Marble Care

Many people have dreamt for years about the time when they could afford to have marble as a decorative element in their homes. Whether it was floors walls or countertops, to them marble is sophisticated and upscale. One of the problems that presents itself with the introduction of marble is its special maintenance needs.

Walls,  floors and countertops should always be sealed and depending on traffic or use of these surfaces, keeping it sealed is a must.

Because marble is a porous material, it is easy to stain. With the introduction of sealers, the staining aspect has been minimized. However, sealing is not 100 percent and diligence is required, if you do not want your marble to become stained and discolored.
Always use the sealer, impregnator and the directions provided by the retailer of your marble. Get instructions in writing, just in case you have to make claim in the future.

Please be aware that acids from fruits, and chemicals, oils and super glues can damage the shine on your floor, wall or countertop. Although, the shine can be damaged, there is hope. Many fabricator technicians can visit your home or place of business and buff the shine right back into your marble.

Some say honed (matte finish)  marble is a better choice over shiny. The reason some may prefer it is because the blotches and dullness present on shiny marble isn’t visible here. But, I disagree, because if the honed marble is stained, what you end up with is darker blotches on a lighter material. You are right back where you were with shiny.
Cleaning is essential for the upkeep of marble. Before you do any cleaning, always remove any visible particle from the surface. The use of an antibacterial or ph balanced cleaner should be all that is required for maintenance.  Again, use the cleaners suggested by your retailer. If you are going to use cleaners from around the home, keep it simple. Use only clear dish washing liquid and lots of clean warm water.
The cleaning  principle should be the same for the floor, wall or countertop. It is customary for people to leave the soapy discolored water on the surface before it is rinsed away. But, this common practice should be discontinued, if you are ever going to keep your natural stone surfaces looking bright and clean.  To clean the floor always use two mops and two buckets; one with clean rinse water and the other with the cleaning solution. Change the rinse water often, and at times refresh the solution bucket  and mop as well, and only clean small areas at a time. This way no discolored water is allowed to soak into the tile or grout. Continue to clean in this manner and discolorations and blurry surfaces will be issues of the past.