Natural stone is mother nature’s gift to your home because of its variety of colors and luxurious feel. Your marble countertops are the envy of your family and neighbors, so it’s essential to keep your countertops sparkling. Marble is mainly composed of calcium carbonate, so it’s sensitive to acidic solutions. Any acid, whether it’s a splash of lemon juice or a dash of an acidic cleaner like vinegar, will eat away at your marble and create etches, which are dull spots.
Some homeowners don’t mind the unique look etches provide and consider etches to be part of their countertop’s character. Other homeowners can’t stand etches, and they’ll grind down the top layer of their countertops and re-polish the surface when enough etches form.
This guide will help you become a countertop cleaning master in no time, and you’ll be able to address stains without etching your marble.
General Cleaning
Marble surfaces are a popular countertop option because they’re low-maintenance, provided you’re using acid-free products. Aim to clean your countertops twice a month to keep your surface looking its best. One way to clean your marble surfaces easily is by using a non-abrasive stone cleaner specifically tailored to marble. Even if a substance is designed explicitly for marble surfaces, you should still read the ingredients label because it only takes one wrong ingredient to etch your surface. Alternatively, you can save money and use a mild, non-abrasive pH soap and mix it with water to clean your marble countertops.
If you decide to make your surface cleaner, you’ll need the following:
- Marble stone cleaner
- Gentle dish soap
- Warm water
- Spray bottle
- Dishcloth
- Soft towel
Mix a squirt of your mild, non-abrasive soap with warm water in a spray bottle and spray the counter generously. Scrub your countertop gently and wipe the solution away with a wet cloth. Repeat this process until soap residue is gone. Rub your countertops dry, then buff them with a soft towel.
Removing Stains
Lifting stains from marble is trickier than simply cleaning the surface. You’ll need to identify the origin of the stain to apply the appropriate chemical or poultice, which is a paste-like cleaning agent. The sooner you treat a stain, the more likely you’ll be able to remove it from your marble. The following materials can help you fight most stains, but keep in mind that what may work to remove permanent marker may not remove paint from your surfaces. The following materials serve as general items to remove most stains, but you should conduct your research to deal with each stain accordingly.
Generally, you can use the following to remove most stains:
- Mineral spirits
- Soft liquid cleanser
- Ammonia
- Acetone
- 12% hydrogen peroxide solution and 20% hydrogen peroxide solution
- Lacquer thinner
- Bleach
- Steel wool pads
- Sponge
- Razor blades
- Gloves
- Protective eyewear such as goggles
- Flour
- Pre-mixed poultice
If you can’t seem to get rid of those stubborn stains, then you may need a countertop replacement. Granite 4 Less can upgrade your current countertops to a brand-new marble surface. We also specialize in quartz and granite surfaces if you’re interested in trying something new. Contact us today.