A countertop is one of the bigger purchases you will make for your home, and it is not only an investment but also a responsibility: you have to know how to care for it. That is especially true of marble.
First, a quick look at the countertop materials available. Some countertops are man-made, such as laminate, glass, and concrete. Then there are engineered stone countertops like quartz, in which crushed natural stone is mixed with a binding resin to make a durable, consistent surface. Finally, there are natural stone countertops. For the marble options in particular, see our guide to the types of marble for kitchen countertops.
Natural stone countertops are slabs of stone cut directly from quarries and shipped to sellers worldwide. Of all the natural stones, marble is one of the most admired. It is also one of the more expensive countertop materials you can choose, and it is far from perfect.
Like other natural stones, marble is durable and beautiful, but it marks more easily than most. You can even end up with permanent stains if you aren’t careful. This guide covers how to clean your marble kitchen countertops and keep them looking their best.
Marble: What You Need to Know
Before we talk about how to clean a marble countertop, it helps to understand why it matters. Like many other natural stones, marble is a porous material. It has tiny pores, so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Because of these pores, liquids can seep into the surface of a marble countertop. It is easy for a liquid to seep in and very hard to get it out again.
This means that if a dark-colored liquid like coffee, wine, or soy sauce spills on your countertop and is left to sit, there is a good chance it will leave a stain. Stains like these can be very difficult to remove completely; often you can only lighten them.
The good news is that marble countertops are sealed. Sealing means treating the marble with a sealant that makes it more resistant to water and stains. The sealant does wear off over time, though, so it has to be reapplied regularly; once a year is a common guideline.
What You Should Do
When it comes to spills and dirt on a marble kitchen countertop, keep a soft cloth or another non-abrasive wiper nearby. A microfiber cloth is a good choice because it has no abrasive texture. You can also use a soft sponge, but don’t press too hard when wiping.
Many people make the beginner’s mistake of using abrasive cleaners on their countertop and come to regret it. Marble is prone to scratching, so wiping it down with steel wool, a scouring pad, or any other abrasive material is a bad idea, as it can leave a permanent scratch on the surface. If something has dried and stuck to the surface, soften it with hot water first so it can be wiped away with the cloth.
Having a cloth within arm’s reach, especially when you are cooking, is essential because the key to keeping marble clean is fast action. The sooner you remove a spill, the smaller the chance of a stain.
Be just as careful about the cleaning agent you use, because the wrong one can discolor marble. A mix of mild dish soap and water is a safe solution for everyday cleaning. Alternatively, you can buy a cleaner made for natural stone, though these cost a bit more.
Last but not least, keep your marble countertop’s sealing up to date. Resealing is a service often offered by the company that supplied the countertop. Letting the seal lapse leaves the stone more exposed to staining.
The key is to be gentle with your marble countertop. Durable as it is, it has a few vulnerabilities. With good care, a marble countertop can last for decades.
What You Should Avoid
As much as possible, avoid spills on the surface. Water and other clear liquids are less of a concern if wiped up promptly, but dark-colored liquids like soy sauce and cola can cause serious staining.
Aside from being careful, you can place a mat on the countertop when you are working with dark-colored ingredients. If a spill happens, the mat protects the surface. Of course, you still want to wipe up quickly.
We also suggest investing in a good, durable cutting board or butcher’s block. It gives you a safe place to cut meat, vegetables, and fruit without risking stains or scratches on the countertop, and a good one can last for years.
As for what you clean the surface with, avoid anything abrasive. Even if you are careful, you risk scratching the countertop, and those scratches can be permanent.
Avoid harsh chemicals such as bleach and strong detergents. While they can sanitize the surface, they can also discolor it, and that discoloration can be permanent. For the same reason, avoid acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon juice, which can etch and dull marble.
If keeping up with your countertop feels like too much work, you can hire stone care professionals to do it for you. They can also advise you on how to look after the surface between visits.
Cleaning a marble kitchen countertop isn’t hard, but it does take some know-how and consistency. With the right habits, and quick action on spills above all, you can keep your marble in very good condition for a long time. A well-kept marble countertop is also a selling point if you ever put your home on the market.