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The marble countertops (and Pinterest boards) of your dreams are finally here in your kitchen. But wait, there’s one more question: how do you clean marble? Keeping marble surfaces and floors clean is actually easier than you think, but like most things in life, you need to know what you’re dealing with.
Marble is an incredibly beautiful natural stone, but it’s also more porous than other common countertop materials (like engineered stone, often simply called quartz or soapstone), and is therefore susceptible to stains and corrosion (i.e., minor scratches or physical changes to the stone itself). You’ll need to clean and seal marble regularly (more on that later).
Avoid splashes with a Bianco Bello marble slab backsplash, like in this kitchen designed by Daniella Villamil Interiors.
Beyond daily marble cleaning, you’ll need other strategies if Uncle Pat knocks over his head during dinner and spills Cabernet Sauvignon all over your beautiful white marble island. “Acid is the enemy of any stone, especially marble,” says Welberson DosSantos, director of operations at NYC Marble Care in New York City. And what if that pesky uncle accidentally breaks your car keys and eats away at your marble surface? Don’t worry, it’s okay. Here’s everything you need to know about how to clean marble, restore its shine, and maintain its luster.
Are you missing the new shine of your marble countertops or floors? To restore the shine, keep it clean. For daily maintenance, the best cleaner for marble countertops and backsplashes is a mild dish soap or a pH-neutral stone cleaner, says Daniella Villamil of Daniella Villamil Interiors in Las Vegas. You can use a damp cloth, but be sure to rinse it thoroughly, blot up any accumulated water (super-absorbent reusable paper towels, like those from Papaya, work well for this), and then dry the surface thoroughly using a microfiber cloth in a circular motion.
DosSantos agrees, noting that dish soap is gentle enough not to damage sealants but can remove cooking oils and grease. And what about pH-neutral cleaners? He says Zep Granite & Stone or any Weiman stone cleaner will do the job. “For those who are environmentally conscious, Simple Green Granite & Stone is a great choice,” he adds. Once your marble countertop or other marble surface is dry, buff it with a chamois to restore its full shine.
“If there is dirt, gum, or other sticky mess on the marble, gently scrape it off with a razor blade,” says DosSantos. That way, marble floors and countertops can be clean again in no time.
For marble floors, coffee tables, and other high-traffic surfaces, invest in trivets and pads. Those fancy brass trivets you inherited from grandma? Don’t place them on marble countertops, as they can corrode and stain the surface. Other no-nos: steel wool, acidic cleaners, and your collection of cooking oils. If you need to display the vinegar and olive oil you bought on your trip to Italy, place them on a decorative cutting board or small plate.
These nine cleaning products are the best ways to clean and care for marble countertops, marble furniture, marble floors, and other marble surfaces.
Don’t use vinegar or lemon juice to clean marble. “Acid is the enemy of any stone, especially marble, which is a softer, more porous stone,” DosSantos said. “Acids react with calcium carbonate and eat away at the stone. Wine, orange juice, and coffee can all eat away at the stone. Avoid abrasive products or citrus-based cleaners like Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner because acids eat away at the sealant, causing stains over time.”
Acid is the enemy of marble. “Never use strong acids. Citrus (lemon juice), wine, vinegar, harsh chemicals (Windex) — none of these are good for the surface,” says Juan Enciso, owner of Marble Clinic Restoration in Los Angeles. “Too much water can damage the stone and change the color.”
Don’t let children use marble countertops as a play area. “You also have to be careful with Play-Doh, because the dye used to color it can soak into the marble,” DosSantos said.
If any harmful substance comes into contact with your marble surface, wipe it off as soon as possible with a non-abrasive cloth. “For floors, dust removal is even more important because the friction of dust from people walking on them can cause them to dull over time,” says DosSantos. However, over time, even plain water can begin to damage clean marble.
“Any liquid spill should be cleaned up as quickly as possible,” DosSantos said. “Don’t wipe it off, just let the fabric absorb the liquid.” If you don’t get the stain out quickly (hello, 2 a.m., unsuspecting dinner guest spills red wine), there’s hope. For most organic stains, like food, the Natural Stone Institute recommends using a solution of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia. If you’ve spilled an oily substance, like vinegar, and the stain has set on a light-colored marble countertop, treat it (gently) with a liquid cleaner containing “household detergent, mineral spirits, or acetone.” You can also try making a paste of one part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and two parts baking soda. Apply the paste to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe away, rinse, and dry the surface.
But whatever stain removal method you come up with, use it with caution so as not to make the situation worse, warns DosSantos. “If the stains are real, you can make homemade pastes and apply them to the stone that will remove the stains from the stone. But you should test them in an inconspicuous corner first, as I have seen this method fail many times.”
If you have stains on your marble surface and you’re not confident you can handle them yourself, it may be time to call in a professional. “Stain removal should generally be left to a professional who knows what commercial ointment to use and how strong it should be based on the stone and color,” says DosSantos.
DosSantos said the surface is no different than any other marble surface. For marble floors, start by dusting with a dust mop to avoid bringing coarse particles to the surface. The dust and sand that a vacuum picks up can cause even more damage. “When people walk on marble floors, the friction of dust can cause the floor to become dull over time,” DosSantos said. After dusting, prepare a warm water solution. “To remove greasy residue, mix a gallon of water with a small amount of dish soap,” he adds. “For a stronger cleaning solution, use a pH-neutral cleaner.”
Need to fix etching? To remove water stains, minor scratches, and chips, try buffing the marble with dry #0000 steel wool. Any scratch deeper than the surface will require professional help.
“Sealing your marble is the most important part of protecting it,” DosSantos said. No matter what type of marble you have in your home, it needs to be sealed regularly. Sealers don’t make the stone stain-resistant, but they do make it more stain-resistant, according to the Natural Stone Institute. Consult your marble supplier for product recommendations (and be sure to check that it’s food-safe if you’re using it in the kitchen).
Not all marble is created equal when it comes to sealing, Enciso noted. “The frequency of sealing depends on the maintenance, location of the marble, and the amount of traffic in the area,” he said. For high-traffic areas like kitchens, bars, and showers, sealing once a year will keep them looking their best. But remember, marble sealers don’t last forever, DosSantos cautions. You’ll be dealing with your marble over and over again. “Over time, sealers wear down with use and daily cleaning,” he says.
How do you know if your marble needs to be resealed? “Inspect the marble surface for water rings, stains, or streaks,” DosSantos said. “As long as the marble is sealed, water is not a problem. If water leaves a ring mark, that means the stone needs to be sealed.”
DosSantos suggests a simple test to help determine if your marble countertop or surface needs resealing. “Pour a small amount of water (about 2 inches in diameter) into several different spots on the countertop,” he says. “Let it sit for 30 minutes. The water should bead up like a mirror. When the water runs clear, the marble should remain the same color, meaning it’s sealed. If the water spreads and the area darkens after 30 minutes, the stone will need to be resealed.”
If you see anything more than just water spots, such as leucoderma (crystalline deposits visible on the stone, usually white or gray in color), it may mean there is moisture underneath the stone and you should call a professional.
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