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! 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. 
Courtesy of “wikihow.com” 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. 
Courtesy of “bobvila.com”
- 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.
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.
How to Clean Slate Hearth FAQ
Can you use vinegar on the slate? When mopping a slate floor or spot-cleaning spots, never use acidic or abrasive cleaning chemicals. Acidic cleaners, such as ordinary vinegar, can cause a chemical reaction that etches the stone. Slate and grout sealers can be stripped by strong cleaning agents. Can you use baking soda to clean the slate? Simply clean the slate floor with a damp brush to keep it in good condition. Baking soda broom diluted in water. Rinse with bleach and then with water in abundance. Finally, buff with a clean cloth. The slate floor is porous and absorbs stains easily. Can you clean the slate with bleach? Fill a spray bottle one-fifth of the way with household bleach, and add warm water until the bottle is full. Spray the bleach solution on the slate and the grout making sure to get any areas of heavy mildew.
Allow the solution to sit on the slate for 2 minutes. Scrub the slate with a sponge dipped in warm water. How do you get stains out of slate hearth? Stain Removal Mix equal parts water and hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and spray onto any stains. Let it sit for five or ten minutes, then scrub with a soft scrub pad (not steel wool) or a soft-bristled brush.
For tougher stains, mix together peroxide and baking soda into a bubbly paste.
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. 
Want a clean slate fireplace hearth or fireplace surround? Here are the instructions you need for routine slate cleaning, deep cleaning, stain removal and polishing. Choose from either inexpensive home cleaning remedies or more expensive but powerful commercial slate cleaning products. Natural slate is a durable product with an earthy, welcoming vibe. Because it is porous, however, it tends to absorb moisture and stains. And dust and dirt can accumulate, especially in the corners, and over time become difficult to remove.
Routine Cleaning of Slate Fireplace Hearths and Surrounds
- Dust, sweep or vacuum the fireplace slate.
- For routine cleaning, use a cloth to clean slate with a few drops of dish washing detergent or Spic and Span in a half bucket of water. Rinse with clean water; then wipe dry with another cloth. Allow to dry overnight before using additional cleaners or polishing.
How to Deep Clean Slate
When the surface is thoroughly dried after a routine cleaning, try either of the cleaning processes recommended below:
- Use a commercial product to deep clean slate hearths or surrounds. Recommended products for cleaning fireplace slate include Black Diamond Stone & Tile Intensive Cleaner, Miracle Sealant Tile & Stone Cleaner, Brick Masonry & Stone Cleaner by A.W. Perkins, and Marble, Travertine, Limestone & Slate Cleaner & Resealer. Follow the manufacturers’ directions on the container.
- Using a soft cloth, wipe the slate down with a thin layer of teak oil. With another clean cloth, remove any excess.
How to Remove Stains from Slate Hearths and Fireplace Surrounds
If the deep cleaning left any stains, try any of the procedures listed below to get stains off of slate:
- One method of removing stains is to clean slate with a paste mix of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Wait until the bubbling ceases, then apply the paste to the stain. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then wipe off with a clean, moist cloth. Do not get this paste mixture on grout between slabs of slate.
- If oil stains are the issue (popcorn and nachos by the hearth come to mind), a product specifically designed to remove such oil stains, such ad StoneTech Professional Oil Stain Remover, is recommended. Follow the directions exactly, and this product really does the job!
- If soot and smoke stains are the primary problem, you can clean slate with Paint N Peel without using harsh chemicals.
- For persistent stains that don’t respond to the hydrogen peroxide paste, scrub with Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) carefully following manufacturer’s directions.
How to Polish Slate
Some of the commercial slate cleaners include a polishing agent. And if you have used teak oil to clean slate, that often provides a sufficient gloss. For a bit more gloss on your slate, we recommend Black Diamond Wet Look Natural Stone Sealer. Because slate is a porous stone, it will not leave the “wet” look advertised, but it will give a good sheen. It also seals it from future staining.
In the eighteenth century, slate hearths were polished with hot mutton fat. As a 21st century alternative, we recommend teak oil or furniture polish. Last updated by Susan at .
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