Kota Stone Polish: How to Make Kota Floors Shine

Kota stone is a dense, fine-grained limestone from Rajasthan, and it takes a good polish. A dull Kota floor can usually be brought back in one of two ways: machine re-polishing with abrasives and a polishing powder when the surface is worn and scratched, or a self-polishing finish, wax or crystalliser when it is simply faded and dry-looking. Because Kota is a limestone, it reacts with acids, so acidic cleaners and “instant shine” acid powders are the main cause of patchy, dull Kota floors.

This guide explains how to choose the right Kota stone polish for your floor, how to keep the shine, and how to bring back faded colour. It is written by Flagstone Fix, the stone-care brand of Zyax Chem Pvt Ltd and an authorised partner of Faber Italy Tile & Stone Care.

Quick answer: how to polish Kota stone

Your Kota floor	What it needs	Products
Worn, scratched or uneven	Machine re-polishing with abrasives, then polishing powder	Faber Limestone Densifier, Faber A3 Yellow, Flagstone Fix Power Shine Powder
Polished before, now dull from traffic	Crystalliser, spray buffed	Faber Cristalfab, Faber FK2
Rough or natural finish, dry-looking (verandahs, old houses)	Self-polishing finish or wax	Faber Hidrofab, Faber Liquid Wax
Pale, chalky, faded colour	Colour enhancer	Faber P147 (matt), Faber MA 90 (semi-gloss)

Why Kota stone loses its shine

Acid cleaners. Toilet cleaners, vinegar, lemon and many floor acids etch limestone. They may make the floor look bright for a day, but they leave it rough, dull and patchy over time.
Grit from footwear. Sand and dust act like sandpaper on a polished floor, especially at entrances and on stairs.
Old wax and soap build-up. Layers of wax or soapy cleaners trap dirt and turn the floor dull and blotchy.
Fading. Years of washing leach out the deep blue-green and brown tones, leaving a pale, chalky look.

More on why limestone needs care: why limestone requires careful product selection.

Option 1: Machine re-polishing for worn Kota floors

When the floor is scratched, uneven or badly etched, it has to be ground back with abrasives, the traditional ghisai, and then re-polished. This is a job for a professional polishing contractor with a single-disc machine.

Faber Limestone Densifier is a water-based impregnating agent developed for exactly this: it speeds up and simplifies sanding and polishing on porous limestone and lime-based floors. To finish, Faber A3 Yellow is a wet polishing powder that gives a glass-effect shine on limestone and other lime-based stone, working directly with the stone without wax or coatings. Flagstone Fix Power Shine Powder does the same job after the 3000-grit diamond stage, using crystalliser technology for a high wet-look shine.

Option 2: Crystallising to restore gloss

If the floor was polished before and has only lost its gloss to foot traffic, a crystalliser brings it back without grinding. Faber Cristalfab and Faber FK2 are ready-to-use, water-based crystallisers for marble and lime-based stone, for indoor floors. They are applied by spray buffing with a single-disc machine and a steel wool pad, and give a strong shine without yellowing, greying or an orange-peel effect. See spray buffing step by step.

Option 3: Self-polishing finish or wax for a quick shine

For rough or natural-finish Kota in verandahs, corridors and older homes, where machine polishing is not practical, a finish gives a soft shine and makes cleaning easier. Faber Hidrofab is a water-based wax-resin emulsion that self-polishes as it dries, seals the surface against dirt and slightly enhances the colour; its data sheet says it is for indoor use only, so do not use it on open verandahs or other outdoor areas. It can also be diluted for regular maintenance. Faber Liquid Wax is a solvent-based polishing wax that deepens colour and adds water and stain resistance.

Bringing back faded Kota colour

If the floor is clean but pale, the colour needs replacing, not more polish. Faber P147 is a solvent-based colour-enhancing impregnator that brings back the deep, freshly mopped look with a matt finish and adds stain protection; see our Kota stone colour enhancer guide. For a soft sheen on unpolished Kota, Faber MA 90 is a semi-gloss stain-proof colour enhancer (its data sheet says it is not for polished surfaces); see sealing honed granite and Kota. On unpolished, absorbent Kota, Faber Croma-S gives UV-resistant colour enhancement that does not yellow.

How to clean and maintain a polished Kota floor

Mop with a pH-neutral stone cleaner such as Faber Neugel. Never use acid cleaners, vinegar or lemon.
For a periodic deep clean of greasy, grimy floors, use an alkaline cleaner such as FABER 30 2.0, which is strong on dirt but gentle on delicate stone.
Keep doormats at every entrance to stop grit reaching the floor.
Lift oil stains in kitchens with Faber No Oil before they set.
Re-buff high-traffic areas with a crystalliser or self-polishing finish before the whole floor goes dull.

Work out how much product you need with the coverage calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make my Kota stone floor shine again?

If it is smooth but dull, a crystalliser such as Faber Cristalfab, spray buffed by machine, or a self-polishing finish such as Faber Hidrofab brings back the shine. If it is scratched or uneven, it needs machine re-polishing with abrasives and a polishing powder such as Faber A3 Yellow.

Can I use acid to polish Kota stone?

No. Kota stone is a limestone, and acids etch it. They may give a short-lived shine but leave the floor rough, patchy and dull. Use products made for lime-based stone instead.

Why does my Kota stone look white and chalky?

The colour has faded from years of washing, or acid cleaners have etched the surface. On unpolished Kota, a colour enhancer such as Faber P147 brings back the deep tone; its data sheet says it is not suitable for shiny surfaces, so do not use it on re-polished areas.

How often should a Kota floor be polished?

Machine re-polishing is needed only every few years if the floor is cleaned with a neutral cleaner and protected with mats. A crystalliser or self-polishing finish can be re-applied to busy areas every few months.

What is the best cleaner for Kota stone?

A pH-neutral stone cleaner such as Faber Neugel for daily mopping, and an alkaline deep cleaner such as FABER 30 2.0 for occasional heavy cleaning. Avoid acid-based floor and toilet cleaners.

Buy Kota stone care products from Flagstone Fix

Flagstone Fix supplies the Faber Italy range of polishes, crystallisers, colour enhancers and cleaners for Kota and other limestone floors across India. Use the Product Finder, browse our polishing range, or ask for bulk pricing for large floors. For marble, see our marble polish guide. Send a photo of your floor on WhatsApp at +91 87792 40420 and our team will recommend the right treatment.

Products in this guide

Faber Cristalfab →Faber Hidrofab →Faber A3 Yellow →Faber P147 →Faber Neugel →