How to Clean Marble Countertops

Marble along with granite was used thousands of years ago by ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Nature has given us a precious, yet pricy stone to have in our society polished and shiny used for bathroom and kitchen countertops, walls, and floors.

How to Clean Marble Countertops with its beautiful patterns and designs created by weather, time, and pressure makes it durable, yet sensitive. Because of this, it is critical to protect your investment for years to come. Cleaning is accomplished with non-scratching methods for stains and other types of markings.

Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite. Marble may be foliated. In geology, the term marble refers to changed limestone.

Being very sensitive to acids, it means you cannot splash lemon juice or vinegar to it that will cause spotting or etching.

1. How to Clean Marble Kitchens and Bathes

Cleaning marble is trouble-free and undemanding. Along with its beautiful luster, this is another reason it is so well-liked. Stay away from products with acids. There are marble cleaners that are not abrasive made especially for marble. Always read the label to be certain you will not damage your stone.

You can save money using plain dish detergent and warm water, rinse, towel dry, and buff.

I happen to like this cleaner/sealer combination for my black marble countertops in the kitchen and my bathroom.

GRANITE PLUS! 2-in-1 cleaner and sealer is made for granite, marble, travertine, and limestone. It will give your marble countertops a streak-free clean with a neutral pH meaning non-acidic and is hypoallergenic.

With its built-in sealer, it makes surfaces even easier to clean to protect against stains such as coffee, oil, wine, peanut butter, beets, and kids. And, it’s made in the USA!

2. How to Remove Stains From Marble Countertops

Removing stains from marble can be problematic where a simple detergent and water wipe-down will do mostly. First know what the stain is. The sooner you get it off the easier you can remove it.

Never ever mix cleaning chemicals together such as bleach and ammonia for other cleaning chores. The fumes are lethal!

First try the product in a not easily seen area to see if it does not harm your marble. You should always wear protective glasses that wrap around your eyes and rubber gloves. Be sure your room is well-ventilated using fans and opening windows and doors.

How to Clean a Marble Countertop with Rachael Ray video.

3. Products to Use on Marble

I would not use soft liquid cleansers. They are still too abrasive for marble and will scratch it.

• Acetone (Nail Polish Remover)
• Ammonia
• Bleach
• Flour +
• Hydrogen Peroxide Solution 12% or 20%
• Lacquer Thinner
• Mineral Spirits

4. How to Remove Oil-Based Stains From Marble Countertops

For oil-based stains such as milk, cream, butter, cooking oils, salad dressings, and even makeup that will darken the marble must be removed using chemicals. Try soap and water first and if that doesn’t work use ammonia, acetone, bleach, or mineral spirits.

5. How to Remove Organic Stains From Marble Countertops

Use 12% hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of ammonia to remove coffee, tea, beets, wine, fruit, tobacco, newspaper ink, and other food stains that will usually be a pink-brown color. Rub over the stain using a clean white cotton cloth. White lets you can see the color on the cloth. Rinse with cool water and towel dry.

6. How to Remove Biological Stains From Marble Countertops

These stains will be from mildew or mold and even dead spiders and bugs. Use 3 parts of chlorine bleach with 1 part water and a few drops of dish detergent. Put into a spray bottle and mist the surface meticulously. Do this as many times as need be until the stain is gone using a clean white cotton cloth or towel. Rinse with cool water and towel dry.

7. How to Remove Ink Stains From Marble Countertops

Ink can be troublesome. You might not see it on dark stone but rubbing your hand on it will transfer it to your skin.

When your kids or you have been doodling or drawing with ink, watercolors, or permanent flair markers, you can have an ugly mess. So let’s get it off. Put acetone on a corner of a clean cotton towel or cotton ball and rub in circular motions to the area.

If your marble is light colored, use a 20% hydrogen peroxide solution. Have a wet sponge or cotton cloth with you to wipe off the area after the stain is gone.

For larger areas of ink stain use flour and peroxide to make a paste. Measure a fourth-cup or half-cup of flour in a bowl. If you have dark marble, use acetone with the flour. If your marble is light, use 20% hydrogen peroxide with the flour to make a paste.

Apply it with your hand or a plastic spatula. Cover with plastic wrap and press down and tape. Poke holes in the wrap with a fork or toothpick. Let it dry for 24-hours.

Remove the plastic wrap and let it dry further. After totally dry, remove the flour paste and wash with detergent and water, rinse, and towel dry.

Continue with the paste if not completely removed the first time around.

8. How to Remove Water Spots and Rings From Marble Countertops

This type spot might be the most difficult to remove. Rub rings, water spots or other drink spots with a dry 0000-rated steel wool pad. I don’t like using steel wool, which is metal that can leave scratches. After doing so, you might need to have your marble repolished by the professionals.

Use solid coasters for drinks from now on and not those made of cloth or textiles. Buy something hefty. If you live in a humid climate your drinks will have condensation and this type coaster keeps it in the coaster and not on your marble. You could put a napkin on top of the coaster to collect all the condensation as well.

Enjoy your perfectly clean marble with little to no effort for priceless luster and shine. Remember that marble is much more susceptible than granite to acids like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce, sodas, toiletries, and cleaning products that can stain or etch (dull) the surface finish.