Cleaning Marble
Available in a wide range of colors, marble is often used for its beauty, but is more porous, softer, and chemically sensitive than granite. Marble surfaces show wear sooner than granite, but can be restored with honing and polishing more easily. Etched by acids, including soft drinks and juice. Absorbs oils and other liquids and is easily stained. So putting marble in a kitchen or heavily used bathroom is not a good idea. Best use of marble is for powder baths, table tops, tub surrounds, a marble shower, floor tile and stone fireplace surrounds.
Marble should be sealed with a penetrating sealer such as BulletProof™ or Impregnator Pro to prevent staining and reduce soiling. Should only be cleaned with neutral pH detergents such as Revitalizer™ or Stone & Tile Cleaner.
DO's and DON'Ts of Marble:
- DO clean up spills immediately to minimize damage to your stone.
- DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware.
- DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects that can scratch the stone's surface.
- DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.
- DO put plastic trays under potted plants. The pot itself can stain the floor and dark stains are leached from the plant soil.
- DO put felt or plastic casters under wood and metal furniture feet. Metals will rust and wood will leach tannins.
- DO clean surfaces regularly with StoneTech™ Professional Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector.
- DO use StoneTech™ Professional BulletProof™ Sealer to protect the stone.
- DO use a tray for toiletry products in the bathroom to protect the surface from the damaging chemicals contained in many toiletry products.
- DO dust mop marble floor tile regularly.
- DO use door mats inside and out along with runners and area rugs on marble floors. These mats should be shaken or vacuumed frequently.
- DON'T wait to clean up spills on stone.
- DON'T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub cleaners.
- DON'T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners.
- DON'T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
- DON'T use green, nylon scrubbing pads; they are harder than the marble and will scratch it.
- DON'T use thick, creamy cleaners; they will stick in the natural pores of the marble.
- DON'T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for stone.
- DON'T use scouring powders and abrasives because they will scratch the surface.
- DON'T place toiletry products directly on the countertop surface.
- DON'T use rubber pads under rugs; the rubber contains sulfur. Also do not use rough fiber pads; they can scratch marble.
Care & Maintenance of Marble Countertops and Floors:
Marble is porous, and easily stained and is etched by acids. Avoid setting beverage glasses directly on marble as they leave rings. Fruit juice, carbonated beverages or other acids will etch (remove shiny surface) if allowed to remain on marble. Wipe up acid spill immediately, and wipe surface with wet cloth. If surfaced is etched, polishing may be required.
Natural stone is very porous. The best way to prevent stains is to treat the surface with a protective sealer. The sealer fills in the pores and repels spills on the surface, allowing you time to completely wipe it away.
Dust mop interior marble floors frequently using a clean non-treated dry dust mop. Sand, dirt and grit do the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasiveness. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface. Normally, it will take a person about eight steps on a floor surface to remove sand or dirt from the bottom of their shoes. Do not use vacuum cleaners that are worn. The metal or plastic attachments or the wheels may scratch the surface.
Once the marble floor or countertop is sealed, clean up is usually easy. We recommend that you use StoneTech™ Professional Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector. Revitalizer™ cleans with a gentle, pH-neutral formula that removes soils while reinforcing the original protective seal to help prevent future staining.
Although we usually think of stone as "hard," it is a porous material. Natural stone has varying degrees of porosity depending on the type of stone. If left unsealed, spills and everyday messes can easily penetrate the surface. The liquid eventually evaporates but the stain is left behind. Removal of oily stains is easily accomplished with StoneTech™ Professional Oil and Stain Remover.
More detailed information can be found at the Polished Marble Care Instructions page.
Related Products:
- Revitalizer™ Cleaner & Protector
- Revitalizer Wipes
- Stone & Tile Cleaner
