Marble Cleaning:
Do's & Don'ts

Marble cleaning, protection and maintenance is unique requiring particular care, but it is not difficult or time-consuming. You just need to learn the right way to do it!

Practice the marble care tips below on what to do and more importantly what not to do and you'll avoid damage, the expense of marble repair and keep your marble countertops and floors looking their beautiful best!

And for the most complete A to Z information available about sealing, marble cleaning, protection, maintenance and the most effective, simple and cheap DIY solutions for all types of marble repair issues check out the "Cleaning Marble Secrets" e-book guide.

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The job is fairly simple to perform. The time and cost involved is really inconsequential when compared to how fabulous marble counter tops and floors look in your home — not to mention the added value when compared with other surfaces.

Use a top quality penetrating sealer like Stone Care & SenGuard Sealers to protect your investment.

FYI... some marbles do not need sealing. In such cases, it's best not to try and apply a sealer since in won't absorb and may just dry on the surface and then you'll have to strip it off with toxic chemicals.

A spray surface dressing like Dazzle Topical Polish/Shine Enhancer will enhance the shine and provide a little more protection.

Do: Blot up spills immediately.
Marble is much more sensitive than granite to acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce, sodas, toiletry products and cleaning products that can etch(dull) the surface finish and lead to marble stains.

Do: Clean surfaces using a sponge or soft cloth.
The only cleaning agents you should use on a regular basis are hot water and a specially formulated stone cleaner.

I recommend Stone PLUS Cleaner. Buff dry with a cotton cloth or chamois. Using a mild soap for marble cleaning won’t harm the stone, but consistent use will lead to a dull film covering the surface like soap scum in a shower or bath.

Do: Use coasters under all glasses, bottles and cans.
Bottles, cans and glasses that contain acidic drinks may etch the polish or damage the surface.

So make marble cleaning easy and avoid expensive marble polishing and marble restoration by treating your marble tops like fine wood furniture. Always use coasters ...no matter what.

Do: Use a tray for toiletry products in the bathroom. A decorative tray can look very nice and it will protect the surface from the damaging chemicals contained in many toiletry products.

Do: Dust mop your marble floor tile regularly.
Use a clean, dry, non-treated dust-mop. Be careful using a vacuum cleaner. Worn parts or grit jammed by the wheels may scratch the surface. Also, mop regularly using a specialized stone cleaner.

Tip: Marble Polishing on floor tile makes a very slick surface when wet, so go with a "honed," "tumbled" or "sawed" floor tile especially in the bathroom. It will look warm and inviting and hide dust, dirt and stains very well.

Do: Use doormats inside and out along with runners and area rugs.
Grit, dirt and sand carried in by our shoes are abrasive and will wear and scratch marble floor tile.

Don't: use generic, store-bought cleaning products of ANY kind.
Cleaning marble with products bought at your local store that contain acids, alkalis and other chemicals can etch or damage the countertop surface or degrade the sealant leaving the stone more vulnerable to staining. Unfortunately, most common, popular and name-brand cleaners will damage marble.

Trying to save money by using cheap, generic surface cleaners only ensures that you'll spend a lot more time and money on your marble care in the long-run performing expensive repairs or marble restoration.

Don't: use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange for cleaning marble.
As noted above, a sponge with hot water is all you need on a daily basis and a stone cleaner weekly.

Don't: use bathroom, tub & tile or grout cleaners.
The powders and even the "soft" creams contain abrasives that will scratch and dull the surface.

Don't: sit or stand on your countertops.
Unlike laminate countertops, marble countertops are not flexible and they DO NOT typically have a plywood backing, so too much weight in one spot could cause a crack.

Don't: place toiletry products directly on your countertop surface.
Hair products, toothpaste, perfumes, colognes, nail products, creams, lotions and potions may stain or damage the surface or etch the polish leaving a ring. Protect your countertop by placing these products on a decorative tray like they do in fancy hotels!

Think Roman Coliseum

Okay... I know it seems like there is a lot to do and know about marble cleaning, but it's just a matter of learning how to treat this surface like you do with clothes or leather or wood.

Most of the Do’s and Don’ts are things you already do and don't do! And the new tips you’ve learned about how to clean marble are really very easy requiring only minor modification to your normal routine.

If damage does occurs and you need marble repair, you can rest easy knowing that restoration is possible in most cases. Damage to stone is rarely permanent like it is with most other surfaces.

The best advice is to get a separate cleaning tote for your marble cleaning products, so you have everything in one spot.

Label everything and off you go--no problems or guesswork. This is especially handy if you use a cleaning service. You’ll never have to worry that you or the housekeeper might accidentally use the wrong product.

Marble cleaning is simply a matter of learning the particular traits of marble counter tops and floors and the correct procedures... then it's just routine.

Again, you'll find comprehensive marble cleaning, marble polishing, sealing, prevention, marble repair and solution information in the Cleaning Marble Secrets e-book.

Keep in mind that marble has stood the test of time and it is meant to be used. So with just a little TLC, you’ll enjoy its beauty for years.

Answers To Common Marble Cleaning Questions

Learn even more! Click on the links below to read detailed answers to common (and unusual) marble cleaning questions.

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