Marble countertops have been popular for many years now. But despite the luxurious, natural, and tough look – it is crucial to know how to care for marble countertops properly.
Use mild soap and warm water to maintain the appearance of your marble countertops. Then, wipe it using a soft cloth or sponge to remove accumulated dirt. You can use a spray sealant at least once a month to protect the marble countertop from strain and etching.
Proper care for marble countertops is not as expensive as some people think. You can use whichever mild soap is available at your home. But it takes extra care for cleaning and maintenance if you want it to look new and suitable for a long time.
How To Properly Care For Marble Countertops?
Your marble countertops are probably one of the busiest places in your kitchen. It is where you put the dishes and pots. So, you need to take several measures to safeguard and preserve the natural characteristics of the marble.
1.Apply A Good Sealant
Marble is one of the most porous of stones, so you must keep it sealed to protect its surface. You can buy and apply a sealant with whatever finish you have on your marble countertop.
The two most prevalent marble finishes are polished for a high-gloss finish and honed for a softer matte finish. Almost 90% of marble kitchen surfaces are honed, which doesn’t show scratches as much as a polished surface. However, it makes the marble more prone to stains.
It’s easy to use a protective sealant. Just make sure that the surface is clean and dry before applying the sealant. Stone sealants are widely available in different hardware and depot stores. The sealer should last approximately a year before it needs another application.
2.Daily Cleaning With Extra Care
Keep the sealant effective by wiping and cleaning your countertop with a nonabrasive cloth or sponge. Make sure to only use a mild soap and water for your daily cleaning. Then, clear spilled food as soon as possible, before it soaks in and causes a stain or discoloration. Red wine and coffee-cup rings are famous culprits so that coasters might assist. Stain from food can happen overnight, even if you apply a protective sealant.
Some people would ask, “Why does my marble countertop already look horrible only three months after it was installed“? There are different possibilities for the dullness of marble countertops. The most common reason is a poor job in maintaining the marble. The second reason is the cleaners that you might be using. If it’s something abrasive, you’re stripping away the sealant and leaving the stone wide open to stains.”
However, stains aren’t the only issue for marble countertops. It’s because this stone is prone to etching, which reverses the formation of dull markings on the surface. It is the result of frequent contact with acidic substances. Do you use lemon juice or vinegar when cooking? Do you cut tomatoes on your marble countertops? Then, these acids can lead to etching marks that are hard to remove. It requires more vigorous treatment.
3.Proper Removal of Stains and Etching
Speaking of stains and etching, how can you remove it once it starts appearing on your marble countertops? You’ll need to take more forceful action if washing with mild soap and water doesn’t work.
Upgrade to a cleanser with bleach, such as Soft Scrub or Ajax. Then, apply it using an abrasive sponge. It will remove the sealant, but you should try to accomplish it if the marble becomes “etched.” Once you remove the sealant, you can scrub down the stain, and the marble will appear brighter.
Then, you must clean the rest of the counter in the same manner. Clean it and let it dry completely for several days. Once you remove all the accumulated dirt and etching, pour the penetrating sealant over a dry surface. Apply it with a soft cloth.
4.Vanquish Stubborn Stains
You can use an electric sander and some diluted bleach to remove hard-to-remove stains on your marble countertops. Expect staining and etching as the years go by. We can never be perfect with cleaning our countertops, and it’s okay. It will always happen, and you have to accept it.
Here are some of the most common stubborn stains that could happen to your marble countertops.
Oil-Based Stains
An oil-based stain can discolor the stone, such as grease, cooking oil, milk, or cosmetics. Thus, it will require chemical treatment to remove it properly. Instead, you can try cleaning it with a gentle, liquid cleanser that contains bleach, ammonia, mineral spirits, or acetone.
Organic Stains
Use hydrogen peroxide solution with a few drops of ammonia to remove coffee, tea, wine, fruit, tobacco, paper, and most other food stains. Organic stains often result in pinkish-brown in color.
Biological Stains
In a spray bottle, combine three parts household bleach, one part water, and a dash of dishwashing detergent. This liquid solution combats mildew stains. Mist the stained area thoroughly with water and repeat the process until the stain is gone. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and pat dry.
Ink Stains
Dip a cotton swab in acetone and apply directly to the inked surface to remove the stains from dark-colored marble countertops. On the other hand, use a 20% hydrogen peroxide solution for lighter-colored stones. After clearing the stain, keep a soft cloth or sponge to wash away the cleaning agent as soon as possible.
If you’re unsure or can’t get stubborn stains off your marble countertops, it’s best to hire a marble refinisher. These experts can clean it professionally with sophisticated grinders and possibly fine-grit sandpaper.
5.Protect Your Marble Countertops
By using a spray sealant at least once a month, you can protect your marble from stains and etching. In addition, it will help in avoiding damage to your marble countertops. But it doesn’t mean that you don’t have to wipe the spills right away. The season will provide protection and only give you a little more time to mop before the staining begins.
Proper Marble Countertops Maintenance
Natural stones, including marbles, are a gift from mother nature. It is a popular kitchen and bathroom countertop material that requires regular maintenance. The price of this stone is expensive, so it is crucial to protect your investment by caring for marble correctly. So, here are some tips for daily, weekly, and regular maintenance for marble countertops.
Daily Care
Acidic foods and beverages can stain the marble, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, sodas, coffee, wine, fruit juice, and even vinegar. These are common ingredients that you add to your daily meals.
If you’re preparing meals on a marble countertop, you’ll need to clean up spills right away. When working on a marble countertop, it’s a good idea to use a protective sheet, such as silicone or plastic. Alternatively, prepare your food on a big cutting board. But make sure that the juices of citrus fruits don’t spill from the cutting board.
Marble countertops are resistant to heat from pots and pans but always use a trivet. When serving on a marble countertop, use placemats and coasters under plates and glasses. Before moving on to other duties, clean the countertop immediately after each meal.
Weekly Cleaning
Clean the marble countertops with a soft microfiber cloth at least once a week. You can do wet cleaning with a damp cloth and a pH-neutral stone cleaner. If you are not sure, check with your countertop provider for suggestions. As mentioned, it’s safe to use mild dish soap and warm water for wiping and cleaning the marble countertops.
Regular cleaning agents can scratch the stone surface over time, so avoid them. It includes vinegar, bleach, ammonia, lemon juice, oranges, and other citrus foods. Never use abrasive cleaners on the finish since they will harm and dull it. Instead, ensure you have the right cleaning supplies on hand and store all your vinegar in a locked cabinet.
Regular Maintenance
Seal the marble countertops regularly. When water splashes on the surface and does not bead up, reseal the marble. Sealing the marble countertops will help prevent stains and damage and keep them looking great.
However, some marble surfaces do not require sealing, so double-check to ensure you’re not using sealers that will merely sit on the surface. Instead, look for a marble polishing powder for light etching. Then, treat the stains according to the cause of the stain.
The Importance Of Marble Countertops Care
Because marble is such a costly stone, it is critical to protect your investment by properly caring for it. First, maintain the appearance of your marble countertops by cleaning them with mild soap and warm water. Then, using a soft cloth or sponge, wipe away any filth that has gathered. Finally, to protect the marble countertop from etching and strain, use a spray sealer at least once a month.
Do you want to know how to care for granite countertops? Check it out here.
Contact a marble refinisher if you’re unsure or can’t get stubborn stains off your marble countertops. We have experts who can clean it professionally. Let us help you maintain the elegant looks of your marble countertops.
Quintal’s Granite & Marble Inc.
408-295-8233
1775 Monterey Rd #64a, San Jose, CA 95112, United States
