Marble Cleaning and Polishing Products
QUESTION:The color of the tile is kind of a light varigated. Is there a home remedy for cleaning & polishing this Marble countertop?ANSWER:Well, I certainly understand the desire to use a cheap and readily available product for cleaning marble and there are plenty of home remedies and cleaners that people often "try", but it's not advised.Most common and brand-name household cleaners are too harsh for marble and will damage the marble leaving dull, discolored spots. I recommend that you use only products safe for cleaning marble if you don't want the hassle of marble repair. Marble polishing is not something that you do. Yes, you can apply a topical "polish" that will enhance the shine a bit, but the marble must already have a shiny, polished finish "from the factory" for these type of products to be of any use. Marble does not have to be shiny. There are many surface finish types for marble and a "polished" shiny finish is just one. Marble does not become shiny by applying a potion or lotion, except in one instance.... marble repair for etching. Etching will create dull spots on any marble, but very noticeable on polished, shiny marble. So, if the marble was originally polished to a shine and becomes etched (dull, light-colored spots--- not dark spots) from using the wrong cleaning products or from spills of acidic foods and drinks, then you can re-polish the dull and damaged area using the Marble Polish / Etch Remover. This product will restore the shine and color to etched polished marble. It's rare, but if the marble gets severely etched and is rough to the touch, then you may have to call in a marble cleaning and maintenance professional to re-finish the area. I typically advise using the above Etch Remover first simply because it's far cheaper than a pro. If your entire marble installation is dull from etching and/or you have honed marble that you want to make shiny, then you'll need a pro in this case as well. Marble polishing requires special abrasives, tools, knowledge, skill and experience. Not a DIY job even for a great handyman. Good Luck, Ryan P.S. Get all the facts, answers, explanations and simple solutions with step-by-step instructions for any issue, problem or question with our Granite & Marble Maintenance Manuals.
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