Marble is an extremely popular material for kitchen worktops and fireplace surrounds. Like any surface though, a marble top will need some cleaning, and a marble top that is in a kitchen is likely to become stained at some point. Removing stains from a marble top is not a difficult thing to do, but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it.

How not to clean a marble top

Before looking at how to remove stains from a marble top it is essential to know what not to do, as it can cause damage to marble, damage which can only be rectified with re-polishing. The first thing to remember is not to use a scouring pad, or other abrasive material. Marble may be a hard substance, but it is not immune to being scratched. There are also a number of cleaning products that should be voided especially abrasive cleaners, things like grout cleaners. Additionally though the likes of bleach should be avoided and even acidic cleaners like vinegar.

How to remove stains from a marble top

There are a multitude of specialised marble cleaners available to buy, and indeed many household cleaners will do the job, although they should be non-abrasive. The first step in removing stains from a marble top is to wash down the surface with a damp rag, one which has been immersed in warm soapy water. The cleaner should then be applied with a soft cloth. After the stain has been removed the marble top should then be polished with a marble polish product, one which normally contains tin oxide or similar.

If not using a specialised marble cleaner, then there are some natural cleaning materials that can be used. Baking soda is one of the most universal and effective of all cleaning products and if a paste is made from it then this can be used on the stain. The ideal method of use is to allow the paste to remain on the stain for a couple of minutes, before cleaning it away with warm soapy water.

Prevention is a lot better than cure though, and it is best to make use of place mats and coasters under glasses and pans to prevent future spills. Any spills should be cleaned up as well before they can stain the marble top.

Marble tops may seem indestructible and although it is easy enough to remove stains, care needs to be taken in the process to ensure that damage is not caused to the marble top at the same time as it is being cleaned.

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