Marble countertops are some of the most luxurious and elegant countertops that money can buy. With that elegance, however, comes care. You may have even heard horror stories about caring for marble in the home, but the truth is, care is minimal, you simply have to make sure that you are caring for the countertop correctly. There are many marble care products on the market, and with just a small amount of regular cleaning and care, your marble countertop will look like new for many years to come.
How to Clean a Marble Countertop
If you have just installed a marble countertop, you want to make sure that you are starting off on the right track with its care. The most important thing to remember with marble is to clean up messes immediately, especially if the substance is acidic, such as soda or orange juice, or oily, as it may absorb into the stone, permanently staining it. You also want to make sure that you clean off gritty substances from the countertop, as it may mar the seal. If you make it a habit of doing these things, you will have a great start to keep your marble looking fantastic.
Daily Marble Cleaning
Many suppliers will tell their customers that only soap and water are required for daily cleaning of marble countertops, and in most cases, they are right. However, soap can build up over time and leave a film on the surface of the countertop, which can make it look cloudy. Once this buildup is there, it is difficult to remove. In addition to this, tap water contains a variety of chemicals, including iron and calcium, which also may discolor the marble. Fortunately, there are commercial cleaners that are specifically formulated for marble, and you can use them daily.
Easy-Oxy Daily Cleaner is one option for marble cleaning, and it uses a solution of citrus and hydrogen peroxide that safely removes grease, oil and dirt. This is a green solution, so it is environmentally friendly, and since it is multi-purpose, you can also use it on other surfaces in the kitchen including tile, stone, glass, stainless steel and laminate.
Tenax Countertop Cleaner for Stone is another cleaner for daily cleaning, and in this case, it does the deep cleaning that gets into the small cracks and grooves of the marble, ensuring that nothing will cause discoloration or marring.
Polishing the Marble
In addition to daily cleaning, it is also important to polish the marble. This may sound like a taxing task, but in reality, it only takes a minute or so. There are several polishes on the market, and by using them regularly, you will find that you can achieve the “fresh from the supplier” look at all times.
Tenax Stone Polish and Rejuvenator – This is an aerosol spray that contains Petrolux, which is a patented material that brings back the original shine to the marble. There is also a similar product from Tenax in the form of a wipe, which makes the process of polishing the marble even easier.
Marble Stain Removal
Some people will tell you that stains on marble are inevitable, but this is certainly not the case. In fact, many people have marble countertops for decades without one trace of any stain. That being said, stains may occur, just as stains may occur on any countertop material from laminate to Corian and everything in between. Fortunately, there are several products available to prevent stains, and having these on hand will protect your countertop should an accident occur.
TePouch Stain Removal – This stain removal pouch is made by Tenax, and it is effective when used on a variety of stains including coffee, wine, tea, oil and grease. In addition to using this pouch on stone, you can also use it on brick and concrete. This is extremely easy to use, too; simply wet it, allow it to sit on the stain for several hours, and the stain is gone.
Tenax Brio Action Mold Remover – Though this product is formulated to remove mold from marble, but it can also remove stains on marble from foods such as coffee, oil and juice.
Marble Cleaning Tips
As you can see, as long as you clean your countertop daily and polish it when needed, your marble countertop will look like new for many years to come. To further ensure that your marble countertop lasts for decades, it is important that you remove any spills immediately, including any oil, juice, mustard, wine, tomato or citrus foods. Wipe away the spill, and then wipe the area with water. It is also important that you refrain from using any abrasive cleaners, as it can scratch the surface of the countertop.
If you are considering marble countertops, but hesitant due to the upkeep of this material, hopefully, this guide has shown you that you do not have to worry too much. In most cases, caring for marble is no different from caring for any other high-end countertop material.