Marble Maintenance for Bathtub/Shower Surround
by Gretchen
QUESTION:We've just installed a marble tile bathroom and want to be sure we protect it from soap scum, mildew and hard water stains. What should we do? Sealing is a no-brainer, but what daily maintenance makes sense? And how do we remove soap scum, mildew and hard water stains if they occur?ANSWER:Actually sealing a marble shower/tub surround is not a no-brainer. In fact, it is best not to seal stone in a wet environment in order to let it breath.Sealing will do only one thing... help guard against stains from a substance left on the surface too long. It won't protect against soap scum, mildew or hard water build up. Your risk of staining in a shower is virtually zero unless you plan on drinking coffee and eating spaghetti in there! Most bath products are not going to stain and everything is being quickly rinsed away. Of course, if you store oily bath products on a marble ledge, a leaky bottle could produce a stain. So, given the risk is so small, the best recommendation for a shower is not to seal it. Sealing won't necessarily cause a problem, it just provides little benefit in a shower. And if the marble is polished, it may not even take a sealer since polished marble is not very absorbent and does not stain easy as is often stated (incorrectly) on the internet, etc. Attempting to seal a stone that is not absorbent could cause a problem though, if the sealant does not absorb and dries on top it will leave a dull streaky haze that will need to be stripped off. Go ahead and seal the floor and countertop though, if the water test shows they need it. I'd recommend STONE SENTRY or SenGuard Sealers. For regular cleaning I recommend Stone PLUS Cleaner. For soap scum and hard water use PRISTINE Soap Film/Hard Water Remover. For mildew BLAST Mildew Remover works very well. You shouldn't get mildew much if you are cleaning regularly and the shower has good ventilation. Consistent mildew is often a sign of a bad installation and/or water behind the tiles from cracks or voids in the grout. To learn everything you need to know about cleaning marble, marble maintenance and solving any problem you may encounter get the Cleaning Marble Secrets Guide. 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. |
