Cleaning Marble Before Sealing

by Jim
(Gilbert, Arizona)

QUESTION:

I just installed marble in a shower and on a bathroom counter top. I used a revitalizer from Stonetech, but it left a haze and showed marks of how the cleaner was placed on the marble. Should the tile be cleaned with soap and water and lots of cotton rags as it seems that it continues to haze after each time I wipe it down. What should be used to clean it before it is sealed?

ANSWER:

I assume we are talking about polished marble here.... correct? Don't know what to say about the haze, unless some dried on the surface before you wiped it all off? Without seeing it, it's hard to tell.

Anyway... clean it with acetone from the hardware store.

Regarding Sealing

Not really necessary to seal marble in the shower. Typical shower products will not stain the marble. Of course, its better to seal grout, so easier just to do the whole thing, but be sure that you wipe off all excess prior to the sealer drying or you'll get a permanent haze.

This is especially true with the countertop, which I'm sure is polished. Polished marble is not very absorbent and often will not take a sealer, so you may want to water test the countertop and practice sealing a sample tile.

Good Luck,
Ryan