Under intense heat and pressure in the earth’s core, limestone breaks down and reforms into marble, which gets its beautiful appearance from the way the limestone recrystallizes. Marble Cleaning And Polishing is a must go for a better living style. Ultimate Finish Stone, Tile & Grout Inc. deals with all kinds of marbles. Despite the enormous forces at work creating it, marble can be surprisingly fragile. Because it’s formed from high-alkali minerals, it’s very susceptible to acid.
Even spilling some cranberry sauce on an unprotected marble surface can cause it to corrode. Surface corrosion eats away at marble’s smooth surface and forms what’s known as an “etch.” This might look like a stain that doesn’t shift no matter how you scrub it, but a good way to tell the difference is to remember that stains are darker than the original color, whereas etches are lighter.
That’s because the etch hasn’t soaked into the surface of the marble but removed it. Etches are also easier to spot at an angle or under oblique lighting, whereas stains usually look the same no matter how you approach them. Getting etches in your marble doesn’t mean it’s ruined forever. You can buy stone cleaning powder, buff out minor etches and scratches, or call a professional to refinish your floor if the damage is very deep. The best way to keep your marble looking pristine is damage prevention.
Best cleaning equipment for marble
Keep your marble floors clean and scratch-free by using the right equipment for the job. Avoid anything rough or sharp that can damage the marble’s sensitive surface. Soft materials such as chamois cloths and dust mops will protect your marble better than abrasive brushes and sponges. Dry erasers are particularly inadvisable because they work by abrading surfaces to clean them. Never use vinegar, lemon juice, or other acidic cleaners on marble. Stick with alkali cleaning solutions such as ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, or neutral water to prevent the marble from reacting or etching.
Before you begin
Remember to keep your marble floor’s color and exact makeup in mind when choosing cleaning solutions. Strong alkalis such as hydrogen peroxide and ammonia can bleach dark marble. Always test any cleaner on an inconspicuous area first. Whenever you think of Marble Cleaning And Polishing, begin with a neutral solution such as water or a pH-balanced marble cleaner, and only use stronger solutions if absolutely necessary. When you’ve finished cleaning your marble floor, always flush the area with plain water to neutralize the pH of any residual chemicals, and dry thoroughly afterward.
How to clean a marble floor
- Start cleaning your marble floors by preparing the surface thoroughly.
- Remove any dust or dirt carefully using a clean, dry cloth, or a soft dust mop.
- Don’t drag the cloth or brush hard across the surface or you run the risk of creating scratches on your floor.
- Even sand can scratch unfinished marble, so imagine the damage a small pebble could do.
- Make sure to pay particular attention to corners, doorways, and other places where dust and dirt can accumulate.
- Try to always brush in one direction to minimize the impact on your floor.
- Follow the sweeping by mopping the floor to remove any final traces of dust and dirt.
- You can use plain water for this, or a more thorough clean look for a gentle, non-acidic cleaner designed for use on marble surfaces.
- If the mop water becomes discolored, change it to prevent smearing dirt across your clean floor.
- To clean the floor, use a diluted ammonia solution. Make a solution of 0.5-cup ammonia to 1 gallon of warm water.
- Remember ammonia has a strong odor and should only be used in well-ventilated areas. Open a window, don’t spend long in the room after applying the solution, and leave it for a couple of hours to dissipate before reentering.
- Don’t soak your marble floor in the cleaning solution. Wring any excess liquid from your mop or cloth before washing the floor.
- As soon as you’re finished, dry the floor with a soft towel to prevent watermarks or rust stains, which can be left behind on marbles that contain iron oxide when it comes into contact with water.
- If your marble is very dirty, you can make a stronger cleaning solution by combining 2 tablespoons of ammonia with a quart of water, or mixing baking soda with ammonia or hydrogen peroxide to make a paste.
- Apply gently and never scrub your marble or use abrasive tools like brushes or scourers, as they will only scratch the surface.
- Make sure to flush the area thoroughly with water after half an hour to neutralize the pH and remove every last trace of the cleaning solution.
- If your marble has oily marks in it, try applying cornstarch to the stain and leave it to draw out the stain. Once finished, rinse the area with plain water and dry thoroughly to keep your marble protected.
Polishing Marble Floors
It’s not recommended to use polish on your marble. Not only can it damage the surface, but marble is so smooth that a polished floor can be dangerously slippery. Instead, use a dry towel or chamois cloth to remove residual water or cleaners from your marble floor. If you want a higher shine on your cleaned floor, you can make a paste from 50/50 water and baking soda and spread it gently over the marble. Allow it to dry, then remove the residue with more water and a soft cloth.
Maintaining your marble floor
It’s important to take care of your marble and clean it regularly to keep it in its best condition. As a rule of thumb, give it a dry clean with a soft cloth or dust mop once per week for each person or pet in your household. For a single-person home, weekly sweeping should be enough. If you have two people, dust the floor twice a week. For four people and a couple of dogs, you’ll probably have to dust the floor every day. This reduces the amount of dirt that can build up on the floor and helps keep your marble free from scratches and looking good.
If anything spills on your marble floor, be sure to remove it immediately to prevent stains from soaking in. Marble is a porous rock, meaning it can absorb liquid, and getting marks out again can be difficult. Blot any stains, don’t rub them! Flush spills with plenty of water to neutralize the pH and reduce the chances of stains or etches. This is particularly important for acids such as tomato, citrus, vinegar, and coffee.
DIY marble floor cleaners
There are many specialist marble cleaners available that are alkaline or pH neutral to protect the surface from stains or etches. However, you can still use household supplies to make DIY marble cleaners that won’t cause any damage.
Soap and water
Regular dish soap makes a good cleaner for marble floors. Use a very dilute solution to prevent streaks, and gently buff the floor afterward to dry it and remove any residue.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is great for removing tough stains on light-colored marble. Remember it can act as a bleaching agent and discolor dark marble, so always test an inconspicuous area first. Hydrogen peroxide works best on biological and water-based organic stains such as fruit juice or washable marker pens. You can use a strong solution and leave it overnight to work on the stain before washing the marble clean.
Acetone
Found in most nail polish removers, acetone has similar cleaning properties to hydrogen peroxide, but with the bonus that it doesn’t discolor dark marble. Use a cotton swap dipped in acetone to gently work out stains, and wash the area with plenty of plain water afterward.
Cornstarch
The power of cornstarch is in its ability to soak up liquids. If you get a spill on marble that’s tough to remove, such as oil or coffee, cover it with cornstarch and leave it overnight. The starch will draw out fluid from the marble and absorb it, so you can wash it clean the following day.
Baking soda
Another natural alkali cleaner you might find in your kitchen is baking soda. This makes a great cleaner by mixing with water, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide until it forms a paste and then applying it to marble. Let the mixture dry and then flush the area with lots of water.
Marble Polishing
To maintain and care for your Marble Floor you need to understand: Marble is a natural LimeStone that has been, through heat, pressure, and time. Delivering a beautiful and durable building material that gives one of the most beautiful Floor coverings in the world. Strong and Sturdy as it is, it is also very porous and stains easily. To do Marble Cleaning And Polishing first we need to determine whether your Marble is: Natural or Cultured.
Three basic methods you can use to do this are listed below.
Temperature method: lay your hand on the surface. Natural Marble is usually cooler to the touch than the surrounding air. Cultured Marble will be about the same temperature as the surrounding air.
Acid method: Pick an inconspicuous area; put a few drops of vinegar on the surface to be tested. If it is Natural Marble, you will see some bubbles or fizz, immediately wipe up the vinegar with a damp cloth to avoid damage.
Scratch method: In the same hidden spot, lightly scratch the surface with a nail. Use a magnifying glass to see if there is a visible scratch left. Natural Marble scratches easily, while cultured marble does not.
NATURAL MARBLE
Removing any existing stains through Marble Cleaning And Polishing. Marble is highly porous; stains are caused when liquid seeps into the stone and gets trapped. Common spillages like juice, wine, sauces, cooking oils, and coffee will all stain your marble surface. To remove fresh stains, use a Damp Microfiber Cloth with warm water and Neutral Detergent, gently rubbing the stain until the area is clean. Then rinse thoroughly.
Removing Stubborn Stains: Dampen Marble with water then apply a few drops of a cleaning chemical, sometimes stubborn stains might require two or three options.
Polishing: After stain removal is complete before Polishing makes sure you have a clean dry surface as Marble is soft and scratches easily, and you don’t want to damage it while polishing. Always use a clean, dry Microfiber cloth to gently remove any remaining dirt, dust, and grit. If needed rinse well with a clean, damp Microfiber cloth then dry the surface well with a clean cloth.
Eco Polishing of your Marble:
Use a mixture of Baking Soda and water as a polish. Combine (45 g) of baking soda with (0.9 L) of water and mix well. Then using a clean cloth, apply the mixture to your surface in a thin layer. Allow drying for about 5 hours. After using a Microfiber Cloth and warm water to rinse the marble surface you are now ready to dry buff the marble using a clean microfiber or chamois cloth, and gently wipe down the marble in wide, circular motions. Move in progressively smaller circles as the surface dry.
For Future Protection Add a Sealant:
Using Sealer N or Lapicur will prevent stains and offer protection to your Marble surface. Follow the instructions carefully. The steps below are for general guidance only.
- Tape off any areas around the marble surface that are not to be sealed – wood trim, chrome, or stainless steel. Use masking tape or plumber’s tape.
- Apply three Coats of Lapicur or Sealer N using a dry clean Flat Microfiber Mop one coat at a time allowing to dry in between coats. For best results use a burnisher in between coats to extend the life of the Sealer giving you a better High Gloss Finish with Ultra Non-Slip properties.
- By Burnishing you do not have to allow the marble to cure for 6-8 hours, during this time do not use the surface as it is easily damaged if you don’t burnish.
- Lapicur should be reapplied every 1-2 years, depending on how much traffic your marble surface receives.
Cultured Marble
Cultured Marble Cleaning And Polishing is much easier to clean than natural marble. Cultured marble is manufactured with a protective coating that makes it much less prone to scratches and damage. However, it still requires attention and care.
- Remove any stains. Scrub surface stains using a brush with nylon bristles and a Non- Abrasive Scouring Pads.
- To remove hard water stains, spray Sancitro on the surface and gently rub in for 5-10minutes then rinse with plain water and wipe with a damp cloth to remove any residue.
- For general cleaning use Purito or WiWa both are Non-Abrasive and Non-Streaking floor cleaners designed to give a High Gloss finish in high-traffic areas.
- Polish your Marble. Although this is not necessary as cultured Marble is manufactured with a sealed surface it is recommended to apply a Protective Sealant (Lapicur) every 1 to 2 years to help prevent stains.
- To give added protection to your Marble Floor from stains and scratches it is recommended to use Dust Control Mats, and to regularly dust and clean your Marble Floors.
Warnings:
- Acids will damage natural marble. Do not use products such as lemon juice or vinegar for cleaning.
- Never use metal scrubbers on marble.
Acetone is sometimes recommended for cleaning natural marble. DO NOT use it on cultured marble, however, as it will damage the protective gel coating.
- Cultured marble is less delicate but still requires careful cleaning to avoid deep scratches or damage.
Marble Polishing Services:
The process of Marble Cleaning And Polishing is a fact that requires great expertise and professionalism. Therefore, the process of bringing the natural luster to the marble is expensive. Many cleaning companies do not specialize in natural stonework and use a coating of gloss over the marble which after a few months the appearance of the marble looks like linoleum tiles, and can damage the marble. So, remember If You are Cheap It’s Costing You More in the long run. Marble Floor Polishing Cleaning is a family-owned business.
Our technicians are fully trained, offering the best and most professional service possible to bring back the natural shine to your marble. Securely established internationally. Our extensive range of treatments ensures we can restore virtually any kind of damage including staining, etching, dullness, scratches, fading, and wear marks. Resurfacing will remove marble stains, dirt, and oil that is embedded in the pores of the stone surface, also removing any deep scratches and etching, transforming your stone into a clean highly polished stone surface.
Acidic items such as citrus fruits, wine, or vinegar can damage your stone like marble and limestone in some cases it will destroy the top layer of stone. Marble Floor Polishing Cleaning and Restoration should be your first call to restore your marble to its original shine without using any harmful chemicals and wax coating. Marble Floor Polishing Cleaning and Restoration offers marble grinding, marble polishing, marble cleaning, marble restoration, and marble sealing on all stone, tile, and concrete floors. we service commercial and residential projects.
We work closely with homeowners, builders, architects, and interior designers to create floors that are an expression of the owners or complement the business environment. Existing floors showing signs of wear can be restored to their original beauty. Once restored these can then be maintained to prolong the life of the surface. Whether you have an existing floor or looking to create a new one Marble Floor Polishing Cleaning and Restoration is here to help and work with you to achieve your goals.
Marble Cleaning:
Everyone knows marble is beautiful, but it requires some special care to keep clean—namely, mopping up spills immediately and avoiding acidic or abrasive cleansers. Learn how to clean marble in a variety of household locations with our list of tips and tricks. The above recommendations work for pretty much all marble surfaces, but there are a few specifics to keep in mind depending on the location of the marble in your home. Many of these tips rely on prevention, which will keep you from having to spend hours cleaning.
Marble as a flooring material is most prone to scratching, so your job here is to remove dirt, grit, or sand as soon as possible. Start with a clean, dry dust mop to get up the bulk of the dirt. You can use a vacuum cleaner, but make sure any parts of the vacuum that come in contact with the floor (for example, the wheels) are in good condition so as not to etch the marble. For caked-in grime, you can use a steam cleaner, but always be sure to dry each area of marble after you steam it. Area rugs or doormats placed at entrances and exits are a good idea to prevent tracking dirt across the floor in the first place. It’s also a good idea to put any furniture on pads or coasters to prevent scratching or gouging.
At some point, there’s probably going to be a spill that you don’t get to in time, and the marble will begin to stain. Once you’ve cleaned the spill, go to work on the stain as soon as you can. Stains from organic materials like coffee, wine, food, or pet urine are best treated with a solution of 12% hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of ammonia. An oil-based stain like milk, cosmetics, or cooking oil should be lifted with acetone or mineral spirits and then rinsed away. An ink stain can be bleached off of lighter-colored marble or removed from darker-colored marble with lacquer thinner or acetone. You can also use lacquer thinner very carefully to remove small spills of paint, but keep in mind it may etch the marble.
Professional Marble Cleaning
- Marble floor is one of the most beautiful natural stones Marble floors have been used for millennia to create elegant floors. It is just as popular today. Yet, Marble is a relatively soft stone, very porous, and can damage easily. Like all natural stone surfaces all other natural stones, marble must be cleaned regularly to prevent soiling and stains. If you have a dirty, stained marble floor, here is a 7 step guide on how sto Marble Cleaning And Polishing and restore the finish:
- Use a dry mop or vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and dust.
- Make up a cleaning solution with a marble cleaning chemical and water.
- Use a microfiber soft cloth, flat mop, sponge, or soft brush and give the floor a good clean, then rinse with clean water.
- Keep rinsing your soft cloth, sponge, or mop and replace the cleaning solution once it becomes dirty. Also, replace the rinse water when it starts to become dirty.
- Allow the floor to dry. If you want to speed up drying, dry the floor using old towels.
- Treat any stains, following the guidelines below
- Finally, apply a marble-impregnating sealer to help protect the finish. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure that you don’t leave any sealer pooling on the surface.
Our services are the best in cleaning marble as described below
- All our cleaning associates are Verified.
- You can support your local businesses while still getting the benefits of a big-name brand.
- Regular quality controls for consistently high standards
- First-rate service reliability through the managed absence cover
- A flexible service tailored to your particular needs
- Our services are backed by a 24-hour re-clean guarantee
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FAQ:
How do you clean and polish marble?
To remove fresh stains, use a Damp Microfiber Cloth with warm water and Neutral Detergent, gently rubbing the stain until the area is clean. Then rinse thoroughly. Removing Stubborn Stains: Dampen Marble with water then apply a few drops of a cleaning chemical.
How do I get my marble to shine again?
Wipe your marble with a soft dry rag to remove dust and crumbs, then wet the surface with a damp sponge. Next, apply a manufacturer-approved commercial marble cleaner or add a couple of drops of mild, nonabrasive dishwashing liquid to your damp rag to use as a cleaner.