Honed Marble Countertop Cleaning

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Honed Marble Countertop Cleaning

by Kim
(Atlanta)

QUESTION:

The countertops in my kitchen are honed marble. So, first, does this mean I do or don't seal them? Second- do I use an abrasive pad on spots, the whole thing? I do have some spots- how do I get them to be less noticeable? Thanks!

ANSWER:

Marble is actually pretty dense and not very absorbent... but YES, you should seal honed marble... especially in the kitchen.

FYI, polished marble is actually less absorbent than honed. This is true of any polished stone.... polishing reduces the rate at which a particular stone will absorb a substance and stain.

Still, most stones should be sealed whether honed or polished. Some granites should not be sealed and soapstone doesn't need sealing either...

But honed marble in the kitchen--seal it.

I'd suggest using one of these recommended impregnating sealers, which we've found provide the best performance and durability of any currently on the market.

For general cleaning, Do NOT use abrasive pads on marble. Marble is dense, but soft and abrasive pads will scratch or mar the surface.

Use only products safe for cleaning marble with a sponge or soft cloth.

For certain types of "spots" an abrasive pad or even sand paper can be helpful to remove the spots, but you may want to hire a marble maintenance professional instead of doing it yourself.

You have spots. What kind?

Stain: a spot darker than the marble color indicating an absorbed substance.

OR

Etching: a spot lighter than the marble color, possibly duller than the surrounding finish and possibly with a slight depression in the surface indicating chemical damage as a result of contact with an acidic substance like juice, coffee, alcohol, fruit, salad dressing, etc.

If you have a stain, you'll need to follow the step-by-step instructions in the Removing Stains Manual. Regular cleaning methods won't get a stain out of stone.

Etch marks are a different story. Most likely you'll need professional resurfacing as noted, but light etch marks can sometimes be removed on honed marble by sanding.

Etch marks are typically not as visible on honed marble as polished marble. If they are easily noticeable, it makes me think they are deep.

Deep etching takes experience and skill to remove and restore the countertop surface so it all looks new again.

You can use abrasive pads to wear away the etched marble, but the remaining surface could look different than the rest of the honed surface. Blending it back in is the hard part.

So, the best recommendation is to get a pro to take a look, but if you want to give it a go, you'll find complete instructions in the Removing Etch Marks Manual.

Marble is typically not recommended in the kitchen because you WILL get etch marks and sealing has NOTHING to do with etching. Sealing helps to retard staining only.

The only way to prevent etching is to prevent contact with acids... nearly impossible in a kitchen, but using coasters, trivets and large cutting boards for all food prep will help.

Hops this helps!

Good Luck,
Ryan

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Honed Marble Countertop Cleaning

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marble bench tops the pros and cons
by: Anonymous

i am having honed marble bench tops installed in a couple of days and I have to say that i am excited and nervous about the whole process, but because marble being a natural stone does it matter that is marks or scratches isn't the beauty of the marble that it grows with you and is from the earth, i have been told that rubbing olive oil into the marble, I am talking marble not granite then the marks or scratches will fade but i am not daunted by that because this is not a man made stone but all natural so i will love my scratches and remember them when i use my kitchen to cook in and use as a kitchen should be used i think the term is lived in
cheers to all

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stains honed marble
by: Betty

how do I get rid of water stains on my honed marble. They are sealed, but I have water rings?

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Vinegar and water
by: Alexandra Dillon

A friend recently vacationed in Italy where she attended a cooking class. The cooking school had beautiful honed marble counters and the only thing that they ever cleaned them with was vinegar and water. Apparently they were beautiful. I have always read to avoid vinegar.
I soon will be installing white calcatta oro kitchen counters. Could I wipe my counters with a solution of vinegar and water too???

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Vinegar and water
by: Ryan

Alexandra,

The key is that the marble is "honed" and not polished.

Vinegar will etch (corrode) marble which is very noticeable with polished marble because it creates a dull spot, but on honed marble you don't notice it as much or at all. And since they are cleaning the entire countertop any etching that occurs will occur evenly and not be noticeable.

In Europe marble countertops are common in the kitchen because they hone them and just let them age naturally without obsessing over every little blemish.

In the US people like to polish the marble to bring out the depth of color, but they also expect the marble to look pristine, like new for 20 years. That is impossible if you put marble (especially polished marble) in the kitchen.

Acidic foods like vinegar will etch the polish and create a bunch of dull spots that look like stains on polished marble.

So, if you have a European sensibility regarding this issue then go ahead and install honed marble in the kitchen... it's an excellent surface.

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Honed Marble Water Rings
by: Ryan

Betty,

Is the spot kind of dull and lighter in color? If so, you have an etch mark from contact with acidic food or drinks.

Buy some 0000 grade steel wool pads and lightly sand the area. This should improve and/or remove it.

However, you could have a straight stain where something has absorbed into your marble. If the above doesn't get it all out then try using a poultice as described on this page:

http://www.countertopspecialty.com/hair-dye-stain-on-marble-vanity-top.html

Sealing does not make your marble stain-proof. It just slows down the absorption rate. So, if the liquid sat there overnight say, then you can still get a stain.

And sealing has nothing to do with etching. Use coasters, cutting boards, etc. to eliminate contact with acidic substances.

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Windex used on my honed Cararra countertop
by: Cati

A houseguest used Windex and then Goo Gone Gel on my lovely new honed Cararra Marble countertops : (
The spray splash has left dull spray marks, and then he tried to elminate then with the oily goo gone... it didn't work.

Help! What can I do?

Kind regards,
Cati

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Windex Damage on Honed Marble
by: Ryan

Cati,

You'll find complete instructions on how to remove etch marks (the spots the windex and goo gone created) in the Removing Etch Marks Manual.

The techniques in the manual should do the trick for you, but if the etching is severe, then you may have to hire a pro to re-hone the area so it "blends" with the rest of the surface.

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Marble the choice of Old Europe
by: Queenbee

I am always surprised at the way the American market views marble floors and counter tops. What is this obsession with wanting things to look always new? BEFORE granite was used on counters or floors, marble was the stone of choice. If you travel to France, Italy, Spain or Portugal--all those counters you admire or those tops on tables in chateaus are all MARBLE--and it is marble that has endured CENTURIES of pastry and wines and beers and often has mellowed from a pristine white to a much coveted cream or yellow and a "saddling' in the middle where the dough was rolled out again and again. The scratches are part of the patina. If people really do not want wear on their countertops or floors and want them to look like new--the best options are never using the room or item with the marble/granite/natural stone OR take a picture and tell everyone this is what you would have had in your kitchen if only it would stay looking brand new.

I buy antiques and COVET the mellowed surface of much used marble--cream, please and the scratches are the narrative not something to be edited out.

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Honed Marble Countertop Cleaning

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