If you have marble floors in your home or have seen them in other homes, then you know how pretty they look when they are newly cleaned and polished. Your floors should last a lifetime; however, despite marble’s durability, it can be susceptible to damage if cleaned with the incorrect solution or chemicals.
Clean, Polish, and Maintain Marble Floors
What is Marble?
Within the earth’s core, under intense heat and pressure, limestone is broken down and turns into marble, getting its pretty appearance from the way that limestone recrystallizes. Surprisingly, marble can be fragile, despite the gigantic forces that are used to create it. Being formed from high-alkali minerals, it is very prone to acid. Believe it or not, even spilling some cranberry sauce on a marble surface that is unprotected can cause it to corrode.
Surface corrosion destroys the marble’s smooth surface and forms what is called an “etch”, which might look like a stain that does not change regardless of how you scrub it. A good way to tell the difference is to keep in mind that stains are darker than the original color and etches are lighter because the etch has not been absorbed by the surface of the marble but removed it. Also, etches are easier to notice at an angle or under oblique lighting (a light source positioned at a low angle) while stains typically appear the same regardless of how they are approached.
Getting etches in your marble surfaces does not mean that they are ruined forever. To buff out minor etches and scratches, you can purchase stone cleaning powder or, if the damage is very deep, call a professional to refinish your floors.
Best Cleaning Equipment for Marble
You can keep your marble floors clean and etch-free by using the correct equipment. Anything rough or sharp that can damage a marble’s sensitive surface should be avoided. Use soft materials like chamois cloths and dust mops that will protect your marble more than harsh brushes and sponges. It is not advised to use dry erasers as they clean surfaces by abrading them. You should never use vinegar, lemon juice, or other acidic cleaners on marble. Instead, stick with alkali cleaning solutions like ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, or neutral water, to keep the marble from reacting or etching.
How to Clean a Marble Floor
Prepare the surface thoroughly to start cleaning your marble floors. Using a clean, dry cloth, or a soft dust mop, carefully remove any dust or dirt. To avoid the risk of creating scratches in your floor, do not drag the cloth or brush hard across the surface. Be sure to pay specific attention to corners, doorways, and other places where dust and dirt can gather. To minimize the impact on your floor, always try to brush in one direction.
After sweeping, mop the floor to remove any remaining dust and dirt using plain water, or for a more thorough clean look, use a gentle, non-acidic cleaner designed for marble surfaces. Change the mop water if it becomes discolored to prevent spreading dirt across your clean floor.
Use a solution of 0.5 cup ammonia to 1 gallon of warm water to clean the floor. Since ammonia has a strong odor, it should only be used in well-ventilated areas. So, open a window, do not spend a long time in the room after using the solution, and let it dissipate for a couple of hours before reentering. Do not soak your marble floor in the solution and wring out any extra solution from the mop or cloth before washing the floor. Dry the floor with a soft towel as soon as you are finished to prevent watermarks or rust stains which can remain on marble that contains iron oxide when it interacts with water.
How to Polish a Marble Floor
It is not recommended to use polish on marble as it can not only damage the surface, but a polished floor can also be dangerously slippery as marble is already so smooth. Use a dry towel or chamois cloth to remove the remaining water or cleaners from the marble floor. For a higher shine on your floor, make a paste from half water and half baking soda, and apply it over the marble gently. Let it dry and then remove the remainder with water and a soft cloth.
Maintaining a Marble Floor
In order to keep it in its best condition, it is important to take care of your marble surfaces and regularly clean it. It is recommended that homeowners give their marble a dry clean with a soft cloth or dust mop once a week for each person and/or pet in a household. Weekly sweeping should be enough for a single-person home. In the event that something spills on a marble floor, it should be cleaned immediately to prevent deep stains. As a porous rock, marble absorbs liquid which makes removing marks difficult. Consider purchasing rugs to cover and protect high-traffic areas.
Why Choose California Marble?
California Marble is one of the industry leaders in natural stone and concrete restoration on the West Coast. We are thrilled to offer our excellent services including garage floor coatings, concrete coatings, driveway coatings, marble polishing, and natural stone restoration.
California Marble proudly services the areas of Huntington Beach, Irvine, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, and Rancho Mission Viejo.
Whatever your natural stone or concrete restoration needs are, California Marble is here to help you. So, give California Marble a try today!
Get A Free Quote
If you want to get rid of old, ugly, bare, cracked floors, dull marble floors, and lifeless natural stone at your home or business, we suggest calling the experts at California Marble. Our floor specialists use the highest-grade materials for exceptional results.
Receive a free quote at (800)-421-3152 or get a quote online at www.california-marble.com.