How to clean marble

Marble is "metamorphic rock made out of limestone." When limestone is buried beneath other rock(s) or beneath the ocean, the pressure turns it into marble. Marble is hard, though, not as hard as granite and makes a lovely counter top. Cleaning marble counter tops properly can help you keep them looking beautiful for a long time. This article explains how to clean marble.

Everyday cleaning

Marble counter tops For daily marble cleaning, gentle cleaning is all that is required. Wipe the marble counter with a soft cloth which is damp with warm distilled water. Blot the counter after you wipe it with another soft cloth. This prevents any water staining from occurring. Water can stain marble easily. Cleaning marble floors If you have marble floors, you can clean them in a similar fashion as the marble counter top. A dust mop that is made of microfibre works well. If you find any stains, remove them with warm distilled water.

Cleaning a little more

Since marble is softer than granite, you will need a gentle cleaner to clean it. A dish soap that has a neutral ph would work well. If you have a dark marble counter top, then acetone would work well. For a lighter coloured marble, then ammonia diluted with water or hydrogen peroxide would be a good cleaning solution. Make sure that you rinse the counter thoroughly after cleaning it. This is applicable for floor cleaning as well. Leaving the floor in particular, un-rinsed means that you will have a slippery floor.

Cleaning stains

Beware of spilling any acidic substance on the marble. Acid is contained in wine, tomatoes, juice and soda. Blot, do not rub, the spilled liquid as quickly as you are able to do so. This will prevent it from soaking into the marble. If there is a stain, make a stain remover. Wet the stain with water. Mix whiting or baking powder with a little water to make a paste. Cover the stain with a plastic bag and secure it with tape. Wait for 24 hours, then remove the bag and the powder. If you get grease on the marble, add water and rub alcohol into the powder. Then, you are advised to follow the rest of the steps above. If you pour tea or coffee on the marble counter, add acetone or hydrogen peroxide to the powder. Follow the rest of the steps above. If this does not work, you can try a commercial marble stain remover.