How to Clean Marble Countertops
Marble countertops are a gorgeous addition to your kitchen or bathroom. They are easy to clean but they are also very sensitive to some cleaning products.
Keep reading to find out how to clean them properly and ensure they'll stay spotless throughout for many years.
Know what to avoid beforehand
First thing you should know is that marble is composed of calcium carbonate, a highly alkaline material.
This means that it doesn't get along with acidic compounds. Although vinegar and lemon are exceptional cleaning agents, they won't work here, because they will leave dull spots on your marble top.
That's the most important thing to remember here: beware of any acidic components which are present in most cleaning products, and therefore not suited for marble countertops.
Keep in mind that you shouldn't use it as a cutting board either, and particularly avoid cutting lemons and tomatoes. Beware of spilling any acidic beverages, like coffee and wine.
You can hire a cleaning service and let them take care of your marble surfaces or you can grab some cleaning supplies and do it on your own!
Gather your cleaning supplies to clean your marble countertops
For regular cleaning, you'll need these products:
- A non-abrasive dish soap. Eco-friendly dish soaps are usually the perfect choice here. Do make sure first they don't contain vinegar, lemon or any other acid ingredients, because citrus ingredients are common for eco-friendly cleaning products. Avoid any oil-based soap, too.
- Lukewarm water.
- A clean microfiber cloth.
- A clean, empty spray bottle.
Start by mixing your non-abrasive dish soap. A one-teaspoon dish soap, two-cups water mix should be more than enough for this.
Next, pour your mix into a spray bottle and spray the countertop.
Then, rub your cleaning mix using a clean microfiber cloth.
Finally, wipe your countertop dry with a different, dry cloth. Always keep your marble dry when not using in order to increase its life span.
Remove stains from marble countertops
Even though you were taking all the right steps, sometimes accidents happen. If you need to remove stains from your countertops, you can try a cleaning mix with these ingredients:
- 12% Hydrogen Peroxide
- Ammonia
You can try this method for removing organic food stains. Just add a few drops of ammonia to half a cup of hydrogen peroxide. Rub in a soft, circular motion and wipe down any excess after the stain is gone.
Don't use this if you have dark-colored marble, though. Hydrogen peroxide
You can also try mixing baking soda with water. Baking soda is an alkaline compound, which means that it's safe to use against marble, unlike acid. Mix baking soda with water until you form a thick paste, something that looks like toothpaste.
Apply on the surface, and cover with saran wrap. This needs to be done so it won't dry out. You might want to apply plastic tape over the edges.
Let sit for about 24 hours and repeat the process if the stain is still there.
You can try using hydrogen peroxide instead of water for light marble countertops.
Conclusion
If you're thinking of renovating your kitchen, marble (or any other natural stone) should be considered for your countertops. It's beautiful and easy to maintain and clean. Just like any other material, it does come with ups and downs.
You can take your time to remove stains and maintain your marble countertops as spotless as possible.
But, you can also hire a professional cleaning service that will know how to proceed with every material in your household.
Dallas Maids is in the Dallas and Frisco area. Check our contact info down below!
