What Should You Use to Clean Marble?

Do you have marble tiles, floors, or countertops that just don't shine like they used to? Marble is a little more prone to dirt and damage since it's a softer stone, but you can easily maintain it by wiping the surface with a soft cloth and some soapy water or stone cleaner. Before you start washing your marble with anything else at home, there are a few things to keep in mind to keep the surface protected. Keep reading, and we'll walk you through everyday routine cleaning, plus how to get rid of those annoying stains and scratches.

Things You Should Know

Wipe your marble clean with soapy water every day to get rid of dust, dirt, and grime. Rinse and dry your marble when you’re finished.
Use a marble cleaner once every week to keep the surface protected and sealed.
Remove food stains with 12% hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Lift up oil-based stains with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
Try buffing out minor scratches with polishing compound or 0000 steel wool.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Daily Upkeep & Cleaning

1
Clean your marble daily with water and dish soap. Fill a spray bottle with warm water and add in about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of a mild, non-abrasive dish soap. Just spray an even layer of the soapy water onto the surface, and gently rub it in with a soft microfiber cloth. If your cloth gets dirty with dust or dirt, be sure to rinse it off before wiping with it again.^{[1]
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- If you’re washing a marble floor, then use a larger microfiber mop to spread the soapy water over the surface.
- Soapy water is usually strong enough to eat through soot if you’re cleaning a marble fireplace.
- Avoid using any acidic cleaners, such as lemon juice or vinegar, since they can leave marks on the marble’s surface.
2
Rinse the soapy water off with a damp cloth. Wet a new non-abrasive cloth with clean water and wipe it over the surface. Lift up as much of the soapy residue as you can so it doesn’t dry onto the marble surface and make it look dull.^{[2]
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- For a marble floor, use a clean mop head or thoroughly wring out the old head before using it to rinse.
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3
Dry the marble surface with a microfiber towel. Go over the surface one more time with your dry towel so there aren’t any water spots left over.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 1 July 2019.} Run your fingers over the surface to check if the marble still feels wet or if you’ve dried it completely.^{[4]
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- Any water you leave on your marble could absorb into the stone and leave a stain on the surface.
4
Swap out dish soap for commercial marble cleaner once a week. Spray an even layer of your marble cleaner directly onto the surface. Use a clean microfiber cloth or paper towel to rub the cleaner into your marble. Use the cleaner at least once a week to help the marble retain its shine and to prevent anything on the surface from leaving a stain.^{[5]
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- Always follow the directions on the cleaner’s packaging since they may vary.
- Avoid using other household cleaners like bleach or mineral spirits since they could further damage your marble.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Stain Removal

1
Treat organic stains with 12% hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. To clean marble countertops with coffee, tea, or food stains, wet the surface of the stain with your hydrogen peroxide used for hair bleaching and add in a couple of drops of ammonia. Gently work the solution into the stain with a microfiber cloth until you see it start to lift up.^{[6]
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- Try to clean up the stain as soon as they happen since they haven’t set in and will be easier to clean up.
- Ammonia is safe to mix with hydrogen peroxide but avoid using it with bleach or any other cleaners since it could create toxic fumes.
2
Remove oil stains with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda paste. If your stain is from grease, cooking oil, or cosmetics, then mix together equal amounts of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda until they form a thick paste. Apply the paste over the oil stain and let it dry out overnight. The next day, use a plastic putty knife to scrape the dried paste off the marble to remove the stain.^{[7]
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- The baking soda and peroxide will help draw the stain out from the stone and lighten the section of marble.
- Test the baking soda and peroxide mixture on a discreet area of the marble first to make sure it doesn’t leave any marks or damage.
3
Use a poultice made with rust remover to clean up rust stains. Mix equal parts of your poultice powder and your rust remover so it forms a thick paste.^{[8]
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Research source} Apply the poultice to the rust stain so it’s completely covered, and let it dry out overnight. The next day, just use a putty knife or clean towel to break apart the poultice.^{[9]
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- If you can still see a rust stain, you can try applying another poultice to your marble. If the stain persists, then it may be permanent on the surface.
4
Clean off etch marks with a marble polishing powder. Etch marks are when acids eat through the stone and leave discolored marks on the surface. Sprinkle a bit of the marble polishing powder onto the surface with your etch marks. Wet the corner of a soft microfiber and rub the powder into the stone in a circular motion. Keep rubbing the powder in until the etch mark disappears and the marble shines.^{[10]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Scratch Removal

1
Try using a polishing compound for minor scratches and nicks. Get the scratches out of your marble by sprinkling the polishing compound directly onto the surface. Use a damp microfiber cloth to rub the compound into the marble using circular movements. Once the marble has a shiny, smooth appearance, wipe the rest of the powder off of the surface.^{[11]
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- You can also use a rotary buffer to apply the polishing powder more quickly on larger surfaces, like a large tabletop or marble floor.
2
Buff surface scratches out with 0000 steel wool. Keep the steel wool dry so you don’t damage your countertops. Lightly rub the steel wool over the surface with gentle pressure so the smaller scratches disappear. Lift up the steel wool and check the surface periodically to check that the scratches are gone so you don’t put in more work than you need to.^{[12]
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- Some marble manufacturers don’t recommend using steel wool since it’s abrasive and could affect the surface of your marble. Try testing the steel wool in a hidden area of the marble before using it on a scratch.
3
Contact a marble specialist for deep cracks you can’t remove. If you’re not able to remove the scratch on your own or if there’s a large chip, then it’s better to have a professional try and fix it. Contact local stone specialists or the manufacturer where you got the piece to see what repair services they can offer.^{[13]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Preventing Damage

1
Blot up spills as soon as you see them. Stains can form within a few minutes on marble, so wipe up any liquids you notice on the surface.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 1 July 2019.} After you blot up the excess moisture, wet the area with clean water to remove any residue on the surface. Then, pat your marble dry with a paper towel.^{[15]
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2
Use coasters and trays for any objects you put on marble surfaces. Rather than putting cups and mugs directly on a marble countertop or table, put a coaster underneath to catch any drops of moisture. If you’ve got a decorative display of toiletry products in a bathroom with marble, use a tray to protect the surface.^{[16]
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- Using coasters prevents glasses or mugs from forming ring-shaped stains on your marble.
3
Set cookware on hot pads instead of on marble countertops. Hot pots and pans could scorch the marble surface, leaving a stain or damage. Rather than putting them directly on the stone, use a wood or fabric hot pad as a buffer layer of protection.^{[17]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

Can I use vinegar to clean marble countertops?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is the owner and founder of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado started in 2015. Alpine Maids has received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row since 2016 and has been awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

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No, don't use vinegar. Anything acidic or abrasive is going to stain or damage your marble. You have to use something mild, like dish soap or special marble cleaner.
Question

Why does marble stain so easily?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is the owner and founder of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado started in 2015. Alpine Maids has received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row since 2016 and has been awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

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It's a natural stone, it's soft, and it's porous. So when something sets into the marble, it's just really hard to get it out without damaging the marble.
Question

Is marble easy to clean?

Chris Willatt
House Cleaning Professional
Chris Willatt is the owner and founder of Alpine Maids, a cleaning agency in Denver, Colorado started in 2015. Alpine Maids has received Angie's List Super Service Award for three years in a row since 2016 and has been awarded Colorado's "Top Rated Local House Cleaning" Award in 2018.

Chris Willatt

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

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Not really. Marble is a pretty fickle material, and I'm actually not all that fond of it as a material for counters. It's really soft so it scratches and chips quite easily, and it stains quickly if you let a liquid sit on it.

Warnings

Avoid using any acidic or abrasive cleaners, including vinegar and lemon juice, on your marble since they could leave scratches or unsightly etch marks on the surface.^{[20]
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