Seal Your Marble When Needed. You may have read about applying a marble & granite sealer and all the “hassle” it is, but I assure you it’s not such a big deal once you know what you are doing.
The job is fairly simple to perform. The time and cost involved are inconsequential when compared to how fabulous marble countertops and floors look in your home — not to mention the added value when compared with other surfaces.
Blot up spills immediately. Marble is much more sensitive than granite to acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce, sodas, toiletry products, and cleaning products that can etch(dull) the surface finish and lead to marble stains.
Clean surfaces using a sponge or soft cloth. The only cleaning agents you should use regularly are hot water and a specially formulated stone cleaner.
Use coasters under all glasses, bottles, and cans. Bottles, cans, and glasses that contain acidic drinks may etch the polish or damage the surface.
So make marble cleaning easy and avoid expensive marble polishing and marble restoration by treating your marble tops like fine wood furniture. Always use coasters …no matter what.
Use a tray for toiletry products in the bathroom. A decorative tray can look very nice and it will protect the surface from the damaging chemicals contained in many toiletry products.
Dust mop your marble floor tile regularly. Use a clean, dry, non-treated dust mop. Be careful using a vacuum cleaner. Worn parts or grit jammed by the wheels may scratch the surface. Also, mop regularly using a specialized stone cleaner.
Tip: Marble Polishing on floor tile makes a very slick surface when wet, so go with a “honed,” “tumbled” or “sawed” floor tile, especially in the bathroom. It will look warm and inviting and hide dust, dirt, and stains very well.
Use doormats inside and out along with runners and area rugs. Grit, dirt and sand carried in by our shoes are abrasive and will wear and scratch marble floor tile.
Do Not use generic, store-bought cleaning products of ANY kind. Cleaning marble with products bought at your local store that contain acids, alkalis, and other chemicals can etch or damage the countertop surface or degrade the sealant leaving the stone more vulnerable to staining. Unfortunately, most common, popular, and name-brand cleaners will damage marble.
Do Not use vinegar, ammonia, lemon, or orange for cleaning marble. As noted above, a sponge with hot water is all you need daily and a stone cleaner weekly.
Do not use bathroom, tub & tile, or grout cleaners. The powders and even the “soft” creams contain abrasives that will scratch and dull the surface.
Do Not sit or stand on your countertops. Unlike laminate countertops, marble countertops are not flexible and they don’t typically have a plywood backing, so too much weight in one spot could cause a crack.