Cleaning Marble Countertops

Getting a marble countertop may have been a great decision at first. Yet, as the installation finishes, a question pops in your head—How do I clean my new marble countertop?

Marble is an expensive material, so any homeowner would expect to fuss over cleaning it. The secret to cleaning marble is not that difficult at all. Below are the materials and steps you need to clean your marble countertop and keep it clean easily:

What you need:
• Dust mop (if you have marble floors)
• Ammonia
• Food safe sealant (for counters)
• Water and soap (for counters)
• Liquid cleaner
• Steel wool
• Hydrogen peroxide

How you do it:
1. Prevention is always the best. Sealing our marble surface every three months is the most effective way to do this. Take note that sealants do not make your marble stone mark-proof. They only make your marble surfaces resistant to stains. If you practice this habit of sealing, you will be more prepared when big spills happen. It always helps if you use coasters, placemats, or runners. For marble floors, use furniture pads. Talk to your marble supplier and ask for the best food-safe sealant you can use.
2. Be that marble surface. Marble is prone to etching and staining because, unfortunately, it’s more porous than other engineered stones like soapstone or quartz. To keep your marble countertop beautiful and mark-free, you should clean it and seal it on a regular basis.
3. Clean the surface daily. For the spills that you catch early and for daily maintenance, plain, soapy water is the most effective cleaning agent. Just remember to rinse the surface well and dry the area thoroughly. Keep in mind that acid is the most harmful substance for marble surfaces. As best you can, keep off lemon, vinegar, orange juice, and wine from your marble countertop or floor. If you want to rid your floor of dirt or dust, use a dust mop. Vacuuming the floor would only abrade it because of the particulates the vacuum drags around.
4. Correct the etching. A dry #0000 steel wool can buff away light scratches, nicks, and water spots. If ever your marble countertop has deeper scratches and etchings, or more difficult stains, contact a professional.
5. Eliminate stains early. It is always easier if you catch that spill quickly. Organic spills can be taken care of by a combination of three drops of ammonia and 12% hydrogen peroxide. For anything organic and oil-based like a salad dressing, use a liquid cleaning solution made of acetone, detergent, and mineral spirits.

Cleaning your marble countertops is easy when you know how. Of course, nothing helps the situation more than preventing the damage or mark. The given steps are easy to do, but if you need professional assistance, contact us at Midland Marble and Granite and we will be happy to offer advice.

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