How to Maintain and Clean Marble: Protection from Stains and Etching

How to maintain and clean marble? Caring and cleaning marble countertops, vanities, bench tops, walls and flooring is actually simpler than you think. But, as with maintaining any surface and most things in life, you need to know what you are dealing with.

Is this Material Marble?

There are very many materials that can be confused with marble. Therefore, it is important to ensure what your piece is made of before attempting to clean it. There are many different types of stone and artificial stone and how to clean them.

While marble is often perceived as hard wearing and durable, the same properties that make it attractive can also contribute to its vulnerability. Veining, for example, gives a decorative effect but can also be a source of weakness in the stone. Marble can also be damaged if it is exposed to acids and strong alkalis. Lemon juice, vinegar and wine can etch the surface and remove the polish. Repeated exposure may erode the surface still further.

Once you have ascertained that the object you want to clean is marble, there is day-to-day marble cleaning instructions to follow. Furthermore, there is the kind of tactics you’ll need to employ if your family members pour water, soup our sauce across the length of your beautiful, white marble island. Supplies that you need to keep on Hand includes a sealant of your choice (food-safe, if for use on a marble counter), soap and water (for counters), a dust mop (for floors), hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, liquid cleaner, steel wool.

How to Maintain and Clean a Marble Surface

First of all, you need to know your marble type. Think like the marble. Be the marble. Marble is more porous than other common countertop materials like engineered stone. So it can be prone to staining and etching, light scratching or physical changes to the stone. You’ll want to clean and seal yours regularly more on that.

Prevention

Prevention is key. Whatever marble you have in your home, sealing it every few months is a good idea. According to the Marble Institute, sealants don’t make the stone stain-proof. But they do make it more stain resistant giving you a bit more time to get to big spills. Check with whoever supplied your marble for their recommendations. Remember to make sure it’s food safe if you’re using it in the kitchen. For marble floors, coffee tables, and other high-traffic surfaces, invest in some furniture pads and some coasters better safe than sorry.

Daily Cleaning

For routine maintenance and spills you catch quickly, warm, soapy water is the best for the job. Just make sure to rinse well, sop up any standing water, and thoroughly dry the surface. Also note that for marble, acid is kryptonite. Thus, do your best to keep things like wine and lemon juice or even cleaners that contain vinegar away from the surface. If they do spill, tend to them as quickly as possible. For marble floors, start with a dust mop. You want to avoid anything abrasive on the surface, and dirt and sand being dragged around by a vacuum could do more damage than you intend.

Getting Out Pesky Stains

If you don’t catch a spill quickly, there’s hope. For most organic food stains, the Marble Institute recommends cleaning with a solution of 12% hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia. If you spilled anything oil-based, like a vinaigrette, and the stain has set, attack it gently with a liquid cleanser that contains household detergent, mineral spirits, or acetone.

Correcting Etching

For water spots, light scratches, and nicks, try buffing your marble with dry steel wool. Anything deeper than surface level scratches will require a professional’s help. Consequently, if you left a lemon out on the counter and now it’s both etched and left a stain, go ahead and use the above recommendations for food stains to take care of the latter. Sadly, the etching will likely need to be polished by a professional so be careful where you leave your cut lemons.

Marble is a Beloved Building Material

Marble is a beloved material for counters in kitchens and baths. What’s not loved is the difficulty in cleaning and caring for this elegant, veined stone. Marble is porous and can be damaged by spilling an acidic substance on it. By acidic substance we mean common household substances like milk, wine, tomato juice or lemon juice.

Short Review to Clean Marble

Don’t use vinegar, Windex or bleach on marble. A single use of these acidic substances will eat into a marble countertop’s surface and dull the stone. Don’t use abrasive cleaner or pads, either, because marble can be scratched. To clean marble you don’t need specialty cleaners for marble. Mild soap and hot water will do just fine. Wipe sudsy water on the counter with a soft cloth or sponge. This will remove dirt but won’t heal any etching or stains.

You can give your marble a little protection from stains and etching by using spray sealant at least once a month. You’re still going to have to wipe up spills immediately to avoid damage, but the sealant will give you a little more time to mop before the staining starts.

For stains, you can rub on hydrogen peroxide mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Do not put more than a few drops of ammonia because it’s a weak acid and can damage you counter. You want just want enough to dissolve the stain. If it’s a paint stain, use a dull razor to carefully scrape it off. If you cannot remove a stain, you can hire a professional to remove the surface sealant and the stain. This will leave your marble surface as honed finish, which is more matte than the glossy surface on most counters. 

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Sources

www.architecturaldigest.com/story/how-to-clean-marble