Do’s and Don’ts of Marble Countertops

Marble is a beautiful natural stone option that can transform your kitchen into a luxurious space that’s great for entertaining. Along with entertaining comes guests, food, and drink. If you have marble countertops then you already know that marble is a porous material that doesn’t mix well with food and drink. Today we will discuss what to do and what not to do to preserve the original look of your beautiful marble countertops wherever they may be in your home.

Do’s:

Be careful with acidic food and drink. Marble is a very sensitive stone, much more so than granite. Food and drink such as coffee, wine, fruit juices, soda, and tomato sauce are very acidic and can etch or dull the surface of marble as well as result in stains. Cleaning products can also etch or stain the surface of marble. Make sure that if anything spills on the marble that it is cleaned up immediately to prevent damage from happening.

When cleaning the marble surface use a soft cloth or a sponge. The only cleaning agents recommended for marble are hot water and a special formula stone cleaner. The stone can be buffed with a chamois or soft cotton cloth. A mild soap can be used also, it won’t damage the marble surface, but with consistent use over time the surface may develop a dull film similar to soap scum that you find in the shower or bath tub.

It is also important to make sure that you use a protective barrier under items such as glasses, cans, and bottles. Coasters are typically used to prevent any of the liquids from the beverages onto the countertop surface. Take extra precaution if the beverage is acidic. Using coasters like you would with a wood surface also helps reduce the amount of cleaning, polishing, and restoration of the marble countertops.

Don’ts:

Do not use any kind of cleaning products purchased at your local store that are not specifically formulated for marble, typically you cannot find the correct required marble cleaners at these stores. The cleaning products from your local stores likely contain chemicals such as acids and alkalis that will damage the surface or wear the sealer down allowing the marble surface to stain or etch. Most common cleaning products will cause damage to marble. So, be sure not to try to cut corners by purchasing a cheap cleaner, this will only cause you to spend more money in the long run trying to repair the damage.

Do not use vinegar, ammonia, or citrus such as lemon or orange for cleaning the countertops. As noted before, using a soft cloth with hot water is sufficient for daily cleaning and a special stone cleaner can be used weekly.

Do not use any type of grout cleaners. Grout cleaners typically contain abrasives, even if it’s a “soft” cream or powder this is too abrasive and will cause damage to the surface by scratching and dulling it.

Don’t sit or stand on marble countertops. Marble countertops do not have flexibility like laminate countertops do and do not have plywood backing, having too much weight on one spot can cause the marble to crack.

Avoid placing toiletry products such at hair products, perfumes, toothpaste, nail products, creams, lotions, and colognes on marble surfaces because they can etch the surface resulting in a ring shape. We recommend using a decorative tray to store these items if you want to leave them displayed.

On a side note: It’s also important to note that not all marbles need to be sealed. With marbles that do not need to be sealed you won’t need to use a sealer because it won’t be absorbed by the marble and will dry on the surface requiring toxic chemicals to strip it off.

Hopefully now that you are aware of some of the do’s and don’ts of marble countertops, you can make your decision a little more easily. If you want to check out marble or other materials for yourself, stop by to visit us at G.M.S. Werks and check out our showroom for your natural stone needs! Our hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. You can also reach us by phone during our normal business hours at 402-451-3400 or email us by going to the contact page of our new site!