Marble is often used on benches, tables, floors, and mantles for fireplaces. Marble adds natural beauty to your home, but it needs special care to keep it from getting damaged or stained, which is easy to do because the surface is porous. With some elbow grease and time, you can clean natural or man-made marble to make it look like new again.
Getting Your Marble Ready
1. Get your tools together
A gentle detergent, three to four soft cloths, a poultice to remove stains (optional), a polishing solution, a low-speed polisher with a felt wheel (optional), and a marble sealant are all things that you will need to complete this task. You can buy a kit or gather the things yourself.
If you have cultured marble, make sure the product says it's for cultured marble.
If you don't have a polisher, you can use a soft cloth to apply marble polish, but this is a very time-consuming way.
If there are spots, use a poultice to get rid of them before you polish. If you use a bandage, you must wait at least 24 hours before moving on to the next step.
If you have water rings, use a polishing product that gets rid of etches marks.
2. Cover the area around the rock with tape
If your marble is near other surfaces, like wood or steel, that could get damaged by the products you'll be using, use painter's tape to protect them. Cover surfaces made of wood and metal.
If you use a spray product and have wood floors, you might want to tape around the sides of the bottom of the cabinet. The product could fall on the floor.
3. Wash the surface with a soft rag and a light soap
Before you clean the whole slab, test a small spot. If you have spots, try to get rid of them with just detergent by moving a damp cloth over the stain in a gentle way.
4. Put on your ointment, if you want to
Stains that have set into the porous surface of your marble can be taken off with a paste. If you polish your marble, you won't get rid of the spots; you'll just seal them in.
You can either buy a salve from a store or make your own. To make a plaster, mix flour and just the right amount of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. You can also mix 1 tablespoon of ammonia, 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda slowly until you get a thick paste.
Smooth the poultice over the spot, then tape a piece of plastic wrap over it to seal it. Keep the paste on your wound for at least 24 hours. For old spots, it may take longer. Finding out how long it takes to get rid of old spots is a process of trial and error.
After twenty-four to forty-eight hours, remove the plastic wrap, sprinkle a small amount of water over the dried poultice, and remove it with a clean, gentle cloth. You need to thoroughly dry the area. If the mark is still there, do this again.
Put your polishing compound to use
1. Put a little bit of polishing product on it
Check the side of the container for instructions on how much to use, since different goods call for different amounts. Put the mixture on the small area where you'll start working. Do not use polishing product on the whole piece of marble at the same time.
How much marble polish to use depends on the type of polish you choose and the size of the area you are cleaning? If you don't know how much polish to use, start with a little and add more as needed. It's easier to add more than to take away what's already there. You can also contact with marble polishing experts for this purpose.
2. Use a sander with a slow speed or a soft cloth
You can use either, but a soft cloth takes longer and might not work as well if you don't keep the same amount of pressure on it. A slow-speed polisher might be a better choice.
If you have a drill, you can use it as a polisher by replacing the drill bit with a grinding disk with a felt top.
3. Do your work in small chunks
Work on small sections of 1 to 2 feet at a time to get a smooth finish and keep your polishing solution from drying out or getting clumpy. Working in small areas lets you add small amounts of polish as you go, which helps you spread it out evenly.
Start in one spot and move around the whole area to make sure that the polish is even. If you begin in the middle, you might miss something.
4. Add some polish
Use tight, rolling motions with a soft cloth or the soft side of a new sponge.If you are using a polisher, move it slowly in a slow, controlled circle. When you're done with the flat sides, use a soft cloth to polish the corners, moving in a circle.
If you use a polisher, use a slow to medium speed.
5. Get rid of the extra polish
Wipe away the residue with a dry cloth, and then finish with a wet cloth to make sure the surface is clean.
6. Allow your rock to fully dry
You should wait 24 hours before you use your sealer. You can clean your cultured marble with a buffing compound and then again with a polishing compound if it still has stains or damage. If neither of these works, you can wet cultured marble with wet/dry sandpaper with a 1,000-grit rating.
Natural marble is more easily damaged, so don't use buffing powder or wet sand it.
Putting a seal on your shiny marble
1. Pick a sealant
Sealants can be put on the surface or soaked into the material. Topical seals sit on top of the marble and keep it from getting stained. Impregnators, on the other hand, go under the surface and keep water and oils away while still letting the marble breathe.
Most of the time, an impregnator is used to seal countertops and sinks. A topical sealant may be better for floors and other types of marble. Cultured marble is harder than natural marble and doesn't need to be sealed. Some man-made rocks won't let a sealant stick to them.
You don't need to seal marble in a shower unless you plan to use items that will stain it. If you don't let personal care items sit for a while, they won't stain marble. Shaving cream can leave marks, but a sealer won't stop that.
2. Use your sealer on your marble
A sealant won't stop all marks, but it will protect your marble surface from some of them. At a shop or home goods store, you can buy marble sealant in a spray bottle. As you spray your varnish on your marble, make sure the whole surface is wet.
Don't let the glue dry completely, or it will leave streaks.
You can spray water on the sealant or dab it with a wet cloth to add water. If the sealer is drying too quickly, adding water will stop the streaks.
3. Wipe away the leftover sealer
Check the bottle to find out when to use it. After the suggested amount of time has passed, use a dry cloth to wipe the marble surface clean. Most sealants say to wait between 10 and 20 minutes.
If you let it sit longer than what is suggested, the sealer will start to streak. If your sealer says to use it twice, then do each step once more.
4. Wait until the rock is dry
Give your rock 6 to 8 hours to sit. Don't put anything on your marble or use it until it's totally dry, because the seal needs time to set. You don't want to risk getting the new sealant that has seeped into the surface wet.
Every 6 to 12 months, the marble should be sealed.
started by a71514031 on 22 Jun 23
Marble is often used on benches, tables, floors, and mantles for fireplaces. Marble adds natural beauty to your home, but it needs special care to keep it from getting damaged or stained, which is easy to do because the surface is porous. With some elbow grease and time, you can clean natural or man-made marble to make it look like new again.
Getting Your Marble Ready
1. Get your tools together
A gentle detergent, three to four soft cloths, a poultice to remove stains (optional), a polishing solution, a low-speed polisher with a felt wheel (optional), and a marble sealant are all things that you will need to complete this task. You can buy a kit or gather the things yourself.
2. Cover the area around the rock with tape
If your marble is near other surfaces, like wood or steel, that could get damaged by the products you'll be using, use painter's tape to protect them. Cover surfaces made of wood and metal.
If you use a spray product and have wood floors, you might want to tape around the sides of the bottom of the cabinet. The product could fall on the floor.
3. Wash the surface with a soft rag and a light soap
Before you clean the whole slab, test a small spot. If you have spots, try to get rid of them with just detergent by moving a damp cloth over the stain in a gentle way.
4. Put on your ointment, if you want to
Stains that have set into the porous surface of your marble can be taken off with a paste. If you polish your marble, you won't get rid of the spots; you'll just seal them in.
You can either buy a salve from a store or make your own. To make a plaster, mix flour and just the right amount of hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. You can also mix 1 tablespoon of ammonia, 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda slowly until you get a thick paste.
Smooth the poultice over the spot, then tape a piece of plastic wrap over it to seal it. Keep the paste on your wound for at least 24 hours. For old spots, it may take longer. Finding out how long it takes to get rid of old spots is a process of trial and error.
After twenty-four to forty-eight hours, remove the plastic wrap, sprinkle a small amount of water over the dried poultice, and remove it with a clean, gentle cloth. You need to thoroughly dry the area. If the mark is still there, do this again.
Put your polishing compound to use
1. Put a little bit of polishing product on it
Check the side of the container for instructions on how much to use, since different goods call for different amounts. Put the mixture on the small area where you'll start working. Do not use polishing product on the whole piece of marble at the same time.
How much marble polish to use depends on the type of polish you choose and the size of the area you are cleaning? If you don't know how much polish to use, start with a little and add more as needed. It's easier to add more than to take away what's already there. You can also contact with marble polishing experts for this purpose.
2. Use a sander with a slow speed or a soft cloth
You can use either, but a soft cloth takes longer and might not work as well if you don't keep the same amount of pressure on it. A slow-speed polisher might be a better choice.
If you have a drill, you can use it as a polisher by replacing the drill bit with a grinding disk with a felt top.
3. Do your work in small chunks
Work on small sections of 1 to 2 feet at a time to get a smooth finish and keep your polishing solution from drying out or getting clumpy. Working in small areas lets you add small amounts of polish as you go, which helps you spread it out evenly.
Start in one spot and move around the whole area to make sure that the polish is even. If you begin in the middle, you might miss something.
4. Add some polish
Use tight, rolling motions with a soft cloth or the soft side of a new sponge.If you are using a polisher, move it slowly in a slow, controlled circle. When you're done with the flat sides, use a soft cloth to polish the corners, moving in a circle.
If you use a polisher, use a slow to medium speed.
5. Get rid of the extra polish
Wipe away the residue with a dry cloth, and then finish with a wet cloth to make sure the surface is clean.
6. Allow your rock to fully dry
You should wait 24 hours before you use your sealer. You can clean your cultured marble with a buffing compound and then again with a polishing compound if it still has stains or damage. If neither of these works, you can wet cultured marble with wet/dry sandpaper with a 1,000-grit rating.
Natural marble is more easily damaged, so don't use buffing powder or wet sand it.
Putting a seal on your shiny marble
1. Pick a sealant
Sealants can be put on the surface or soaked into the material. Topical seals sit on top of the marble and keep it from getting stained. Impregnators, on the other hand, go under the surface and keep water and oils away while still letting the marble breathe.
Most of the time, an impregnator is used to seal countertops and sinks. A topical sealant may be better for floors and other types of marble. Cultured marble is harder than natural marble and doesn't need to be sealed. Some man-made rocks won't let a sealant stick to them.
You don't need to seal marble in a shower unless you plan to use items that will stain it. If you don't let personal care items sit for a while, they won't stain marble. Shaving cream can leave marks, but a sealer won't stop that.
2. Use your sealer on your marble
A sealant won't stop all marks, but it will protect your marble surface from some of them. At a shop or home goods store, you can buy marble sealant in a spray bottle. As you spray your varnish on your marble, make sure the whole surface is wet.
Don't let the glue dry completely, or it will leave streaks.
You can spray water on the sealant or dab it with a wet cloth to add water. If the sealer is drying too quickly, adding water will stop the streaks.
3. Wipe away the leftover sealer
Check the bottle to find out when to use it. After the suggested amount of time has passed, use a dry cloth to wipe the marble surface clean. Most sealants say to wait between 10 and 20 minutes.
If you let it sit longer than what is suggested, the sealer will start to streak. If your sealer says to use it twice, then do each step once more.
4. Wait until the rock is dry
Give your rock 6 to 8 hours to sit. Don't put anything on your marble or use it until it's totally dry, because the seal needs time to set. You don't want to risk getting the new sealant that has seeped into the surface wet.
Every 6 to 12 months, the marble should be sealed.