5 Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make When Caring for Marble Floors

CARING FOR MARBLE FLOORS

Nothing says elegance like gleaming marble floors. Routine cleaning and maintenance can help marble retain its shine and beauty, but even stone can be damaged with the wrong chemicals and products. Because marble is a porous and slightly soft stone, it requires extra care to prevent scratches, dullness, and other damage. Here are 5 crucial mistakes you should avoid to keep your marble floors looking their best.

1. Allowing Spills to Sit

Marble is a porous stone, which means it absorbs liquids easily. Never allow a spill to sit on the marble, as it could penetrate and stain the stone. Clean up water and other spills right away to prevent spots and damage. Sealing marble regularly can help create a barrier that resists stains.

2. Using Acidic Cleaning Products

Cleaning products that are acidic can cause permanent damage to your marble, as the acid reacts to the calcium carbonate in the marble and eats it away. A cleaning solution with a balanced pH is best for maintaining the integrity and beauty of your stone. In addition to acids in cleaning products, take care to avoid spilling any acidic foods on marble floors. Common acidic ingredients include lemon juice, vinegar, alcohol, and tomato juice.

3. Not Using Doormats or Not Mopping Regularly

Debris, dirt, and sand are abrasive on marble floors and can scratch the surface over time. Place doormats inside and outside your home to reduce the amount of debris that gets tracked inside on shoes. It's also important to use a dry, clean dust mop to clean your floors regularly to prevent a buildup of debris. Unlike a vacuum, a dry mop can catch dirt and sand without scratching the surface of the stone. Choose an untreated mop, not an oil-treated dust mop, and run it in a single direction, not back and forth, to sweep away debris.

4. Skipping Regular Cleaning

You can maintain the luster of your marble floors by mopping regularly with a stone-safe cleaner that does not contain lemon, ammonia, or vinegar. Regular cleaning prevents an accumulation of grime and dirt while dramatically reducing etching and damage from foot traffic that grinds in debris.

5. Not Sealing Your Stone

Marble is even more porous than granite. Care for marble floors involves regularly sealing them to prevent stains by increasing water and liquid resistance. Sealing marble isn't complicated. Start by cleaning the floors thoroughly before spraying the sealer in a 3-foot section. Wipe the sealer into the marble with a lint-free cloth before the sealer can dry on the surface. Buff the surface dry with a clean lint-free cloth and allow the sealer to cure. Another mistake you’ll want to avoid is polishing your marble floors, as they can become dangerously slippery. However, it a good idea to purchase a granite polishing kit to maintain marble surfaces in your home other than your floor. For more information on caring for marble floors, get in touch with Granite Gold® today at 1-800-475-STONE.
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