Marble Cleaning Tips

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Despite its durability and beauty, marble stains easily. Grease, dirt, and liquids can seep into marble permanently. Marble, then, is not only expensive to buy, it’s also expensive to maintain. You have to keep a careful watch on it. In order to better care for marble, you need to know its composition. Knowing the essence of marble will help you choose the best cleaning agents.

There is white marble, which is prized for sculpture, and veined and colored marble which is used in building exteriors, flooring, and as a veneer for columns or ceilings. Regardless of the kind of marble you have, the cleaning techniques will be similar. Marble is very porous, which means liquids easily seep into it at quick rates. If this happens to your marble, very quickly scrub the area with water and a dry towel. Be sure to dry it thoroughly, as remaining water can damage the marble, discoloring or greying it. For this reason you should avoid putting beverages directly on the marble surface, and instead use coasters.

To regularly clean marble, wash it occasionally with water and dry it with a towel or chamois, which ...
... will not leave streaks. Once or twice a year, lightly wash the marble with a dish detergent, and again, dry thoroughly. Wax, except on white marble, can protect the surface as well, but use sparingly. For special cleaning, buy marble cleaners from a business that sells marble. Usually these cleaners are imported and originally used on softer marble, which means they will be easier on the surface of harder US marbles. Putty Powder will liven up dull or scratched surfaces. Use it with a damp clothe and apply a couple times. Afterward, buff the spotted area.

Removing stains from marble requires a specific combination of ingredients. For all types of stains, you will need to use a poultice made of an absorbent material, such as a napkin or tissue, and one of the cleaning chemicals recommended further on, depending on the type of stain you have. For an organic stain, mix your poultice with peroxide and a tiny bit of ammonia. For an oil stain, immediately spread an absorbent powder, such as corn starch, onto the affected area.

Brush this powder away after it has turned color, indicating it has soaked up some of the stain. Continue applying powder and removing for the next twenty four hours. When removing, use a sudsy solution with water and a dish detergent. For a rust stain, caused by a lamp or other metal touching the marble, use a commercial rust remover but do not leave the solution on the marble for long: the acid can scratch the surface.

Regardless of the cleaning techniques you use, you will need to keep a close eye on your marble. As pretty as it is, it is also delicate and susceptible to damage.