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How to Clean Marble Countertops and Floors

Marble is often a highly sought design material, thanks in part to its classic beauty. However, this stone doesn’t come cheap and requires special care to prevent damage or premature wear and tear.

Learn how to clean the marble in your kitchen — and find out which materials are safe to use — so you can do your best to keep countertops and floors looking great for years to come.
 

First, Some Notes on Cleaning Marble

When you’re trying to figure out how to clean marble countertops and floors, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind:
 
  1. You’ll want to check your manufacturer’s instructions and warranty to make certain you’re not required to use specific products when cleaning marble countertops or floors. The last thing you want to do is void your warranty.
  2. Acidic cleaners — like vinegar, lemon juice or citrus-based cleansers — should never be used on marble surfaces (or any stone for that matter). The acidity can cause irreparable damage to your countertops or floors.
 

How to Clean Marble Floors

Because marble is a porous stone, you want to use a cleaning solution that is gentle and pH-neutral so you don’t damage the finish. There are special marble cleaners available for sale online and in stores.

However, marble can often be washed using nothing but warm water and a soft mop that won’t scratch your surfaces. Just be certain to dry the floors thoroughly afterwards so that you don’t inadvertently create any water marks. You can do this using a large microfiber towel wrapped around the end of a dry mop.

If your floors have started to look dingy, you can use a simple cleaning solution, as long as it’s pH-neutral.

You’ll need:
 
  • Ammonia or a gentle dishwashing liquid
  • A mop
  • A bucket of warm water
  • A large microfiber towel
 
  1. Mix one-fourth to one-half cup of ammonia or dishwashing liquid in a bucket holding at least one gallon of warm water.
  2. Dip your mop into the solution and wring it out. You want to get rid of as much excess liquid as possible to try to prevent water marks or stains.
  3. Mop the floor, rinsing and wringing the mop regularly. Note: Your mop may have a scraper feature for sticky spots. Do not use this on marble surfaces.
  4. Dry the marble using a large microfiber towel immediately after you finish mopping. This will lessen the chances of water stains developing.
 

How to Clean Marble Countertops

When it comes to daily cleaning, you can use warm water and a microfiber cloth to wash marble countertops. Don’t forget to dry the counter with a fresh microfiber cloth after you wipe it down to avoid water stains. Additionally, any spills that occur on marble countertops should be addressed immediately.

If you need to do a more thorough cleaning of your counters, you can use basic kitchen supplies to get the job done.

You’ll need:
  
  1. Mix one-fourth to one-half cup dishwashing liquid in a bucket holding at least 1 gallon of warm water.
  2. Lightly dampen your microfiber cloth with the solution. Remember, too much water can stain marble surfaces.
  3. Wipe down your countertops making sure to rinse and wring out the microfiber cloth regularly.
  4. If you come across stuck-on gunk, wrap your cloth around a plastic spatula and gently (oh so gently) apply pressure until the residue is gone.
  5. Dry the countertops with a fresh microfiber cloth as soon as you’ve finished cleaning them. This will help prevent water marks.
 

How to Remove Stains from Marble

Regular stain removers won’t work here, so don’t go running for bleach or even oxygenated bleach. You’ll only end up causing further damage to your countertops or floors.

The method you’ll use to clean stained marble will depend on what substance caused the discoloration in the first place. Because of this, it’s best to go straight to the manufacturer’s recommendations to see what they suggest in terms of products and processes.

As you can see, there’s not much to keeping marble countertops and floors clean. But when you lead a busy life, even the smaller tasks can seem overwhelming. If you’re having trouble finding the time to maintain your daily housekeeping routine, contact your local Merry Maids for some professional backup.
 

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