Marble has traditionally been one of the most commonly selected and highly appreciated materials for accent items in a home’s design. When properly maintained, marble surfaces give beauty and grace to their surroundings and may last a lifetime. Marble is quite porous and easily stained or scratched, despite its apparent toughness and durability. This lovely natural stone readily absorbs liquids, leaving unsightly stains on the delicate surface, even when polished and sealed correctly. Therefore, to maintain the stunning appearance and feel of marble surfaces for an extended period of time, you must understand how to quickly and efficiently remove any unwanted stains.
How to Remove Marble Stains
The longer a stain remains, the more difficult it is to remove. So, we recommend taking prompt and appropriate action if you discover a stain on a marble surface in your house. Bear in mind, however, that various types of stains need different types of treatment to remove the stains as marble is more porous than other common countertop materials.
How to Clean a Spill on a Marble Surface
Any spills on a marble surface must be wiped promptly to avoid damage. Absorb the liquid using a paper towel – gently wipe the surface in circular movements, moving from the spill’s edge inward. Then, wash and thoroughly rinse the spill area using a few drops of a mild cleaning solution in a gallon of warm water. Using a soft towel, wipe the surface dry and repeat the cleaning procedure if necessary. Having said that, if your marble floor/surface is darker in colour, you will need to be more cautious with the specific marble cleaning products, as they may lighten the colour of the marble.
How to Clean Marble Surfaces from Oil-Based Stains
Oil-based stains are caused by many things you have in your home: cooking oil, grease, milk, butter, fat, cream lotion, etc. This oily liquid can enter the porous nature of the marble and create lasting stains that usually appear to be light brown or yellow and discolour the stone’s surface.
In order to effectively remove the discolouration, you must first extract the marble’s oil. Corn starch can remove oil-based stains and grease from marble if the stain hasn’t penetrated too deeply. Clean the area first with a mild liquid cleaner diluted with a few drops of ammonia or acetone. Rinse with warm water, dry thoroughly, and repeat if necessary.
How to Disinfect Marble Surfaces with Organic Stains
Coffee, tea, wine, meats, and other organic substances all leave stains that range in hue from pink to brown and are reasonably simple to remove. Spot clean the stained area with a few drops of ammonia and 12 per cent hydrogen peroxide. However, caution should be used when employing this approach on darker stones since the hydrogen peroxide may cause the marble to lighten in colour.
Effective marble stain removal demands quick and appropriate action.
To remove stains from marble properly, you must first pull them out of the natural stone surfaces.
How to Clean Marble Surfaces of Soot and Smoke Damage
Having a marble fireplace is a lovely addition. While fireplaces have been around for hundreds of years, they’ve been used to create a focal point in space.
Despite its durability, marble is vulnerable to discolouration, especially from acidic substances. As a result, it must be cleaned regularly, and any spills must be cleaned as soon as they occur.
Deep cleaning and maintenance are essential to restore the original beauty and sheen of smoke or fire-scarred marble surfaces. However, soot accumulation is readily cleaned with soapy water or baking soda. If the black stain remains evident after flushing the area, apply a poultice and leave it on for 24 hours before rinsing thoroughly with warm water.
Buffing restores the sheen to the marble surface. This may need the expertise of a competent stonemason.
How to Clean Marble Surfaces from Soap Scum
Soap scum accumulates inside the gaps and pores of the marble, rapidly colouring the surfaces. As a result, shower walls, bathroom floors and vanities, or any other marble surfaces that come into contact with soapy water should be cleaned regularly. Fortunately, removing soap scum stains from marble is pretty simple—just mix half a cup of ammonia with a gallon of water and wash the surfaces clean. However, avoid using too much ammonia since it could damage the marble surface.
Getting Rid of Rust Stains on Marble Surfaces
Metal furniture, flower pots, cans, screws, and nails, among other things, can discolour and promote rust accumulation on polished marble surfaces. Bronze, copper, or brass objects embedded in marble may also leave extremely difficult-to-remove greenish or muddy-brown metal stains.
A homemade poultice works on almost all stains. It’s a peanut butter-like paste that’s been placed on the stain. Then it’s covered in plastic and set aside for 24–48 hours. Typically, the poultice will take the stain away from marble countertops or other surfaces.
How to Clean Marble Surfaces from Ink and Paint Stains
When dealing with ink stains, you’ll need a cotton swab and some liquid cleaning solution. Acetone is a good liquid cleaning chemical for dark-coloured natural stone surfaces. Use 20% hydrogen peroxide on light-coloured surfaces. Immediately after the stain is cleared, use a wet sponge or soft cloth to wipe away the cleaning agent. Working one inch at a time, dab the ink stain with a swab dipped in the cleaning solution. The moist cloth or sponge should be used to wipe the natural stone between portions to avoid the cleaning agent from lingering on the surface for too long and causing damage. To lessen the ink mark further, repeat the technique, working approximately an inch at a time. Once the whole area has been cleaned, use a clean, soft sponge, devoid of soap, saturated with water to remove the cleaning agent residue. Over-wetting and pooling may harm your countertop and promote build-up, so use a squeegee to wick away excess moisture. Substitute distilled water for your tap water if you are worried about marble markings.
How to Get Rid of Etch Marks on Marble
Typically, lemon juice, vinegar, and other acids might be responsible for the “watermarks.” Like in limestone and travertine, the calcium carbonate in marble (and similar natural stone) dissolves in acid. While a sealer aids in stain prevention, it does nothing to prevent acid etching.
To eliminate water rings, use dry steel wool to buff the marble surface.
The majority of acidic fluids scratch as well as discolour the marble surface. Remove the discolouration first (with a poultice), then soak the afflicted area with clean water and sprinkle marble polishing powder over it. With a moist cloth or a polishing pad, rub the powder onto the stone (with a low-speed power drill). It may take some time and effort to remove the etch mark and restore the lustre to the marble surface.
To remove stains from marble, you may also use corn starch (particularly on grease stains), hydrogen peroxide pads (on lighter stones), or rubbing alcohol spray, although applying marble poultice is the most effective method.
Steps of making and using marble poultice
A poultice should be used to remove stains from marble surfaces. Indeed, it is a mixture of a liquid cleanser or chemical and a white absorbent ingredient that has the consistency of sour cream or peanut butter.
Conclusion
Marble stains are notoriously difficult to remove entirely.
Using the appropriate marble cleaning products or with the help of a professional marble cleaner is the right solution for you to consider. The cleaner specialist can restore the look of your marble surfaces.
