With more than 80 products covering the whole range of stone and ceramic treatment and care it can be difficult to know which one to choose for any particular problem you might be facing. The straightforward names of products and informative packaging help keep it simple, but for anyone who does need help the answer is only a call away (01962 732126).

The Helpline regularly receives as many as 100 calls a day from both the trade and end users and is able to provide helpful solutions to the wide range of queries..

A customer who contacted the Lithofin Technical Helpline to ask for advice on removing mildew from travertine tiles and grout was advised to use Lithofin KF Mildew-Away. Further advice was also offered for regular cleaning with Lithofin MN Wash & Clean (for floors) and Lithofin Easy Clean Spray (for worktops and showers).

One customer, Carla Matthews from Yorkshire, was delighted. She told Lithofin: “Your technical department was just BRILLIANT! Solved all my queries in minutes, was so pleasant and knew the products inside out. Would like to congratulate you all for fantastic customer service.”

Sometimes an element of deeper understanding is desirable for the trade and specifiers, especially when specifying a cleaning regime for stone or carrying out the work, and in 2012 Lithofin introduced training days to help people get a deeper understanding of its range. The next is on Friday 24 October 9.30am–3.30pm. It costs a minimal £10 per person, which includes a bite to eat. You can find out about the training at casdron.co.uk/training.

Lithofin products are thoroughly tested, but it clearly makes sense to start any project with a test on an inconspicuous or unlaid tile or piece of stone. It can also be important to distinguish between natural stone and engineered quartz because the resin in quartz can react with some cleaning products. Lithofin has clearly marked its packaging to indicate if the product is suitable for use with natural and/or artificial stone – the ‘MN’ range is ideal for natural stone (MN stands for ‘marble’ and ‘natural/artificial stone’).

The range of cleaning products under the Lithofin brand is comprehensive. It includes Power Clean, which is an alkaline-based product for cleaning newly laid floors to remove any surface contamination, including dust and grout so it does not get sealed in. It is an alkaline product, which is fine for just about any stone.

For established floors, especially those heavily contaminated with dirt and grease, there is Wexa for a deep clean and Wash & Clean for regular maintenance. It is a pH-neutral, high yielding concentrate that is diluted in water for use and is gentle enough to be used on floors on a daily basis.

Worktops can be given an initial clean after installation with Power Clean before being sealed with Stain Stop. Daily cleaning is carried out using spray-applied Easy Clean. Power Clean is also good for for occasional deeper cleaning of showers, removing water marks and limescale.

There are more specialist products, such as such as Oil-Ex or Wax-Off for removing candle wax and oil based deposits from fireplaces, and Care Cream, for returning the showroom finish to polished surfaces.

Wax-Off is a stripping agent for removing sealants, waxes, paint and graffiti and can also be used for removing soot from fireplaces and hearths.

For end users, there is often no need to identify all the different products required to care for their stone because Lithofin puts them together as care kits, like the one for natural stone kitchen worktops pictured above. There is a separate kit for engineered stone worktops and two for fireplaces – one for polished stone and one for stone with a natural finish. The kits include instructions for applying the products and for on-going cleaning.

For patios and paving, there is Outdoor Cleaner, which removes marks left by plant debris, black spores and bird droppings. And it works just as well on concrete as it does on natural stone.

If algae is becoming an issue, there is Algex, which not only cleans off the algae but is also an inhibitor to stop it recolonising the stone too quickly.

You can see the whole range of Lithofin products and download technical sheets for each on the company’s website.