How to Clean White Marble
Marble is an exquisite material that needs care and maintenance. Houses having extensive marble finishing require regular cleaning to retain the rich gleaming texture that marble provides. Moreover, when the color is white, one has to be extra careful while exposing it to regular use. This is because cleaning stains and dirt from the surface of a white marble floor is comparatively difficult. People who are not aware of how white marble is cleaned, must know the different kinds of techniques by which stains can be removed for making the original texture last long. We shall explain you some simple processes for cleaning white marble floors in the following content.
Cleaning White Marble
Marble is a porous material, that needs to be carefully cleaned to prevent scratches and damages appearing on its surface. Marble countertops in kitchens are subject to a lot of harsh stains due to regular use, as is the case with marble floors. All these processes take away the natural shine of the marble. Check out the following steps to know how to clean white marble floors.
- The most common process for keeping marble clean is the mop and dry technique. Fill a bucket with water and add a few teaspoons of dish washing liquid. There are also various commercial marble floor cleaners that can help get the desired effect. Dip a cloth in the liquid mix and mop the floor. The stains will be gradually removed. For extra shine, mop once again with plain water. Let it dry.
- A special material known as chamois is available for cleaning marble. It's the skin of a goat antelope that acts as a wonderful marble cleaning agent. The sponge like structure eliminates grease and food stains from marble surface when scrubbed over it. You have to dampen the chamois in clean water and then rub it on the stains for quick cleaning.
- If the floor has been stained with dust, dirt and grime, then poultice is probably the best cleansing agent. Poultice is an absorbent that sucks up the stains by means of capillary action. Poultice cleansers are readily available at home improvement shops or you can prepare it at home by dampening clay. Apply a layer of poultice on stained marble for 15 minutes and then take it off. Wipe the floor with water for a lustrous look.
- If your kitchen countertop has been tarnished by oil spills, grease and butter, then cornstarch is the best remedy for it. Apply loose cornstarch powder in adequate amounts over the surface and scrub it with a brush having soft bristles. This will remove the stains as long as they are not very harsh. If traces have remained, then mop with hot water mixed with baking soda or dish washing detergent.
- Use of moderate amounts of vinegar and ammonia also aids in getting rid of stains from marble flooring. Make sure that the solution has been adequately diluted to prevent any kind of reaction with the marble. For removing mild stains of food, tea, coffee, etc., you can use lemon peel or lemon water. Rub the surface with a sponge dipped in lemon juice followed by water and then allow the surface to dry.
- People who are intensely fascinated by marble surfaces do polish them periodically. Commercial products for polishing marble are easily available and you use these at an interval of three months for restoring the natural shine of the marble surface. Polishing white marble is recommended because the color tends to fade away if proper care is not taken of.
