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Maintaining the beauty of your natural stone surface is very easy. MARBLEX recommends the following methods for maintaining stone. In addition, we recommend the Marble Institute of America’s publication “Care & Cleaning of Natural Stone Surfaces.”
All stone may be cleaned with a mild hand dishwashing soap like "Dawn," mixed with lots of water. Once clean of debris, buff tops dry with a soft, clean cloth or dishtowel to shine as needed. Too much soap will leave a residue. A dime-sized dab of soap on a sponge is generally sufficient.
Use pH neutral cleaners only. Do not use abrasives like “Soft Scrub,” as they can scratch some stones, especially marbles.
Do not use ammonia-based products like “Windex” on marble. They can be used safely on granite.
Pay particular attention to:
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Oils, especially when hot, as they will stain granite or marble; |
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Acidic liquids like citrus juices, vinegars, or wine will change the texture of a honed marble surface to appear more rough or spotty; |
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Acids will also strip the gloss right off of any polished marble. If you spill an acidic substance on a polished marble, first wipe up the spill quickly with soapy water. Then flush the area with lots of cold water. This will help minimize the chance of etching. |
Occasionally, you may use a window cleaner and soft cloth to wipe down a granite surface in order to remove any soap or grease residue.
Spraying harsh cleaners like this directly onto the stone will degrade the sealer over time and require more frequent maintenance of your sealer.
Use blue scrubbing sponges as the green pads can scratch some stone or dull its appearance.
A sealer/impregnator, applied yearly (based on usage conditions) will help reduce the moisture absorption rate, giving you time to clean up spills. This will not however, prevent moisture from getting into stone.
If a drop of water on the stone loses its shape within several minutes, it is likely time to reapply a sealer. Depending on usage, this may be every six months, or every six years.
NOTE: Using a coaster under cold beverages will help avoid moisture stains. A water stain from condensation seeping into the stone may last for several weeks, but will eventually disappear if it is left exposed to circulating air.
MARBLEX sells a full line of professional cleaning, sealing, and maintenance products.
Citation: All descriptions are taken directly from the Marble Institute of America manual, Dimension Stone Design Manual.
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