Very trendy, with its wide variety of natural colors (black, white, veined, pink, etc.), marble can be found in our interiors in all its forms: tables, floors, lighting and even on our walls. However, it is well known that this stone is fragile and it is necessary to maintain it according to the rules of the art. Here are 4 tips for cleaning and maintaining your marble with the right products so that it retains all its splendor and shine.
1. Protect marble and maintain it daily
To begin with, to minimize risks, there is several solutions to protect marble :
- Colorless wax to prevent damage from splashes
- A special marble waterproofing agent
- A cloth soaked in a little vaseline to make your stone shine
It is not necessary do not wait until the marble is damaged to actit is important to adopt good habits from the moment you acquire them. So, don’t neglect the dirt! Whatever their nature and size, it is necessary immediately react and clean them.
To avoid scratching the marble, it is preferable to use soft household tools : soft cloth, sponge or microfiber broom if it is a floor, dampen them slightly. When using them, gently make circular movements.
2. Recommended products and those to ban to maintain your marble
Many products are recommended for cleaning marble whatever the type (black, white, veined, pink, etc.):
- Marseille soap or flakes/flakes, perfect for making the stone shine every day.
- black soap
- your daily dishwashing product
- Meudon white or Spanish white
- the land of Sommières for grease stains (sprinkle a small quantity of the product on a cloth, and rub lightly)
- glycerin
- soda crystals if the marble is very dirty (dilute a cup of soda crystals in a liter of hot water)
- clay stone or white stone on a wet cloth
- oleo-limestone liniment
- very fine iron wool (be careful, rub very gently to avoid scratches)
- hydrogen peroxide works well on light marbles
- baking soda
After each cleaning, do not forget to rinse and dry the marble with a dry cloth such as a microfiber cloth or a chamois.
On the other hand, some products are not recommended and could damage your marble to your greatest regret. Acidic and/or chemical products should therefore be avoided if you do not want to see your stone deteriorate. Here are some examples of products that should definitely not be used:
- white vinegar
- lemon
- bleach
- scouring powder
- all anti-limescale products…
However, if an acidic product (sodas, etc.) comes into contact with your marble, react immediately by rinsing with plenty of water and a little degreasing product. And as you may have guessed, it is strictly not recommended to use aggressive cleaning tools such as abrasive sponges or scrapers.
3. How to overcome stubborn stains?
Despite all your good will, certain stains won’t go away? These dough recipes to spread can meet your needs for maintaining your stained marble.
- Mix 2/3 pumice powder and 1/3 baking soda and apply this light paste to the stain, before letting it dry and rinsing.
- Soak a cloth withculinary oil with a drop of lemon and rub with gentle circular movements the stain.
- Make a mixture based on two doses of white from Meudon and a dose of soda crystals. Then add two parts water and leave this paste to act in a thick layer for an hour before rinsing. Your marble will be shiny again!
- Make a poultice with flour and dishwashing liquidcover with plastic film and leave to set. Remove everything and clean with a damp cloth.
- For grease stains, consider sprinkle cornstarch on the stain and leave to act for twenty minutes, then wipe with a dry cloth.
4. The last resort solution that will bring your marble back to life
If all the tips in this article don’t work, don’t lose hope. Many professionals provide marble renovation services who have the adopted equipment. If you call them, they may advise you to sand your marble to bring it back to life. This technique smoothes the stone; several passes are often necessary to achieve perfect regularity.
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