Installing marble on your interior and exterior floors is a long-term investment. Marble is one of the most expensive stones for kitchen countertops, backsplash, and floors. As tempting as it sounds to have marble in your house, keeping it clean and fresh is quite difficult. You can’t use any random detergent on composite marble. Note that engineered marble is not the natural marble floor. It’s rather an artificial material consisting of resins. One of the many benefits of marble is that it requires minimal maintenance.
So, how do you keep the surface clean? Which detergent is perfect for your kitchen marble? And how frequently should you clean marble? In this post, we have listed the steps for cleaning your marble floor efficiently. Here’s how you can keep your marble looking fresh and clean for years.
Dos and Don’ts
As a general rule, you should clean your marble floors with a soft pH-neutral detergent that removes the dirt and stain marks from the surface without fading the color. You don’t need to spend unnecessarily on a marble-specific cleaning detergent, although getting one can be a good idea. The regular dish soap works fine for just about any type of marble floor — be it the marble with a polished finish or an engineered marble.
For proper cleaning, get a bucket full of warm water and pour a few drops of the cleaning detergent. Mix it well and use a soft cloth to wipe the surface. Make sure you don’t use too much soap on the floor, as it might leave residue behind. Composite marbles available at Johnson Marble & Quartz come in light colors, such as Regal White, Regal Beige, Snowflakes Plus, and Grey William (to name a few). These colors are likely to catch stains from spills immediately.
Before you buy a cleaning detergent, check the list of the ingredients on the product’s label to see if it contains any harmful chemical, acid, or bleach. Any toxic chemical should not touch the marble, as it might fade the color of the surface and harm the material. Any detergent used for removing rust should also not come in contact with your composite marble floor, as it most likely contains potent chemicals that can ruin the color of the floor. Likewise, alkali can also cause serious damage to the floor.
Protect Your Marble from Stains
Even if it’s an engineered marble made of durable and versatile materials, it is likely to catch stains and dirt marks quickly. There’s nothing you can do to remove the stain that sits on the marble floor for a prolonged period. The best you can do is to wipe the floor as soon as you spill something on marble. The sooner the stain is removed, the lesser the risk of your floor getting dirty. Another important thing to remember when cleaning the stains is to blot them instead of wiping them. Wiping will spread the stain across the floor, making the stain more visible. You must be extra careful with the beverage and other liquid stains. These marks tend to leave a permanent stain on the floor, especially composite marble.
Depending on the type of marble you buy, you may want to invest in a high-quality sealant. A sealant will protect the floor from getting stained. Even if you spill something on the marble floor, you can rest easy knowing that the liquid won’t penetrate the sealed marble floor. Sealing is an exception if you have composite or engineered marble. However, it is highly recommended for people who want to keep their floor looking as good as new.
Cleaning Composite Marble Countertops
Marble has become a popular choice for kitchen countertops and backsplash walls. Since cooking requires working with acidic ingredients and liquids that have the potential to leave strong stains if spilled, it is important to clean the countertops with potent detergents. It is extremely important if you have a composite marble countertop. You must not use the vegetables and fruit cutters directly on the countertop. Instead, use a cutting board. You can also use a silicone mat to protect the floor from unnecessary stains.
The best quality of the marble is that it’s heat resistant. You can use grills, microwaves, and other heating appliances on your marble countertop. Then again, you must clean the countertop immediately if you have spilled something. Vinegar, tomato juice, tea, coffee, and other liquid stains leave a permanent mark on the floor if left unaddressed for long.
How do You Remove Stains from Marble Floors?
You must try to remove spills as quickly as possible, but at times, it may not be possible. You might not see the stain or clean it in time. Any floor, whether it’s composite marble or quartz, will start staining when the liquid penetrates the surface. So, how do you remove the spills that have started staining? Hydrogen peroxide solutions, in conjunction with a couple of drops of ammonia, work wonders for a stain of an organic substance. Acetone is used for removing the ink stains from light or dark marble.
Do not use soap on the marble floor. If used regularly, it might create a scum film that can fade the color of the marble floor and leave a stain that makes your floor dull and outdated. You can find hand-crafted marble at Johnson Marble & Quartz, each offering a unique finish and creating a seamless surface. These are composite marbles designed to last for years. Stains from spills are pretty uncommon on these marble surfaces, but regular cleaning and basic maintenance are important to maintain the luster and beauty of the surface.
Bottom Line
Avoid abrasive cleaners on your composite marble floors. Engineered marble is less likely to get stained easily from spills. So, it is a perfect option for your kitchen countertops, backsplash walls, and other areas. Follow the above tips for cleaning your marble floors and pay special attention to the detergents you use on this surface.
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