There is no doubt that marble is a beautiful and durable stone for worktops. But due to its porous surface, this material is prone to staining and scratches.
Since marble is composed of calcium carbonate, the material is even susceptible to etching by any acids. Compared to granite, marble is more porous and softer, and thus, it gets more pitting, scratches, stains and dullness on the surface.
Due to all these reasons, many people are often scared of installing marble in your bathroom or kitchen.
Moreover, the acid eats off its surface due to the presence of calcium carbonate that reacts to acids. It means that even a drop of lemon juice or spilling of margarita glass can leave a subtle mark on its surface.
Therefore, it needs extra care and maintenance for keeping the surface shiny and clean.
Is Marble Hard to Clean?
Just because of the etching issue, many people think that it’s not easy to clean the marble surface. But if you be a little careful, there’s not much hassle in cleaning marble.
However, it would help if you stayed away from the standard and acidic worktop cleaners that may contain lemon juice or vinegar.
Instead, choose cleansers specifically designed for cleaning marble surfaces. These cleaners are very gentle on the marble worktops while quickly retaining their shine and enhancing natural beauty.
Daily Care
The splashed of acidic drinks, and food items like citrus fruits, tomatoes, sodas, wine, coffee, vinegar, and fruit juice can damage the surface of the marble.
So, when using marble worktops for preparing food, you must immediately wipe off its surface.
It is also a great idea to put a protective sheet like a plastic or silicone sheet on the surface when working on a marble countertop. You may even use a large chopping board for doing the preparation work on the counter.
While the marble surface is tolerant to heat and won’t be impacted by hot pots and pans, always make sure to put a trivet or hot pads on its surface before placing hot utensils.
Also, clean the counter immediately after preparing each meal so that no liquid spills can absorb into the surface.
Cleaning
Dust the marble surface once a week using a soft microfiber cloth. Also, use a damp cloth with a pH-neutral cleaner for wet cleaning of the surface.
You must also consult the worktop company for any recommendations. You may even use mild dish soap and water for cleaning the surface.
Put this mild soap cleaner in a spray bottle, spray it on the counter and wipe off the surface with a damp cloth.
Again rinse the towel and wipe the area until all the suds are gone. Lastly, buff dries the surface using a soft towel.
DON’Ts for Cleaning Marble
- Don’t Seal Its Surface Frequently: Don’t seal the surface of marble often. Some natural stone surfaces don’t even require sealing. Always be assured of the type of marble being used on the counters. The type of marble that needs sealing also won’t require frequently sealing because marble can’t absorb the sealant in excessive amount. Frequent cleaning will create an unpleasant appearance of the thick coat on the surface.
- Don’t Leave Marble Surface Wet: Since the marble surface is porous, it can easily absorb liquids. The more you move the surface wet; more are the chances of water getting deeper into the surface, leading to dull and sticky appearance. So, it’s best to leave the surface dry.
- Don’t Use Anti-Scaling Cleaning Agents: Marble worktops are very sensitive. So, it’s not wise to use anti-scaling agents for cleaning it, as these agents could cause dullness on the surface.
Regular Maintenance
Only seal the marble worktops if the manufacturer recommends it. It is best to consult the professional worktop fabricator for doing the job right.
Sealing, if essential, can prevent staining and damage the surface while making the countertop looking visually-appealing. However, there are marble surfaces that don’t even need sealing.
So, it’s best to consult the manufacturer before getting it resealed.
Conclusion
Marble is a versatile and durable worktop material. However, you need to do regular care and maintenance of its surface to make it last longer – sometimes up to a lifetime or even more.
Always use specifically designed marble cleaners for cleaning its surface to maintain its shine and natural beauty for a longer duration.
