Natural in beauty and exquisite in texture, marble countertops will add an exquisite touch to your kitchen space. Marble’s ability to add a touch of classic beauty and timelessness to any kitchen makes it a popular choice in modern homes.

But with all that beauty comes responsibility, because marble is more delicate than other materials. It’s susceptible to staining, etching, and scratching.

As such, marble countertops require extra care to maintain their original charm and keep them pristine for years, so in this article, we explore some great tips for maintaining marble countertops in your home.

 

How to maintain marble countertops

 

You have various options for keeping your marble countertops looking their best. Here are several maintenance tips you should consider:

 

Apply a quality sealant

 

Marble is more porous than other materials, so it can easily become stained without a sealant. You should apply a quality sealant or ask your installer to do it to create a barrier that ensures the surface is protected and prevents it from becoming stained by liquids or grease.

 

Address stains immediately

 

Promptly deal with stains on marble countertops to keep them looking great. You can remove oils with a gentle cleanser or ammonia and use hydrogen peroxide to remove organic stains. For other types of staining, such as paint and water stains, you may need to use more physical methods like a razor or steel wool.

 

 

Clean daily

 

You should clean your marble countertop at least once a day with a gentle all-purpose cleaner and a soft cloth or sponge. Don’t use anything abrasive like steel wool. Such materials can damage the sealant and leave your marble countertop susceptible to stains.

 

Use gentle soap for cleaning

 

To keep marble countertops in peak condition, use gentle soap and warm water to clean the surface regularly. After washing the countertop with water and soap, wipe it off with a wet, hot towel and dry it with an absorbent one.

 

Use more aggressive cleaning for tougher stains

 

If mild soap and water don’t remove a stain, use a stronger bleach cleanser and an abrasive sponge to scrub the surface. Note that this aggressive cleaning method will remove the sealant. So once you’re done cleaning, let the countertop dry completely and reapply the sealant.

 

Involve a stone refinisher

 

If aggressive cleaning doesn’t remove the stubborn stain, you may require the professional help of a stone refinisher. These professionals will use special grinders and fine-grit sandpaper for a deep clean. You can also use sandpaper to remove the stain but remember to reseal the surface afterwards.

 

Avoid acidic substances with marble countertops

 

Protect marble countertops from acidic substances by avoiding cleaners with bleach or vinegar. Additionally, use cutting boards and other methods to limit contact between the surface and acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, and other types of fruits.

 

 

The Stone Gallery is your provider of beautiful marble countertops

 

Despite the maintenance involved, marble countertops can add a touch of timeless beauty and luxury to your kitchen – and The Stone Gallery can make your dream of having natural marble countertops in your home a reality with our breathtakingly beautiful and extremely hard-wearing products.

Take an afternoon and visit our gallery, the largest indoor stone gallery in Ireland, to see our extensive marble designs and colours and choose the one that best suits your home.

You can also get in touch with our team to get expert advice on how to choose the perfect marble countertop for your home, and we have an extensive resources section too for more information about our range of natural, engineered, and sintered stones.