Marble is a common choice in Texas households for all sorts of items – floors, countertops, bathtubs, fireplaces, and more. It looks beautiful and feels very hard, but in reality it’s actually a very soft material and must be treated with great care. Read on for some great tips from It’s Cleaning Time, your ATX maid service, for keeping the marble in your home clean and beautiful.
Many people think that marble and granite are essentially the same and can therefore be cleaned in the same way, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Marble is a form of limestone that has been created through great heat and pressue, and it can further be altered (read:damaged) by additional heat and pressure, as well as acidity. For this reason, you should never use vinegar or cleaning products with acidic ingredients such as lemon on marble!
On a regular basis, marble needs only the lightest of touches. For a marble floor, simply dust mop on the daily, or mop with plain hot water and then dry if you need to remove a few marks or scuffs. For other surfaces, such as marble counters, clean with plain water and hot cloth on a regular basis, then dry. Marble is very prone to water spots and should never be left to air dry if you want to keep it looking nice!
If you need to do a deeper clean, it’s a good idea to use a ph-neutral liquid dish soap and water. Alternatively, you can mix a little ammonia and water together, purchase a non-abrasive marble cleaner from a store (be sure to read reviews or get professional advice first), or use a little acetone (for dark-colored marble only) or hydrogen peroxide (for light marble). Apply the latter two options with a cotton ball. Always rinse thoroughly with clear water and then dry. If there’s residue left behind, it can make your surface slippery or sticky. For tough stains, make a paste (about the consistency of peanut butter) with a fine powder, such baking soda. If your stain is oil-based, combine the powder with water or rubbing alcohol; for water-based stains, use acetone or hydrogen peroxide (remembering the color difference mentioned above!). Once your paste is ready, wet the stain and apply the paste, then tape plastic wrap over the area and let dry for at least a day. Once the mixture is dry, wash away with water.
If you’re looking to polish your marble and make your clean Austin home shine, the easiest way is to dampen the surface and then buff dry with a chamois cloth. Otherwise, you can mix one quart of water and three tablespoons of baking soda, wipe your marble with the mixture, and let it air dry. Next, crush up a few pieces of chalk. Dampen a clean, soft cloth and dip it in the chalk dust, then use the cloth to wipe away the baking soda mixture. Rinse and dry.
The best way to protect your marble on the daily is to blot (not wipe or rub) food and drink spills immediately – this is especially important for acidic things, such as wine, coffee, tea, soda, tomatoes, and citrus fruit and juice. Use trivets under anything hot and use ceramic or stone dishes instead of metal to avoid rust stains. Place a tray or mat under bathroom things that may drip, such as lotion, aftershave, and hairspray. Remove shoes and employ rugs and furniture pads to protect marble floors.
Following these simple steps will make your marble beautiful and long-lasting. For all your home-cleaning needs in the Austin area, be sure to contact It’s Cleaning Time!
