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Table of Contents

DEFINITIONS 4

HOW TO CLEAN MARBLE 6 TIPS TO SELECTING A MARBLE CLEANER 6 STEPS TO CLEANING MARBLE 7

MARBLE STAIN REMOVAL 8 STAIN REMOVAL USING A MARBLE POULTICE 8 TYPES OF MARBLE STAINS 9 RUST STAINS 9 OIL BASED STAINS 9 ORGANIC STAINS 9 INK STAINS 9 STEPS TO MAKING AND USING A MARBLE POULTICE 9

PROTECT YOUR MARBLE 11 MARBLE SEALERS 11 DO YOU NEED MARBLE SEALER? 12 WHAT THE WATER TEST TELLS US 12 ADDITIONAL TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR MARBLE 13

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Definitions Marble Sealer

A Marble Sealer is an impregnator sealer that is made up of a liquid based solvent (typically water based) and a solid resin. The solvent is the carrier that penetrates the pours in the stone surface and then evaporates leaving behind the solid resin that plugs the marble's pours. Once the marble’s pours are clogged, the marble sealer effectively accomplishes its purpose of preventing stains by blocking foreign substances from penetrating the surface and thus preventing staining of the marble.

Finishes:

The marble finish refers to the surface finish that is applied by the marble fabricator before the marble is delivered to the show room. There are two main types of marble surface finishes. Polished Marble – a very beautiful shiny surface finish that delivers the best-looking marble surface that shows the true color of the marble.

Honed Marble – Another very popular surface finish that delivers a satin look that does not look as shiny and colorful as polished marble. This is a much more durable surface finish compared to polished marble, and is therefore used very frequently on marble floors. Marble Poultice Two part stain removal mixture that is made up of a liquid solvent and a white absorbent material

that is the consistency of peanut butter. When mixed correctly a marble poultice is a very effective stain removal technique.

Marble Etch Mark

An Etch Mark is a light dull mark on your marble that occurs when an acid chemically reacts with your marble’s surface resulting in the acid dissolving part of the marble’s surface. A light dull mark results because once part of the marble’s surface is dissolved, marble below the surface is now visible. This newly exposed marble is unpolished unlike its

Before we get started lets go through a couple of general definitions used quite frequently when discussing marble care.

Rough Marble prior to surface finish

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surroundings so it looks dull compared to the marble around it, thus creating those ugly dull marks.

Marble is made up of calcium carbonate, which violently reacts with acidic agents. This creates a lot of misconception with marble owners about the difficultly of marble care. Many owners feel that their marble surface stains so easily, but really marble “etches” so easily. Etch marks will be created almost instantly upon contact with acids. But the good news is, if you avoid acids around your marble thus avoiding marble etching, cleaning and maintaining marble is pretty easy because stains rarely occur on marble and when they do they are pretty easy to remove. See our section below on stain removal. Since acids cause those dull marks so easily, be very careful with acid products around your marble. Things like lemon juice, vinegar, and tomato sauce are very common etch mark producers in the kitchen. Also, be very careful with general household cleaners! Many of these cleaners are acid based to increase there cleaning power. But unfortunately when used with marble, rather than cleaning your marble, they will just create dull marks all over your surface.

Marble Etch Mark sometime called "Water Ring"

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How To Clean Marble The most important first step to marble care is to be very diligent and regularly clean your marble. By doing this you will prevent annoying problems like soap scum buildup, wine stains, or marble etching. All of which takes time and sometimes a lot of money to fix. By just cleaning your marble after use and on a regular basis most problems will be prevented and marble care will seem like a breeze! Ok enough on the importance of cleaning your marble. Let's talk about what you will need to do it, and how to actually get the cleaning done.

Tips To Selecting a Marble Cleaner

1. Only clean marble using a cleaner specially designed to clean marble. Your typical household cleaner can contain acids that may create etch marks on your marble surface.

2. Be careful using toilet and tub cleaners near your marble bathroom floors. In most cases these cleaners contain acids and will do serious damage to your beautiful marble floors.

3. If you do not have a marble cleaner on hand, and need to clean your marble surfaces we recommend making a homemade marble cleaner. On a temporary basis, using a homemade marble cleaner is a very good option compared to chancing a normal household cleaner or just using water. To make the cleaner, mix 2-3 drops of a mild dish detergent into a bowl of water. Then get to cleaning! For more information on homemade cleaners see our informational guide on homemade marble cleaners.

4. Vinegar is a highly recommended cleaning product for a lot of different household stains because it is acidic and has some serous stain fighting power. However, it's horrible for marble! Since vinegar is acidic it aggressively reacts with marble creating etch marks. If you use vinegar to clean your marble, it will look much worse than it did when you started!

5. For tough stains like soap scum and mildew use a product that is specifically designed to tackle the problem on marble. This way the marble cleaners will safely do all the

Pro Tip: Don’t know what marble cleaner to buy? We did 21 hours of research and 9 hours of testing on 6 different products to determine the best marble cleaner on the market. Check out our Ultimate Buyer’s Guide to Best Marble Cleaner.

“If a homeowner cleans their countertops after each meal, they will rarely, if ever, have staining or clean-ability issues.”

-The Marble Institute of America

Example of bathroom cleaner that contains acids

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heavy lifting and you can sit back and watch. See our recommendation here.

Steps to Cleaning Marble Cleaning marble surfaces is really pretty easy once you have the right tools. Check out our simple video that details the general process for a marble countertop, but the process is really the same for any marble surface. Step 1: Wipe down your marble surface Use a clean rag or microfiber towel and wipe down the surface and ensure that all lose dirt and grit is gone from the surface. If you are cleaning marble floors then try using a duster or broom for this! Dirt acts like an abrasive in later steps so you need to get ride of it now! Step 2: Spray your marble cleaner onto the surface Follow the instructions on the marble cleaner and apply it to your marble surface. Be sure to completely cover the surface with the cleaner. Be sure to follow the instructions because some cleaners like our recommended mildew remover may need to sit on the marble surface for a couple of minutes to do the real cleaning! Step 3: Wipe up the marble cleaner Whether you are using a clean microfiber towel or mop, be sure to completely remove the marble cleaner from the surface.

If your surface is really dirty and your towel or mop keeps getting dirty you may want to clean your towel or mop in intervals and possibly reapply the marble cleaner. Avoid using a dirty towel because you will begin to generate streaks on your surface. Step 4: Wipe the surface dry After cleaning, wipe the surface completely dry. If you are cleaning marble floors this may not be practical and we recommend providing proper air circulation to ensure the floors dry quickly and effectively. This is important because when water is left on the surface hard water spots or streaks can form making all your hard work seem unproductive! For more tips on cleaning marble see all our articles on marble cleaning here!

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Marble Stain Removal If you have completed cleaning your marble and you still have stains or spots on your marble surface you most likely have stains on your marble that will need a more robust method of removal. Tough stains occur on marble when foreign substances are given time to penetrate the pours of the marble. You will see a lot of talk on the Internet about marble being a "very" porous stone and statements that say marble "stains easily." However, for the most part this is very untrue. Marble is a hard relatively non-porous rock, however, like any natural stone if foreign objects (especially liquids) are given enough time they will penetrate the stone and create stains. It is true that marble is more porous than granite, but this fact holds true for granite as well. Once the foreign liquid has penetrated the stone and set in, you will need a more robust method than a towel and marble cleaner to remove. But do not worry, it is not difficult.

Stain Removal Using a Marble Poultice The Marble Institute of America defines a marble poultice as “A liquid cleaner or chemical mixed with a white absorbent material to form a paste about the consistency of peanut butter.” Check out this great video that explains the marble poultice and its application by the Marble Institute of America. A marble poultice is first applied to the surface of the marble above the stain. The liquid part of the poultice will be partially

absorbed by the marble and will slowly draw out the stains from the marble pours into the white paste material. This is a lengthy and slow process so the poultice needs to sit on top of the stain for at least 48 hours. The marble poultice is made up of two parts: a liquid solvent and a solid white absorbent material. To build the most effective marble poultice you want to select a liquid solvent that will work best on your specific stain. So do your best to identify the root cause of your stain, as this is the key to building and using an effective poultice. If you know the origin of your stain, look below to your specific stain for details. If you are not sure where your stain came from check out the below stain identification tips. Stain Identification Tips

1. Think about what objects are typically used near the area of the stain. For example, coffee stains will show up on a marble kitchen countertop near the coffee maker; or rust stains will show up near metal decorations and a water source.

2. Look at the color and shape of the stain. The color may indicate what left the stain behind, or the shape may indicate what object carried the staining agent.

“Identifying the type of stain on the stone surface is the key to removing it.” -The Marble Institute of America

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Types of Marble Stains

Rust Stains Rust stains are probably the most difficult of marble stains to remove. They typically come in the shape of the metallic object that left the stain and are typically in the color of copper to brown. In some cases rust stains can be removed with a marble poultice. The most effective solvent for rust stains is a liquid commercial rust remover. Be sure to buy a rust remover that is non-acidic, this is critical because an acidic rust remover will make the problem worse. To make the poultice view the poultice section below. If this method does not work we recommend contacting your local marble professional.

Oil Based Stains Oil Based Stains are typically light brown to yellow in color; examples include milk, peanut butter, or hand lotions. They can be removed with a marble poultice made with acetone or mineral spirits.

Organic Stains Organic Stains are typically noticed once the item that makes the stain is removed, and typically darken the stone to a light pinkish-brown to dark brown color. Examples include coffee, leaves, bird droppings, or flowers.

They can be removed with a Marble Poultice made with a solvent of 6 % hydrogen peroxide.

Ink Stains Ink Stains are very common. They show up a lot of times in the color of the ink pen, highlighter, or wine that left them behind. They are typically water or alcohol based, and when the water or alcohol evaporates the pigments or colors left in the liquids remain as a stain. They can be removed with a Marble Poultice made with a solvent of 6 % hydrogen peroxide or ammonia. If you have an ink, rust, organic, or oil based stain then follow the below steps with the suggested solvent.

Recommended Solvents For Marble Poultice Type of Stain Poultice Solvent

Rust Stain Commercial Rust Remover Oil Based Stain Acetone or Mineral Spirits Organic Stain 6 % Hydrogen Peroxide

Ink Stain 6 % Hydrogen Peroxide or Ammonia

Steps To Making and Using a Marble Poultice Step 1: Make the Marble Poultice

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Add one cup of the recommended solvent into a mixing bowl (you may require more than a cup if your stain is large, this mixture is scalable) Mix the white absorbent material in the bowl with the solvent (Tip: about 1 pound of solid absorbent material is needed for every square foot of stain) The Marble Institute of America recommends using kaolin, fuller's earth, whiting, diatomaceous earth, powdered chalk, white molding plaster, talc, white cotton balls, or white paper towels. You can also use baking soda or white flour. When finished, the Marble Poultice should be the consistency of peanut butter or cake icing. Step 2: Clean the Stained area Wipe the stain clean of any loose girt or dirt and clean with a marble cleaner. Then wet the surface with the mineral water. Be sure the stain is covered in a small amount of water. The water will allow for the poultice to penetrate the pours of the marble and remove the stain! Step 3: Apply the Marble Poultice Apply the poultice to the entire stain and add an extra inch of poultice around the stain. It should be about ¼ to ½ inches tall off the surface of the marble. Step 4: Check and Prep the Poultice

Check to ensure there are no air pockets left in the poultice, and then completely cover the poultice with plastic wrap and secure with the masking tape. Step 5: Wait Let the poultice completely harden and dry. This should take approximately 48 hours.

Step 6: Remove the Poultice Remove the masking tape and plastic wrap. Then dampen the poultice by adding about ¼ of a cup of water over the poultice. Remove the poultice with a plastic or wooden spatula. Then clean the surface with warm water and dry completely. This process may require repeating if the stain is not removed. In most cases one more attempt should do the trick! For more information see our how to guide on marble stain removal.

“The liquid part of the poultice will be partially absorbed by the marble and will slowly draw out the stains from the marble pours into the white paste material. This is a lengthy and slow process so the poultice needs to sit on top of the stain for at least 48 hours.”

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Protect your Marble Now that we have discussed how to clean and maintain your marble, and how to remove stains if they occur; let’s discuss ways your can protect your marble from stains and other problems to keep your investment looking great for the future.

Marble Sealers Marble sealer is a surface treatment applied to the marble to clog the pours of the marble surface and prevent foreign substances from penetrating the surface thus preventing stains. Marble sealers are impregnator sealers that are made up of a liquid based solvent (typically water based) and a solid resin. The solvent is the carrier that penetrates the pours in the stone surface and then evaporates leaving behind the solid resin that plugs the marble's pours. Impregnator sealers are below the surface sealers, and once they have been applied and absorbed by the stone they do an excellent job at preventing stains. However, this is the only function of the marble sealer, and it will not affect the surface appearance of the stone. For example, the sealer will not polish the stone, or shine the surface, or protect the shine of the surface. The marble sealer will not protect the stone from common wear, and will not protect against acidic substances that can cause etching. The marble sealer prevents stains by clogging the marble's pours and blocking foreign liquids from penetrating the stone and leaving a stain behind.

For example when you spill coffee on your marble countertop, if given ample time, the coffee will penetrate the marble surface. If the coffee has had time to penetrate the stone prior to wiping it up, then it will be too late. The liquid will already be inside the stone, and once it has time to evaporate it will leave behind a stain. The marble sealer prevents the coffee from getting into the pours, thus preventing the stain from occurring. Good marble sealers do a great job at preventing stains, however, marble sealers should not just be applied blindly to any marble surface. Your marble needs to benefit from the application of a sealer before you decide to apply it. You may ask, "How could marble not benefit from a marble sealer?" First of all, your marble may already have a marble sealer applied or your marble may naturally not absorb liquids. In both cases, liquids will not be absorbed by the marble thus making a marble sealer unnecessary since the stone already does what a marble sealer promises. Not only this, if the marble does not absorb liquids it will not absorb the marble sealer and if a sealer is applied to a marble surface like this it will not be absorbed but will dry on the marble surface creating a hazy look. To determine if your stone needs a marble sealer you need to determine if your stone will absorb liquids. To do this you can add water to your marble surface and see if it absorbs it. It is as simple as that. This test is called the Water Test, and its really that easy, and it will save you a lot of time and trouble down the road. Check out our awesome video that details the water test, and the steps to the water test are shown below.

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Do you need a Marble Sealer? The water test will tell you whether your surface already has a marble sealer. Follow the steps below. Step 1: Make sure the marble surface is dry Make sure the surface is completely dry. If water was just present on the surface, let the surface dry for 10-15 minutes. Step 2: Add water to the surface Add 1-2 teaspoons of water onto the marble surface. Start a timer, and watch the water spot very closely. Take note of any changes. Carefully observe the size of the water spot, and if the stone begins to darken along the edges of the water spot. Step 3: Let water sit on the surface After around 10 minutes, wipe up the water spot completely from the marble surface. If your surface has a dark spot where the water was present then you need to consider applying a marble sealer because the stone does not currently have a sealer. Check out the below image; water was applied to a marble surface without a marble sealer and after ten minutes of water sitting on the surface, the water was removed. Following the removal of water a dark spot was left on the surface; this shows that the marble does not have a marble sealer.

Before and After water is removed. Notice dark spot on "After" image

If water is applied to a marble surface with a marble sealer, then the marble sealer will prevent the water from penetrating the surface. Thus when you remove the water the surface will look just like it did prior to the addition of the water.

What the Water Test tells us By putting water onto your marble surface, and waiting several minutes, the water has time to penetrate the pours of the marble surface resulting in darkening of the stone. If you have a marble sealer on your marble, the sealer protects the stone from liquid

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penetrating the stone and subsequently you do not see the stone darken. Don't worry; pure water will not stain your stone. Just be sure to wipe up all the water once the test is complete.

Luckily in this case, water does not stain marble, but if the liquid was coffee then the liquid would have penetrated the stone's surface and left a stain behind. The marble sealer protects and seals the pours in the marble surface, and blocks the foreign liquids from entering the marble pours and staining the material. In short, the marble sealer helps

maintain the beauty of your stone, and protects your investment for the future. In most cases, if your marble absorbs liquids then your marble will benefit from a marble sealer. However, in some cases the stone is still best without the sealer. These cases involve marble that is in an environment where staining is very unlikely. In this case, it is best to leave the naturally beautiful stone alone, because why add something to prevent stains when there is very little chance of staining. Examples of this include marble on the walls of an office atrium or marble inside a shower. Marble inside your shower is unlikely to be stained (unless your drinking coffee inside the shower), and therefore a marble sealer may not need to be applied.

Not only is it unnecessary to seal marble in a shower, it is possibly counterproductive. Sometimes if sealers are applied to marble in the shower, water can get up under the sealer and damage the stone. There is one exception to this rule when you have Carrara Marble inside your shower. Carrara Marble typically has iron deposits inside the stone, and if a marble sealer is not applied then water will penetrate the stone over and over again and will ultimately create yellowish rust stains on each marble tile. For more information on cleaning and maintaining Carrara Marble see our how to guide to cleaning Carrara Marble. For more information about marble sealers check out our Ultimate Guide to Marble Sealers.

Additional Tips to Protect your Marble

1. Use trivets and hot plates on your marble kitchen countertops when cooking with hot items.

2. Use mats and runners on marble floors to prevent stains and scratches.

3. Clean marble countertops after use to prevent stains and other problems down the road!

4. Immediately clean up spills on your marble after they occur.

For more marble care tips check out our 9 Easy Tips to Marble Care.

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Additional Resources ________________________________________________________________________ For more information on marble cleaning and care, visit our website at www.themarblecleaner.com. If you have any further questions, please contact us at franklin@themarblecleaner.com or www.themarblecleaner.com/contact-us