The long-awaited installation of your dream marble kitchen counter has finally taken place, but there is a catch: how should marble be cleaned? To maintain marble kitchen counters, you don’t have to be an expert, but you need to have a solid understanding of the material you’re dealing with. Even if Uncle Pat knocks the shot glass over on himself and spills Cabernet over your white marble kitchen counter, you will still need to be able to wipe up the mess in a timely way. If you already know this, the following will help you maintain it.
What to know before cleaning
Gain an understanding of the significance of the stone that you are now holding. Picture yourself as a stone for a moment. You are the marble. Because of its increased porosity, marble is more susceptible to discolouration and etching than other types of stone, such as engineered stone (also known as “quartz”) and soapstone. Maintaining a regular cleaning and sealing routine for yours comes highly advised.
The best line of defence is an offensive strategy. It would be best to consider sealing any marble surfaces found within your home once every few months. According to the Marble Institute, marble sealants do not make the marble stain-proof; however, they allow you a little more time to clean up big stains. Marble sealants are available at most home improvement stores. If you want to use your marble in the kitchen, you should consult the person who sold you the marble to get their recommendations on the materials that work best. For places that get a lot of foot traffic, such as marble kitchen counters, side tables, or other marbled surfaces, it is smart to invest in furniture cushions and placemats.
How to perform cleaning
It is essential to do the cleaning at least once every day. A heated solution containing soap and detergent is the best option for routine cleaning and clearing up accidents as soon as they are discovered. Be sure to give it a thorough rinsing, remove any extra moisture with a towel, and gently dry the surface of your marble kitchen counter. It is essential to bear in mind that acid is the enemy of marble. Therefore it is best to keep acidic substances, such as wine and lime juice, safely from the surface. If they spill, make sure they are cared for as quickly as possible.
It is achieving victory in the battle against stains. There is always a chance, even if you fail to notice a spill (hey, red wine was spilt at a dinner party that continued until 2:00 in the morning). The Marble Institute proposes using hydrogen peroxide combined with ammonia to clean your marble kitchen counter in the event of organic food spills; however, for oil-based spills such as vinaigrette that have set in, use liquid cleansers that are based on acetone.
What to pay attention to
Etching error correction is the technique of fixing etching mistakes. If the surface of your marble kitchen counter has any wet stains, tiny scratches, or nicks, you may try polishing it using dry steel wool to get rid of the imperfections. If you accidentally left a lemon out on the counter and it ended up scratching it and leaving a stain, you may remove the stain by following the steps outlined in the section above for removing food stains. Unfortunately, it is possible that the etching will need to be polished by a professional; thus, you should be careful about where you lay your sliced lemons.