Marble is a beautiful stone that is used for making countertops and it is even used in bathrooms for other fixtures. If you are looking for ways to keep your marble countertops from damaging too much, then you should look out for these things.
Acids Are Bad For Marble Countertops
Acids are aggressive towards marble and they can instantly dissolve the stone and spoil its look. These acids are not just from chemical cleaners, but they can also come from simple things in the kitchen like fruits, certain spices, and juices. Citric acid is a common component in a lot of fruits, so if you start to cut fruits on top of the marble countertop, the citric acid will, over time, spoil the marble and react with it.
Don’t Take Heat Resistance For Granted
Marble is a natural stone, so essentially it is heat resistant. But you shouldn’t test the limits by putting hot pots and pans directly on the surface of the marble. Marble is a light material and the slightest of stains will show on the surface.
Even though marble cannot be singed easily with hot stuff, you still want to protect it by using trivets. Trivets will put a barrier between the countertop and the hot pan and it will also make the pan cool quickly. Burn and heat stains can easily ruin the marble and they are quite obvious on the light-colored material.
Don’t Skip Cleaning Of Marble Countertops
Daily cleaning is a must for all kinds of countertops. It makes the countertops look cleaner and you don’t need to deep clean everything. It also doesn’t take a lot of time to clean the countertops on a daily basis. All you need for marble countertops is a mixture of liquid soap or a pH-balanced cleaner with some lukewarm water. Apply this mixture with a wet washcloth and use another slightly damp microfiber cloth and wipe the countertops away. This will make your countertops look good as new and there will be little to no stains at all.
Sealing Once Is Not Enough
Natural stones need to be sealed to make them waterproof, otherwise, water and other liquids can penetrate deep into the stone and cause permanent stains and damage. You will need to seal these countertops on a yearly basis, or sometimes even twice a year. This may sound very repetitive, but it will save you from so much damage and wastage of money if you choose to seal it only once and call it a day.
Your countertops will be stronger, waterproof and stain proof and they will retain their lustrous look after years have passed.
Bleach Is A Foe Of Marble Countertops
Bleach is not something that you should use on marble countertops. Bleach is also a highly reactive material and it needs to be kept at bay from the equally reactive material, marble. Bleach can literally eat up the stone and form small chips on the surface of the countertop.
If you want to disinfect the countertop, then you can use concentrated isopropyl alcohol and use it directly on the countertop with a wet wipe. This will easily disinfect the countertop without damaging it. Bleach tends to etch the stone and this can ruin the stone altogether.
Avoid Scrubbing Or Vigorous Cleaners
Another thing you want to avoid using on marble is abrasive cleaners and scrubbers. Marble is a very soft material and it doesn’t need to be scrubbed. You just need to wipe it down with a soft microfiber cloth and you will be good to go.
Using reactive cleaners will also damage the countertop beyond repair, as there are very reactive chemicals in the cleaners that will ruin the stone. Also, you should avoid using sharp knives and objects directly on the surface of marble as well, as this will scratch the countertop, almost permanently.
Conclusion
There you have it! Marble is an extremely maintenance-heavy material and it is also quite delicate, so you need to take care of it properly, in order to make it last longer. Similar to granite countertops, marble counters require sealing as well. A professional from a granite company Raleigh NC can perform it on request.
