Cleaning Marble Guide
How to Clean Marble Countertops and Floor Tile
Cleaning marble is simple... but first, you have to learn it's characteristics and the right way to do it. Without the correct knowledge, you will make mistakes and cause damage. Once you learn more about marble qualities, maintenance needs and cleaning procedures and apply the recommended Marble Cleaning: Do's & Dont's, your marble will look fantastic for decades.
The Tips you find here also apply for travertine maintenance and limestone cleaning, which are in the same family as marble and have the same care and cleaning requirements.
For a complete guide to cleaning marble, travertine & limestone check out our new e-book: "Cleaning Marble Secrets".
This comprehensive manual thoroughly explains with step-by-step instructions all phases of marble maintenance: protection, cleaning, conditioning, repairing, prevention and restoration.... while also debunking many of the marble myths that get passed around the internet. Every marble countertop, shower and floor tile owner should have this valuable information to protect and prolong their investment.
Marble is gorgeous and for many nothing on the market -natural or man-made- can compare with its luxurious beauty. However, it's more sensitive to certain foods and chemicals.
Marble is a stone, of course, but it's not impervious and not nearly as hard or resistant as a granite counter top.
Marble is very durable and will last forever, however, marble cleaning and maintenance is definitely a different game than cleaning granite countertops.
Marble Stains
A common myth is that marble countertops and floors are really porous, stain easy and must be sealed. While in general that is not bad advice, it is not true in many cases and can be dead wrong. When appropriate and found to be porous by testing then applying an impregnating sealer will greatly reduce the chance for marble stains to occur.
When sealing would be beneficial, we suggest using one of these recommended impregnating sealers.
For more information go to our Marble Repair: Chips, Scratches, Stains and Etching page.
Chemical Etching
Etching is a different matter. Marble is sensitive to acidic substances and many common household cleaners, so it can "etch" (corrode and dull the surface) rather easily . . . even when sealed.
Sealing has nothing to do with etching and will not prevent etching.
The acid sensitivity is a factor you need to consider when purchasing and installing marble countertops especially in the kitchen (not recommended) where etching is most troublesome. Marble floors typically aren't as much a problem in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home.
Etching can usually be repaired by the homeowner, but it depends on several variables. You'll find further discussion of etching on the Marble Polishing & Etch Repair page along with helpful information about how a marble surface is "finished" and techniques to polish marble.
Best use of marble is for powder baths, table tops, tub surrounds, a marble shower, floor tile and stone fireplace surrounds.
Again, proper marble care & cleaning is not a big deal once you know how, but it is different than other surfaces and correct procedures are essential for maintaining your countertops and floor tile in top condition.
Here's what you need to know and do:
Read the Marble Cleaning: Do's & Dont's page to help you avoid bad habits and establish a safe method for marble cleaning.
It's important to know that cleaning marble with generic and/or most typical and brand-name household products is a common cause of marble damage.
Using only products formulated specifically for cleaning marble will save you all the hassle and headache of time-consuming and costly repairs or re-polishing. There are many marble cleaning products on the market... some are good, but many aren't worth using even if they were free....
If you have a problem...
Like staining, etching, scratches, sealing or just want to know everything A to Z about marble maintenance, then I suggest you check out our NEW ebook "Cleaning Marble Secrets"... it completely covers the topic in-depth and will answer all you question providing the simplest, low-cost solution to any cleaning or maintenance issue.
Questions & Answers about Cleaning Marble
Learn even more! Click on the links below to see common visitor questions with complete answers and great info....
White Marble Tiles Turning Gray In Shower
QUESTION: We installed sealed, white marble in our walk-in shower on the floor and walls. The bottom 1 1/2 rows of tiles on 2 walls are turning gray. …
Faded Color Marble Medallion
QUESTION: I laid a new marble medallion outside in our entryway. I sealed it with a Sealant/Enhancer.
The marble medallion has withstood the weather …
Corian Countertop Tomato Stain
QUESTION: I laid tomatoes on the Corian countertop to ripen. They left a yellow stain that I cannot remove. Tried 409, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide. …
Cleaning Marble Floor Sunscreen Spot
QUESTION: My son got sunscreen all over the marble floor. I'm finding it very difficult to clean. I tried some soap and water but it is still there. …
Granite Counter Tops Leaching Green Stains
QUESTION: I am having a problem with granite counters. We have had them for four months. Green is leaching through on edges, near seams and on top. The …
Sealing Marble Countertops & Floor Tile
QUESTION: What would you recommend for sealing caraba marble (white with light grey markings)?
ANSWER: Just to clarify... the type of stone you …
Cleaning Marble Hair Spray Build Up
QUESTION: Green marble is dulled and has dry, slightly rough touch from my wife's liberal use of hair spray.
ANSWER: Some bath and personal products …
Mr Clean Magic Eraser
Marble Countertop Damage
QUESTION: We installed honed white marble countertops. Our grown kids were visiting... got a water mark on it, and my daughter-in-law used a …
Cleaning Marble Floor Tile Dirt and Stains
QUESTION: I bought a blighted house after Hurricane Katrina. The house has a black and white marble tile floor in the kitchen. The problem is that the …
Cleaning Yellow Marble Countertop
QUESTION: How do I get yellowing out of an ivory marble countertop?
ANSWER: The solution for cleaning yellowed marble countertops depends on what …
Waxing Dull Marble Table
QUESTION: I have a marble table that Mop and Glow was put on it. We tried taking it off with Lysol and amonia and some came off and now half the table …
Remove Water Stains on Carrara Marble
QUESTION: We are getting water stains that we cannot clean off.
How do you remove water stains from Carrara marble?
ANSWER: Water stains cannot …
Marble Vanity Top Getting Cloudy
QUESTION: My marble vanity countertop in the master bedroom is getting "cloudy" and is no longer smooth to the touch. What do you reccomend to get it …
Cultured Marble Countertops Cleaning
QUESTION: Cultured Marble Countertops This is a L shaped countertop 78" x 62". Can it be stripped or sanded with electric sander and then sealed?
…
Removing Curling Iron Burn Mark from White Cultured Marble Vanity Top
QUESTION: I have a 72" all in one piece white cultured marble vanity top.
I left a hot curling iron on the countertop that burned a small …
Grouting White Marble with Black (Charcoal) Grout
QUESTION: I just installed a 12x12 marble (polished) checkerboard (white and black) tile in my laundry room. The wife wants black grout (charcoal). Will …
Cleaning Travertine Stains on Honed Bathroom Countertop
QUESTION: Our master bath has honed travertine slab countertops. They have numerous stains particularly around the sinks.
1. How do you remove stains? …
Nail Polish Remover On White Marble
QUESTION: How do I remove nail polish remover? Marble is white.
ANSWER: Nail polish remover is usually acetone (which does not damage or stain marble) …
Water Under Marble Shower Floor Tile
QUESTION: Lysol 4 in 1 was used on our tumbled marble shower (this is dull not shiny marble) a few times. Recently we noticed in certain parts of the …
Sealing Carrara Marble
QUESTION: What is the best sealer for Carrara marble kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity and for shower tile?
ANSWER: You have a couple issues …
Cleaning Marble & Travertine Shower Solutions
QUESTION: How do I clean honed marble counter tops and travertine shower?
ANSWER: Cleaning marble counter tops and a travertine shower is simple. …
Cleaning Marble Juice Stains
QUESTION: Help! My son spilled orange juice on the marble countertop surface, and it stained...what can I do??? Thank you!
ANSWER: Cleaning marble …
Cleaning Marble Floor Stain & Dullness
QUESTION: Hi, my son poured something all over my bathroom marble floor. I cleaned it up immediately but maybe not well enough. I have these dull spots …
Algae Circling My Marble Sink's Drain
QUESTION: The marble sink (very light colored with golden swirls) in my bathroom has serious etching damage around the drain hole.
The faucet has …
Slippery Marble Shower Floor
QUESTION: The marble shower floor has become slippery, can this be fixed? Yes, it is definitely marble and not a laminate.
ANSWER: Well, if it has …
Cleaning Marble Tile Shower Mildew
QUESTION I have a marble tile shower with a big mold and mildew problem. The flooring of the stall is tumbled marble and is dull in color. The walls …
New Marble Floor Tile Turns Green
QUESTION: We recently had new marble floor tiles installed.
After about two months some of the marble tiles developed green stains on the surface. …
How To Clean & Shine A Large Marble Floor
QUESTION: I work for a hospital. The traffic area where this floor is is by the public elevators. Off the shelf product are not allowed to be purchased …
Hazy Film On New Marble Floor
QUESTION: We just has a marble (natural polished stone) floor & tub surround installed in our bathroom.
There is a haze on the tile from the install …
Cleaning Marble Floor Wax & Dirty Grout
QUESTION: In our kitchen and living area is a white to cream colored marble floor tile with a wood inlaid border which is again inlaid with brass.
…
Dyeing Marble Tile
QUESTION: I'm looking for colored marble tiles to create a flower mosaic for our marble floor design, but can we dye our whitish marble after we cut …
Cleaning Hard Water Stains On Marble and Granite
QUESTION: Please advise tips to remove hard water stains on marble and granite countertops as I am facing a severe problem. I am unable to use …
Honed Marble Countertop Cleaning
QUESTION: My bathroom and kitchen countertops are honed marble. I'm just not sure how to protect them from stains and water spots or what cleaners to …
Water Ring Marks On Kitchen Marble Tile
QUESTION: I chose marble tile for our kitchen countertop in our new home. We love the looks of the marble and the beauty of it.
However, we now have …
Marble Rust Stain Removal
QUESTION: I have tried every product out there to remove these brown rust stains. Also, plastic coverings over lumps of product on the rust stain for …
Cleaning Marble Fireplace Damage
QUESTION: We have a historic house in Baltimore city with a white marble fireplace mantel and surround stained by smoke.
What is the best way to …
How To Remove Glue From Marble
QUESTION: How do I remove glue from a marble table top?
ANSWER:
A razor blade will take the glue off your marble table top. Buy a new, sharp …
Cultured Marble Shower
QUESTION: I have just learned that my badly stained shower floor is Romastone man-made marble. Will stain remover made for marble clean this up? Any …
Marble Vanity Top Water Spots
QUESTION: I have a polished marble vanity top in my guest bath and honed marble countertops in my kitchen.
I have a lot water spots that I can't …
