The Lithofin Power Clean is a specially made product for cleaning all natural stones including polished marble and limestone. It is excellent for cleaning slate, honed limestone, sandstones like Yorkstone and polished or honed granite. It can be used indoors and outdoors. It is a part of the very popular LITHOFIN-Range of cleaning products most of which are eco-friendly. The surfactants of Power Clean are Bio-degradable in accordance with EU-regulations. The container is made of environmentally friendly polyethylene and clean empty containers can be recycled through local collection services. Power Clean is supplied in 500ml and 1Ltr containers and is yellowish in colour. Both of the 500ml and 1Ltr bottles have child proof caps. It is mildly alkaline with a ph-Value of approximately 10 and is completely water soluble. Power Clean has a nonspecific light pleasant odour. Contractors can also buy this product in 5Ltr containers.
Power Clean is formulated for the removal ingrained dirt from heavily soiled floors, it is very good for cleaning newly laid floors and helps to remove cement, adhesive and grout residues. It will also remove several types of stain from all stone surfaces. These types of stains include oil, grease, tea and coffee. Power Clean can also remove recent wine stains and emulsion paint from floors etc. On older floors, polish residues, the buildup of care products, acrylic emulsion and much more can be effectively removed with the use of Lithofin Power Clean.
Power Clean is available from many independent tile shops, smaller DIY stores and online retailers.
THE MAIN POINTS OF THIS REVIEW
MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS
Lithofin Power Clean is best used for a one off clean when preparing a floor or other surfaces before applying anyone of several types of finishes. It is recommended that you thoroughly clean all natural stone surfaces before applying an impregnator, a seal or polish to natural stone. Power Clean is a good choice for such occasions. This product is also recommended for use as a stripper in to remove old finishes or in a more diluted form as an annual cleaner. It is not meant for use as a daily cleaner, when used on bathroom vanity tops and kitchen worktops it should be diluted to 1-part power clean to 10 parts water.
Externally it is suitable for use on an extensive range of natural and engineered stone patios and flagstones prior to jet washing.
WHERE IT CAN BE USED
Lithofin Power Clean is suitable for cleaning all types of natural stone surfaces. These include floors, walls, stairs kitchen worktops. It is suitable for use on all bathroom surfaces made of natural stone. These surfaces include polished marble, honed marble, rough marble, all the types of granite finishes, polished or honed travertine and slate. Power Clean can also be used for cleaning stone fireplace surrounds and hearths.
Externally it can be used on all natural stone surfaces including patios, walls and garden furniture etc. Stone paving slabs and drive ways can also be cleaned with Lithofin Power Clean.
The product can also be used to clean concrete, artificial stone, engineered stones like Quartz Compact, Silestone, Caesarstone and Corian etc. This product is also an effective cleaner for Porcelain floor and wall tiles. The directions and dosage for cleaning these materials are the same as for natural stone.
WHERE IT SHOULD NOT BE USED
Power Clean should not be used to clean Metal, Wood and any painted or varnished surfaces and should be kept away from wall paper. If any of these materials are close to or adjacent to your working area, they should always be protected first before using this product. This product is not suitable for use on leather, all types of fabric, carpets or laminate flooring and all these materials should be protected from splashes of this product.
The product should not be used on any recently sealed or treated stone surface natural or artificial, unless it is your intension to remove the finish. You should always test the product in an inconspicuous area prior to use or test it on a sample of the material to be cleaned first.
BEST MATERIALS TO USE TO APPLY IT
(STIFF SHORT BRISTLE BRUSH)
For cleaning floors, you can use a traditional mop and bucket or a spray bottle and a flat mop system. For heavily soiled floors you can use any type of broom from a soft bristle brush to a course deck scrubber or a floor squeegee. To clean walls you can use a spray bottle with either a sponge, micro fiber cloth or a hand brush. For worktops, vanity tops, and window sills etc Power Clean can be applied with a micro fiber cloth or sponge. For difficult to remove dirt and grime you can also use a scouring pad or sponge to apply this product, but it is not advisable to use such materials on polished marble or you will scratch it.
For exterior use on patios and stairs etc, I like to apply Power Clean with a low-pressure sprayer. I then either scrub manually with a deck scrubber and wash down with a garden hose or jet wash the area. Low pressure sprayers are available both online and in most garden centers.
HOW TO APPLY POWER CLEAN
The first thing to do is to always read the label on the bottle even if you have used the product before this will help to refresh your memory. For general cleaning Power clean should be diluted to 1:10 in either a bucket or a spray bottle. For very dirty areas you can increase the dosage to 1:5 and leave the product on the surface for a minute or two before agitating and rinsing off with clean water.
To strip off and old seal, wax polish or any other type of finish, it is best to work in small areas of 1 or 2 sqm areas at a time. Mix the product 1:1 and apply liberally but do not allow it to dry on the surface. Agitate the area with a stiff brush or broom and then remove it with either a mop or a floor squeegee. Once you have removed the product rinse the area with clean water, if the floor is not as clean as you want repeat the process before moving on to the next section.
To clean patios, exterior stairs, walkways and paths etc mix the product 1:5 apply liberally with a stiff brush, a deck scrubber or low pressure sprayer. Before the product can dry wash the area down with a garden hose or jet wash if needed. Do not allow the standing water to dry but sweep it into the nearest drain with a garden broom or floor squeegee.
For individual stains apply the product undiluted onto the stain or spot, you can do this by wetting a small piece of cloth or a paper towel and placing it on the stain. Leave it for a few minutes but do not leave it to dry. Remove the cloth a rinse the area with clean hot water and leave it to dry, once it had dried the stain should have disappeared. If the stain is still there repeat the process but leave the cloth on the stain for longer before removing it.
DRYING TIME
This is not a type of product that should be left to dry on any surface, always rinse the area off with clean water. If you use hot water to rinse off the product the area should be dry and ready for use in about half an hour.
CONTINUED USE GUIDELINES
This is not a product that should be used for daily cleaning Lithofin has a range of products that are best suited for this purpose, however, if you have any areas of heavy use Power Clean is very effective cleaner but should diluted 1:10.
Power clean should always be kept in the supplied container or bottle and should be stored upright with the lid on and the label intact and in a legible condition without any alterations to it. The storage area should also be cool and dry and below 25°C, the product has a shelf life of approximately 3 years.
CONCLUSION
Power Clean is a very effective cleaning agent for natural stone but without the strong fumes normally associated with strong cleaning agents. It is ideal for deep cleaning floors and preparing newly laid floors for sealing. The many independent positive reviews will attest to the ease that this product removes dirt and stains from all types of surfaces.