Getting Marble Clean

Considering how popular marble is in today's world, it only stands to reason that you will find it necessary to do some cleaning of it every once in a while. For many people cleaning marble is a confusing task that they just can't really seem to get handle on. Cleaning marble is something that you can do, and do properly, if you only keep a few things in mind. Keep in mind these guidelines are just that—guidelines for cleaning most kinds of marble.

• Identify your marble. There are all kinds of marble out there, and not all of them can be cleaned the same way. In fact, there are instances where the cleaning method for one type of marble can actually damage or ruin other types. In order to really get a handle on cleaning marble you will need to first identify the marble that you have. This will allow you to research marble specific cleaning methods, and ensure that you don't damage or ruin a very expensive home investment.
• Identify your stain. Different types of stains will often require different methods for cleaning or removing them. Generally speaking there are three types of stains that can be found on marble, and those are oil, organic, and rust stains. Oil stains can come from anything that has petroleum as an ingredient (this means things like lotion, butter, baby oil, and other kinds of oils). Organic stains can be made from food products and other biologically based items (such as plants). Rust can simply come from anything that is metallic and wet being left on the marble to dry.
• Remove the stain. Once you have identified the type stain, you can begin getting rid of it. Usually you can remove rust stains by simply using a commercially made rust remover. However, you will want to make sure that the kind that you use is marble safe, since it could have acid as an ingredient which could damage your marble. Most organic stains can be removed by simply using a mixture of 20 percent hydrogen peroxide, half a tablespoon of ammonia, and some water placed into a spray bottle. Spray the stain, and then allow it to sit for up to ten minutes before wiping it away with a rag. This method also works well with oil based stains. Within a day of using this cleaning agent on your marble, make sure that you wash the area with some warm soapy water to help reduce the chance of any damage to the marble.
• Prevent and protect. It is always better to prevent a stain from forming, than it is to clean up after it. The easiest way to do this is by sealing the marble with the right kind of sealer, and being careful about what you put onto it. While it may be necessary to put a dirty object on your marble, do not leave it there longer than is necessary.