dirt, dust and sand can be sucked out of the open pores in order to prevent blockage. The vacuum cleaner should have a brush at the nozzle (by now a standard fixture of all commercially available cleaners). The brush loosens the dirt in the pores, before it is sucked in. Dirt that sticks to the floor needs to be removed with water. We recommend water and a commercially available neutral cleaning agent for stone or ceramic floors. We also recommend using only very little cleaning agent seeing that tensides accelerate new soiling.
Noticeable, irritating spots can be removed individually and by hand. For that purpose on needs a medium hard hand brush and warm water with a multi-purpose cleaning agent. The concentration as well as the time of application depend on the degree of soiling. Note: After the treatment of that particular part of the floor, one needs to carefully rinse the area with warm water and mop up the residue water (with a sponge or a wet vacuum cleaner) immediately. This rinsing with clear water is important in order to remove any cleaning agent residue free. For chewing gum and wax stains we recommend using a steam cleaner or ice spray. Persistent stains (colour, lipstick and so forth) can be treated with ethyl alcohol or 70– 80% alcohol, rinsed with warm water and mopped up (sponge or wet vacuum cleaner). Never use acetone or nail polish remover.
2. PERIODICAL CLEANING
Spray and steam vacuum cleaner are best suited for RAVELLO stone carpets. Periodical cleaning plays a very important role. It is just as important as intensive thorough cleaning, and it should be executed, depending on the frequency of use and soiling about every 6–12 months. A spray vacuum cleaner (also called spray hoover, carpet cleaner or spray extraction tool) can be purchased commercially. Prices start from 150 € while you could also rent one at your local DIY-shop for about 5–10 € a day. This cleaning tool will spray RAVELLO stone carpet with water while at the same time sucking in the dirty water. It is best to fill the fresh water tank with warm water with a commercially available cleaning agent for stone or ceramic floors.
Attention! We strongly recommend not using tools with rotating brushes or any other combination of hoovers with scrubbing facilities. These cleaning tools will rather harm your floor than do it any good. In many cases, these tools do not have enough suction power on the one hand and on the other hand the rotation brushes will rub the moist dirt particles into the pores and scrub off the stone surface (wet abrasion effect).
If there are particularly heavy spots in some areas, you can use water with an alkaline cleaning agent. If there is lime scale, you need to use a mild, acidic cleaning agent (on a vinegar basis).
General Advice: Always test whether the cleaning agents agree with the floor before you use them.
ADVANTAGES IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER FLOOR COVERINGS
CARPETS
Traditional carpets suck moist dirt or fluids in like a sponge. This can lead to irreparable stains. Heavy scrubbing with brushes and cleaning agents can leave traces. In the fibres and micro pores there is a natural habitat for mildew, mites and domestic dust. Pieces of furniture leave imprints.
RAVELLO
does not have any micro pores nor does it absorb any fluids. It can even be cleaned with extremely hard brushes. No imprints of furniture or the like. Even after many years it can be treated with a painters roll (to consolidate the surface) and will look as if it was new again!
TILES
hair, fluff and foot traces are immediately visible. Permanent, daily wiping is necessary. The mortar in the joints has micro pores and they change colour. Joint areas can mildew and they quickly look dirty and are hard to clean. Joints with silicon are high maintenance and have to be replaced regularly.
RAVELLO
renders dirt invisible and stores it until the next cleaning. No mortar, no joints, no silicon!
LAMINATE / WOOD
Little stones roll over the surface and leave scratches. Water or mopping with water will make joints macerate. Dust and fluff collect in the corners due to drafts. Bad insulation of impact sounds (such as the noise of shoes clacking).
RAVELLO
collects little stones or sand in the gaps until it is vacuumed. There are no seams and no joints. The air pores in RAVELLO provide a very good insulation of impact sounds.