Tips for Polishing Marble

Tips for Polishing Marble

For centuries, marble has appeared in homes, has been the primary material for structures, has been used to carve sculptures, and more. It’s a versatile type of limestone that architects and artisans alike love to use. However, marble can be damaged over time. Often, homes have marble countertops in the kitchen or bathroom, two sites where there are plenty of liquids, abrasive items, hard objects, and more. It’s likely that the marble in your home will get stained or suffer scratches. To keep your marble looking pristine, you’ll need to clean and polish it every so often. Marble polishing and cleaning can be easy with these helpful tips.

Maintain the Marble

It’s important that you maintain your marble countertops and regularly clean them. This will prolong the life of the marble by years. It’s not difficult to clean the marble, either – simply use a microfiber cloth, lukewarm or warm water, and a non-abrasive cleaning solution.

Refrain from using bleach on marble, as well as anything that has alkaline. Even some acidic cleaners can damage the marble. Vinegar-based cleaning products are commonly used on countertops, but you should not use them on marble. Dark marble can be treated with acetone and light marble can be treated with peroxide, but do not switch the two around or you will cause damage.

When actually cleaning the marble, use a soft cloth or soft bristle brush; anything hard or coarse will damage the marble and leave tiny etches or scratches. If there are small cuts, the damage can persist and become irreparable.

Water should be used to rinse the counter top, but do not air dry the marble. Wipe away all residue from cleaning products and water. Similarly, make sure that all spills are cleaned up immediately. If you let anything sit, it can actually get into the marble and cause unsightly stains.

Polish the Marble

Clean the marble as much as you can prior to polishing. You should not have any dirt or grime on the surface, else you’ll actually end up embedding it further into the marble.

You can use a simple kit to polish the marble. This comes with a special compound and other materials. You’ll need to purchase a grinding machine and buffing machine, though, that are designed for domestic use. Alternatively, you can use fine sandpaper to remove scratches.

Use a low-speed polisher when you’re polishing the marble, as you don’t want to damage the material. Use only a small amount of compound, and do not stay in one area for too long. Use circular motions and attend to all of the surface, as well as the edges. You can then remove any excess compound and use a damp cloth to rinse the surface more.

Allow a full 24 hours for the marble to dry before you add a sealant. This sealant will help the marble resist moisture and protect it from damages. If your marble countertops are in your kitchen, use a non-toxic sealer that is safe for food preparation. Apply the sealant gently with a soft cloth.

Our Services

Sometimes, you don’t want to go through the trouble of maintaining and polishing marble. That’s why JC Marble Restoration is here – we can attend to your countertops and make sure they’re pristine! Give us a call today and let us help you with polishing your marble countertops and floors.