Caring For White Marble Countertops

One splash can etch the marble leaving a permanent dull scar.

Caring for white marble countertops.

Marble care and maintenance 101 a marble kitchen counter or bathroom vanity is a big purchase for any homeowner. For most organic food stains the marble institute recommends cleaning with a solution of 12 hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia. Don t use soap as it is fat based and can cause the stone to darken. Quarried in the mountains around the province of carrara italy this gray and white stone is used for tile countertops tabletops and decorative statues around the world.

You can use a cleaner specifically meant for marble or store bought detergent. Because acid etching leaves a whitish mark it is much more noticeable on colored marble than on. Once the stains disappear you should clean the counter and reapply sealant. Because it is absorbent marble countertops and vanities need special care.

Here s what you need to know before the decision s set in stone. For marble kitchen countertops however nussbaum generally recommends sticking with white marble. Like all marble carrara is soft and porous and requires care to help maintain its surface texture and beauty. Splashes of acidic foods and drinks like tomatoes citrus fruits sodas coffee wine fruit juice and even vinegar will damage marble.

Coffee tea fruit juice and other organic stains will usually come off after placing a paper towel soaked in bleach over the spot and leaving it for 24 hours. What s not loved is the difficulty in cleaning and caring for this elegant veined stone. Don t miss these 5 tips on caring for marble countertops including details on sealing marble counters removing stains from marble cleaning marble countertops and avoiding scratches. By acidic substance we mean common household substances like milk wine tomato juice or lemon juice.

Clean the marble with warm water and detergent. If you spilled anything oil based like a vinaigrette. When you use a marble countertop for food preparation you will need to wipe up any spills immediately.