Cleaning yorkshire stone flags

[RobSmith]

Hello, i'm new to the site

I have stone flags in my kitchen which are originals from 1880's.
When I bought the house 4 years ago it needed totally gutting and had manky carpet and lino in the kitchen. (probably there for 50 years+)

anyhow I thought the flags looked great (with a good clean obviously needed) so I pointed them with dark grey cement and that was it.

I never bothered to seal them and 4 years on there starting to look a bit grubby.

I now need to clean them but don't know what the best thing is to use.

a jet spray would presumably do it although i don't fancy making the mess. Bleach made the surface dry and flaky so won't be donig that again.


ANY IDEAS HOW TO CLEAN THEM UP???????

[topgrafter2007]

ive got similar flags in the old farmhouse i live in, there fairly clean already but i was going use some brick acid on some with bad areas then pour some kild dried sand on and brush round for 10 mins. it always cleans up flags when weve laid them and isnt harsh at all, try the brick acid on small area behind door or cupboard tho to be safe first :;):

[Tony McC]

Do you know what type of stone?

[RobSmith]

Do you know what type of stone?

I presume they are just Sandstone?

just normal old Yorkshire flags (although I live in Lancashire I'm Yorkshire born n bred lol)

[Tony McC]

Rather than use acid indoors, I'd suggest using summat like Builder Clean from Lithofin, which is slightly less noxious.

A power washer is going to be wet and messy indoors, but the Builder Clean with a scrubbing brush or even a floor scrubber would be my preferred way of working.