How to clean marble (and what never to use)

Marble is not hard to look after once you know what it dislikes. Most damage comes not from dirt but from using the wrong product. Here is what we recommend.

Daily cleaning

• Warm water with a few drops of pH-neutral soap, or a cleaner made specifically for natural stone.
• A soft cloth or microfibre. No scourers.
• Always dry afterwards, especially in bathrooms, to avoid limescale marks.

What you should never use

• Vinegar and lemon, despite countless home "hacks": acid attacks the calcite in marble and leaves dull marks.
• Acidic or descaling cleaners (most bathroom cleaners are).
• Undiluted bleach and ammonia, and harsh multi-purpose sprays.
• Abrasive powders or creams and green or metal scourers: they scratch the polish.

Stain or etch: not the same thing

• Stain: the marble has absorbed something (oil, wine, coffee). It looks darker or coloured, and it can usually be drawn out.
• Etch (dull mark): an acid has dissolved the surface. It is not dirt — the shine has gone. It will not come off with cleaning; the area needs re-polishing.

Removing the most common stains

Here are the basics; for every type of stain step by step, see how to remove stains from marble.

Oil and grease

Mix baking soda and water into a paste (like thick yoghurt), cover the stain, seal it with cling film and leave it for 24 hours. The paste gradually draws the oil out. Remove it, rinse and repeat if needed.

Wine, coffee, tea (organic stains)

On light marbles, a similar poultice made with hydrogen peroxide instead of water works well. Test it first somewhere discreet, and do not use it on dark stones, as it can lighten them.

Rust

Rust marks from plant pots or tins are tricky. Ask a professional before using any "rust remover", as many are acidic.

Sealing marble: when and how

A summary is below; the full guide is do you need to seal marble?.

A sealer (water- and oil-repellent) closes the pores and buys you time to wipe up a spill before it stains. It does not protect against acids, but it helps enormously.

The water-drop test: put a few drops of water on the surface and wait 10 minutes. If the stone has darkened when you wipe them off, it is absorbing and needs resealing. In kitchens that is usually every 6–12 months; in bathrooms and on walls, much less often.

Marks, scratches and loss of shine

Over the years the polish dulls in high-use areas. A professional can re-polish and hone marble on site and make it look new — something impossible with many other materials, and one of the great advantages of natural stone.

Tips to keep it looking new

• Use chopping boards and trivets.
• Put coasters under wine, oil and vinegar bottles.
• Wipe spills immediately, especially acidic ones.
• For a very busy kitchen, consider a quartzite: it copes much better with daily life.