A Guide to Properly Cleaning and Maintaining White Marble

When you want to transform any space into something classy, timeless and elegant, the best way to do so is to use marble as a surface covering for your benchtops, walls, floors or splashbacks. However, before you decide to install marble benchtops, you have to know that this material is prone to staining and etching. Since marble has calcium carbonate properties, it is vulnerable to marking, and it reacts with any type of acid.

So, it is important for you to learn how to clean and maintain white marble properly. It is true that it can be challenging to keep the stunning looks of this material. However, once you discover some tips on dealing with stubborn stains, the process will become a lot easier for you.

The Right Way to Clean White Marble

When cleaning white marble benchtops, you would need the following:

●        Warm water

●        Liquid dish cleaner (gentle and non-abrasive)

●        Spray bottle

●        Cleaning cloth

●        A towel that’s highly absorbent

The first step is to create the cleaning solution for your marble benchtops. Get the spray bottle and pour a good amount of warm water in it. Add a tablespoon of the liquid dish cleaner, then shake the container to create the cleaning concoction. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t use any cleaning product with acid or citric juice in its ingredients.

Lightly spray the solution onto the white marble. After that, dampen the cleaning cloth with warm water. Use the cloth to wipe the cleaning solution off the surface. The last step is using the highly absorbent towel to dry the marble benchtop.

Using a Poultice to Get Rid of Stubborn Stains

Of course, the best way to deal with stains is preventing them from happening. So, as soon as you spill any substance on white marble, you should wipe it off immediately. However, if there are certain instances where you can’t prevent stains, there are still some ways you can use to resolve your problem. For example, you can create a poultice and let it sit on the surface for a specified period of time.

What is a Poultice

A mixture of white absorbent material and liquid chemical and detergent, a poultice is a cleaning paste that draws out stains from natural stone surfaces. It is effective in removing most types of stubborn stains. However, if it cannot be done in one application, you can repeat the process to get rid of the stain. Here are the steps in using this material:

1) Create the Poultice

Dilute hydrogen peroxide, then mix it with baking soda to create a thick paste. Ideally, the final result should have the same consistency as Nutella. You might even notice the poultice starting to foam, but that’s completely normal. Remember to add some water when the poultice begins to dry up.

 

2) Apply the Poultice

Sprinkle some tap water on the stained area. After that, spread half an inch thick of poultice over the affected spot. You can use a knife or spatula to spread the poultice evenly.

 

3) Keep the Poultice on the Surface

Once you’ve spread the poultice on the white marble, cover the area with plastic, then seal it by taping the edges. Wait for around 24 to 48 hours, making sure that the poultice has completely dried on the surface. While the paste is drying, it draws the stain from the marble and into itself.

 

4) Remove the Poultice

Check if the poultice has completely dried. If so, then you can now remove it. Just take the plastic seal and gently pull the poultice off the surface of your marble benchtop. You can even use a wet cloth to clean the surface.

Polishing White Marble

One of the essential aspects of maintaining white marble is regular polishing. If you want to keep your marble benchtops’ stunning looks, you must polish them. However, there are some things you have to remember to avoid damaging the surface. Here are some tips to remember:

Choose the Right Polishing Product

As we’ve mentioned, marble is prone to etching and staining. So, it is essential that you find polishing products that are specifically designed for marble surfaces. You also have to carefully read the label since some products are made for specific colours.

Start from the Centre

When it comes to the actual process of polishing white marble, it is best to start from the centre. Doing so makes the task easier and seamless. Make sure you wet the microfibre cloth before you immerse it into the chalk powder. On the other hand, if you’re using a chemical polish, you can apply a small amount of the material in the centre of the marble and start from there.