Marble is commonly used in decorative arts, high-end furniture, and stylish pieces, but it is easily marred due to its porous surface. Whether the marble is colored or pure white, its sensitivity to damage remains the same. Proper cleaning is essential to preserve its luster, shine, and the attractive qualities that initially captured your attention.
Proper Care and Maintenance of Marble
Marble table tops and other decorative pieces require swift action when it comes to spills, stains, or drink rings. Due to its porous surface, marble is highly susceptible to stains. Any type of spill should be wiped up immediately to prevent permanent damage. Coasters should always be kept handy to prevent people from placing drinks on the marble surface, as this is likely to leave rings and mar the finish.
Most marble table tops can be cleaned using a damp rag and lukewarm water, followed by wiping the surface dry with a clean, low-lint rag. In most cases of daily exposure, a marble surface shouldn’t require cleaning agents unless a spill has occurred. Marble floors, however, should be cleaned regularly with lukewarm water and wiped dry. Failing to dry the surface can leave watermarks, dulling the shine and creating a spotted appearance.
There is a wide range of commercial marble cleaners and polishers available to restore dull, unsightly marble surfaces to their original shine. Most of these cleaners work effectively, and a simple trip to your nearest store—like Kmart, Wal-Mart, or Target—will supply you with enough marble polish to last a lifetime. Marble polish is not something that needs to be applied frequently. Over-polishing will not prevent further dulling; typically, applying polish twice a year is sufficient to maintain a nice marble shine.
The marble polishes readily available in the United States are designed to enhance the shine of harder marble. These polishes tend to work very well on softer marble, which is often imported for use in the United States. In the past, marble companies sold marble care kits intended to clean and polish surfaces, but these kits required considerable effort to be effective. Thankfully, the marble care industry now offers easier-to-use products that are faster, more effective, and less expensive.
For marble surfaces that are etched or in poor condition, tin oxide can be used for restoration. Though tin oxide is not widely available, it is simple to use and can restore marble surfaces effectively. Apply the tin oxide with a damp cloth and fold it over as needed to continue cleaning and polishing the damp areas until they are dry. Using an electric buffer to polish the surface can minimize or even eliminate scratches and etches that time may leave behind.
Organic stains can be removed with a mixture of approximately 20 percent peroxide, a few drops of ammonia, and water. Apply this solution to the stain and leave it for about 24 hours. In some cases, it may be beneficial to reapply it after rinsing the area after two hours, allowing it to soak for a full 24 hours to break down the stain. The effectiveness of this method depends on how deeply set the stain is and how long it has been there.
Oil-based stains, such as those from hand lotion, butter, and other oils, can often be removed using cornstarch. Cornstarch is absorbent and can help dry up the oil. Apply the cornstarch to the stain and leave it for about 24 hours, then brush it off and reapply for a shorter period. Afterward, create a solution of detergent to work on the oil stain base. Scrubbing with a stiff brush and wiping it dry should reveal a stain-free marble surface.
Marble marred by rust stains can be cleaned with a commercial rust stain remover. However, unlike other stain removal methods, rust removers should not be left on the surface for too long, as they are very harsh and can cause damage if left on for an extended period.
Promptly wiping up spills, especially those that are acidic, is crucial to avoid staining and etching. Etching refers to the removal of the shine, rather than a gouge left behind by a scratch. Marble requires special care to maintain its unique luster and retain its value.
