No matter how elegant or clean a facility is, a stain on a marble, stone or porous floor can ruin its appearance and immediately give a bad first impression.

To prevent stains, try a floor seal designed to prevent staining, such as Multi-Clean's StainLess, a semi-permanent seal that is impenetrable to stains caused by Betadine (iodine), rust, rubber matting, asphalt, and other difficult stains.

Another approach to stain-prevention includes a high-quality floor coating system, such as the Ultra Violet floor coating system for tile, terrazzo and concrete from Multi-Clean; a floor coating system will keep your floors looking stain-free longer.

When you do have to deal with stains, the task may seem impossible. However, stain removal really only requires a knowledge of what caused the stain and the proper materials for cleaning.

After that, it's simply a matter of reversing the staining process, said floor expert Fred Hueston.

A poultice - which can be made with powdered whiting and hydrogen peroxide or a chemical reducing agent, depending on the type of stain - and poultice materials are needed.

• Cotton balls;
• Paper towels;
• Gauze pads.

Once the type of stain - oil-based, metal, etc., - is identified, it's a matter of applying the poultice. That, said Hueston, involves:

• Wetting the stained areas with distilled water;
• Preparing the poultice. If a powder is to be used, pre-mix the powder and the chemical of choice into a thick paste, with peanut butter-like consistency. If a paper poultice is to be use, soak the paper in the chemical and then lift it out of the chemical until it stops dripping;
• Apply the poultice to the stain, being careful to keep it contained to the stained area. Powder poultices should be a quarter-inch thick and overlap the stain by about one inch;
• Cover the poultice with plastic, sealing the edges of the plastic;
• Allow the poultice to dry thoroughly - typically 24- to 48-hours. (The drying process is what removes the stain);
• Remove the poultice from the stain, rinsing with distilled water and buff drying the area with a soft cloth.
• If the stain is not removed, repeat the process;
• If the chemicals etch the area, apply polish powder and buff with a piece of burlap to restore the shine.

On a daily basis, it is important to use a neutral floor cleaner to wipe up substances before they stain the floor-a practice that will save you a lot of time in stain removal.

For more information about Multi-Clean's line of floor care products, Click here.