Marble is a stunning and luxurious (as well as expensive!) material that is used in homes and commercial settings for a number of reasons. Primarily, it is adored for its beautiful look, often with veins of minerals and deposits all the way through the stone.
It is also prized for its hard wearing nature, and its general quality feel. However, it is a natural stone (like granite) that has to be harvested by mining from the earth, rather than a man-made stone that is constructed in a factory, which can make it a little finicky to clean, hard to prevent damage, and maintain.
As it is such an expensive building material and a bit of a specialty stone, it requires a bit of special TLC to keep clean, and looking its absolute best. If it is looked after and cleaned in all the correct ways, then it will stay looking beautiful for decades to come.
We have compiled this handy guide to help you clean your marble to all the required specifications, to read on for all of our top times to clean marble in any room in your home.
How To Clean Marble Countertops
If you are cleaning your marble countertops, then there are some things that you need to know before starting. The first thing is that if you do not clean your marble properly, it will start to show signs of wear very quickly.
This means that you should always use a product that is designed specifically for cleaning marble. We recommend using a product like a professional marble stone cleaner.
These products are specially formulated to remove dirt and grime from your marble without leaving behind any residue or chemicals.
If you can’t get your hands on a professional grade, specially formulated marble cleaner, you can use a mild, non-abrasive, pH neutral (not acidic) soap that has been mixed with water in a spray bottle. Then, use a soft, absorbent towel to wipe up any remaining soapy residue. A picture of a clean kitchen countertop.
You can also purchase special tools, available on Amazon or other online retailers, like specifically designed soft microfiber cloths, absorbent towels, and spray bottles.
Step-By-Step Guide For Cleaning Marble Countertops
1. Mix a squirt of gentle, non-abrasive dish soap with warm water in a spray bottle.
2. Generously spray your countertop.
3. Scrub the countertop gently, and wipe the soapy solution off with a clean, damp cloth. Repeatedly wipe until all the soapy residue is gone.
4. Rub the marble dry, and gently buff it with a soft, absorbent towel, so it gets a little of its natural smooth shine back.
Removing Stains From Marble
Marble is usually white, and as it is a natural stone, it is porous and easy to stain. Unfortunately, removing these stains is a little more difficult. Marble must be cleaned by first identifying the source of the stain.
Then apply the proper chemical solution or poultice for stain removal. Often, these cleaning agents include soap and water, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, salt, ammonia, and white vinegar. Poultices include clay, aloe vera gel, oatmeal, and honey.
Oil-Based Stains – an oil-based chemical (such as dairy, cooking oil, or make up) will leave a darkened stain on the marble stone, and has to be treated chemically.
To remove a stain that has been caused by oils and fats, you should gently clean the stone with one of the following options: gentle liquid cleaner mixed with bleach, ammonia, acetone, and mineral spirits.
Organic Stains – stains that have been caused by coffee, tea, wine, gatorade, kool aid, fruits, tobaccos, papers, and most other food stains have an orange-brown to yellowish color.
Stain removers should be used to remove these stains – in particular, look for 12% hydrogen peroxide solution, and mix in a few drops of ammonia. Wipe the solution over the mark with a clean cloth, and then rinse it with a wet cloth. Rub it dry with a chamois.
Biological Stains – you can combat stains that have been called by mildew with a mixture of household bleach and dish soap. Spray the mildew thoroughly and repeatedly until it goes away. Rinse the solution off with warm water, and then try with an absorbent towel.
Ink Stains – to remove an ink stain from your marble stone, you will need to use a cotton swab dipped in the appropriate chemical solution. Acetone removes ink stains from dark-colored stones.
Hydrogen Peroxide (about 20%) cleans up light colored stones. Just remember to keep a damp cloth close by when treating ink stains, as both chemical agents can damage the stone if left too long.
If the ink stain has a larger area, a poultice is necessary to treat it. To make a poultice, you will need to mix together 1/4 a cup of flour with acetone (for a dark-colored stone) or 20 percent hydrogen peroxide (for a light-colored stone), one spoonful at a time until you have reached the desired paste consistency.
Apply the flour poultice directly to the area with a plastic spoon or spatula, and then cover with plastic wrap. Press it firmly into the stone. Poke holes in plastic wrap with a toothpick or fork, and then let the poultice dry for up to 24 hrs.
Remove and discard plastic wrap. Allow the poultice to continue to dry. Once the poultice is completely dry, apply a small amount of neutral pH soaps, such as Dove, with a clean, soft sponge dampen with water. Clean the area where the stain was and remove soap residues with a clean dampened sponge.
Paint Stains – Removing stains from marble countertops or furniture using lacquer thinner and a razor blade is pretty easy – just go very gently. A bigger paint stain will need a commercial paint stripper to treat, but do bear in mind that it could cause etching on the surface of the marble, meaning that it will require re-polishing after the stain has been cleaned up.
After using lacquer or commercial stripper by flushing the surface thoroughly with water. Wear protective equipment when cleaning up paint spills – thinners and removers are harsh chemicals that can really hurt!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, I would like to say that there is no perfect way to clean marble, as it is such a delicate stone. Our advice is to just go for a gentle and pH neutral method, as well as finding what works best for you. If you’re looking for a more permanent fix to prevent stains, you may want to consider sealing the marble with a clear stone sealer.