How to Clean Marble Floors – The DO’s and DON’Ts

Marble has been used for statues and buildings since ancient times and it is one of the most visually impressive materials to use in the interior of your home. The addition of a marble floor in your home will not only enhance its appearance, but also boost its value. However, it is important to properly maintain your marble floors in order to extend their life and keep their visually stunning appearance. The following are the DO’s and DON’Ts of how to clean and maintain marble floors.

Cleaning marble floors

Cleaning Marble Floors

It helps to understand how marble is naturally formed to determine the best ways to clean and polish marble floors. Marble is a natural stone that is formed from sea shell deposits that contain the chemical compound calcium carbonate. Cleaning products that contain acids should never be used on marble floors because the acid will destroy the calcium carbonate and eventually turn your marble into sand. Vinegar is one of the most commonly used cleaning agents for floors and counters but it contains acid so it should never be used to clean marble.

The best method for cleaning marble floors is to wipe them down with a soft cloth dipped in a specific cleaning solution. This solution can be created by mixing 3 tablespoons of baking soda into 1 quart of warm water. Completely submerge the cloth in this solution and wring it out before using it to wipe down the marble floor. Make sure you avoid abrasive cleaners with difficult stains because they will cause more harm to the marble. After you clean the entire floor, let it dry for a couple of hours and rinse it with clean water.

For quick marble floor polishing, take a regular stick of white chalk and crush it into a powder. Then dip a damp wash rag into the chalk powder and rub the chalk into the marble. After giving it a minute to dry, rinse the marble with clean water and dry the floor thoroughly with a rag.

Maintaining Polished Marble Floors

Marble is one of the most beautiful natural stone surfaces used for decorative and building purposes but the polished surface is vulnerable to scratches. There are several precautions you can take in regards to your furniture and cleaning routines to protect your polished marble floors from scratches. Furniture is the most likely source of scratches on a marble floor and should be placed on a rug or carpet. If you do not have rugs or a carpet in a room with marble floors, you can use furniture pads under the table legs and chairs to protect the marble. Furniture pads are available in many different sizes and once they are applied to the furniture legs, the furniture can be safely slid over the marble floor if it needs to be moved.

How to clean marble floors

You can also avoid scratching your marble floors by practicing proper cleaning techniques. Marble floors should be swept up with a dust mop, not a regular broom because the bristles are too abrasive. When the floor needs to be mopped, it is best to use a sponge dipped in clean water as opposed to a traditional mop. Submerge the sponge in the clean water and wring out as much water as you can before lightly wiping the entire floor. You will have to frequently dip the sponge back into the water to rinse the collected dirt. After you are done cleaning the floor, you must dry it thoroughly to remove all water and moisture because the moisture could damage the marble surface.

How to Spot Clean Marble Floors

Like most types of floors, marble floors are susceptible to stains and these tips will help you remove common stains with household items. Regardless of the type of stain, it is important to take action right away and not allow the stain any time to set.

• Sugar Stains: Sugar stains such as soda or juice can be removed by using a sponge that is damp with warm water and a couple drops of liquid dish soap. Scrub out the stain with the sponge and rinse the area with clean water.
• Food Stains: When food is dropped in your marble floor, clean up as much of the food product as possible and scrub the stain with a sponge wet with warm, soapy water and some hydrogen peroxide. After rubbing the stain, rinse it with water and dry thoroughly.

Marble floor can bring much beauty and value to your home but it is important that you know how to clean marble floors to preserve their life and their beauty. You should avoid acidic and abrasive cleaners and take every measure you can to keep the floor protected from direct contact with furniture and other heavy objects. If you are not comfortable cleaning your marble floors or if they need polishing, contact a natural stone professional who specializes in maintaining marble surfaces. With the right care and maintenance, you can preserve the impressive look of your marble floors for years to come.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.