How To Clean Marble Floors And Marble Countertops

Do you need to know how to clean marble now that you have a marble floor or marble countertop?

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This is a good question, because although marble is quite beautiful it is notorious for staining.

The reason for this is because marble is a pourous stone, meaning that it has lots of tiny spaces in the stone that are perfect for catching and holding stains.

You clean marble floors and marble countertops the same way.

Steps In How To Clean Marble

Wipe down the surface of the marble with a clean cloth or dust mop to remove dust.

Gather your supplies, which will include a soft sponge, cloth or mop, and a nonabrasive mild cleanser such as liquid dishwashing detergent.

Word Of Caution Regarding Cleaners

Make sure the cleaner you choose does not have acid in it because this will eat away at the marble.

This means that cleaning with vinegar and water is NOT safe for marble.

Gently wash the surface of the marble with the soapy water.

Rinse with clean water when done and buff dry with a soft towel.

How To Remove Stains From Your Marble

If a stain has already gotten onto your marble, the only way to get it out is to wick it back out of the stone.

The technique you use depends on what type of stain you have in the marble.

For oil based stains: mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, a small amount of liquid dishwashing detergent, and warm water together until it forms a thick paste. Spread the paste over the stain, and cover it. Let it sit overnight. The next morning gently scrape the paste away and buff the area.

It may take several applications for stubborn stains.

For plant based stains: use the same method as above, but instead of using liquid dishwashing detergent use hydrogen peroxide.

For ink, crayons, or nail polish: use a cotton ball dipped in acetone (nail polish remover) and rub over the stain.

If you have a light colored marble this technique may smear the stain further. For light colored marble try hydrogen peroxide or bleach instead.

If none of these methods work you will need to resurface that area of the marble to get the stain out.

Removing Soap Scum From Marble

The normal way to remove soap scum -- using an acidic cleaner or abrasives -- is not how you should clean soap scum from marble.

The reason for this is because acids eat away at marble, and abrasives will scratch it. So, what do you do?

The Marble Institute of America recommends that you use 1/2 cup of ammonia to a gallon of water.

However, they do caution that using ammonia frequently will dull the finish of the marble so do this only when it is really needed.

The best way to clean soap scum from marble is to not let it build up.

To do this you must wipe down the walls and surfaces in your bathroom after use with a towel.

How To Maintain Your Marble

Reapply sealers to your marble periodically. Sealers help keep your marble from absorbing stains, but eventually they wear off. You need to reapply to keep them working their best.
Dust it often. Marble scratches easily, so dust it often with a untreated dust mop for floors or a soft cloth for countertops to keep the small particles in the dust from scratching it.
Wipe Up Spills Quickly. Because marble stains easily the best way to prevent this is to wipe up spills quickly so they don't have a chance to penetrate the stone.

Make sure you blot the spill, not rub it or it will only spread it to more surface of the marble.

Wipe Up Acidic Spills Double Quick. Do not let anything acidic, such as lemons or vinegar spills sit on your marble for more than a few minutes or it can eat away at the stone.
Resurface Marble Periodically If Needed. If Scratches or stains have gotten onto your marble you may need to resurface, and then reseal that area, to get it looking good again.