Marble Maintenance: Natural vs Cultured

One of the upcoming kitchen design trends for 2020 is to add marble countertops, particularly veined marble. Before making such a huge decision in the new year, take the time to consider which type of marble countertop is better for you: natural or cultured.

While there are many differences between natural and cultured marble, one of the biggest is maintenance. This leads to a common question that people have when selecting a stone: does marble stain?

Natural Stone

Yes, natural marble does stain because it is one of the most porous and a fairly soft stone, even more so than granite or quartzite. However, there are ways to prevent that. Here are some tips for taking care of your natural marble countertops:

• Seal

• Clean

• Care

Seal

The first step to maintaining a natural marble countertop is to make sure that it is sealed properly and repeatedly. Ask the manufacturer how often it needs to be resealed and which product they would recommend.

One good example is Miracle Sealants Porous Plus which is currently being sold at Home Depot for $32.97 per pint. On average, countertops only need to be resealed once a year, but if  water does not bead up on the countertop after it has spilled you need to reseal it.

Clean

The second step is making sure that you clean your countertops daily, especially after use. All it takes is some dish detergent and water. Spray the countertops with the detergent then gently scrub them with a damp cloth. Next, rinse the cloth and wipe the countertops down until the suds are completely gone. To finish it off, just use a soft towel to dry them.

While the answer to does marble stain, might sound scary, do not let it deter you from selecting a beautiful stone. For heavy stains and etching, you can create a poultice by mixing baking soda with a little bit of water. Spread the paste onto the stain, cover it with a plastic wrap and seal it with painter’s tape.

After 12 to 24 hours, depending on the stain, wipe the area down with a damp cloth to remove the paste. The stain should be gone, if it is not, try putting on some more paste and repeat the process until it disappears.

Care

The third and final step is care. Make sure to avoid putting anything acidic directly on the surface, such as tomatoes, citrus fruit, pop, coffee, wine, fruit juice or vinegar. Instead use a large cutting board and set drinks down on coasters. These are some quick fixes to the question: does marble stain?

While marble is naturally resistant to heat, it is still a good idea to avoid putting hot pots and pans directly on the countertops. An easy alternative is to get a trivet and place them on that instead.

Cultured

Cultured or man-made marble can be cleaned with Gel-Gloss, a product that both cleans and protects the countertops. It was created specifically for marble countertops because it does not contain any abrasive cleaning agents that could damage the stone.

For everyday cleaning, use cleaners like Fantastic, Mr. Clean or Formula 409, then wax the countertops with products that aren’t abrasive. This will make the countertops shinier and easier to clean next time.

While cultured marble countertops are easier to maintain, there are drawbacks to having artificial stone instead of natural. For example, having natural stone countertops will increase the value of your home when it comes time to sell. They are unique and you can be sure that no one else will have the same exact veins in your marble.

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GMS Werks is an experienced natural stone contractor that has been serving both residential and commercial customers in the Omaha community for more than a century. We offer more than 300 natural stone slabs and carry over 2,000 slabs, making us a leader in the natural stone trends industry. For more inquiries or more information, visit our showroom or contact us today!