Marble Tile

Keeping your Marble Tile Pretty

Marble tile is a stone that’s polished and has found its way into many homes because of its beauty and elegance. It may be white or colored. Marble is porous, and easily stained, or etched by acids. You’ll want to avoid setting beverage glasses directly on marble because this will leave rings.

To prevent stains and soil from being absorbed into its porous surface, you’ll need to seal marble with a paste or sealer. Acids cause sudden death to your marble so take care to keep them from direct contact with any marble surface. Alkaline solutions are another problem they’re absorbed by the marble and break down the surface leaving it rough. If Marble Tiles are properly sealed, all you’ll need to clean it is a damp mop. For the tough dirt, wash the tile with a solution of mild detergent and water, then rinse thoroughly. Remove stains promptly.

Removing Stains from Your Marble Tile

First try to rub the stain out with a sponge. If simple cleaning didn’t remove the stain then a poultice can be made with powdered whiting and hydrogen peroxide or, depending on the stain, a chemical-reducing agent. The wipe should be left on the stain from 1 to 48 hours, depending on the age and depth of the stain. Make a plastic wrap, keep it in place with masking tape; this should be put over the wiping agent to keep it damp. If a second application is needed mix a fresh batch of the poultice.

Acids such as fruit juice, carbonated beverages or other acids will etch marble tile, or damper the shiny surface of your marble tile if it’s not wiped up immediately. You’ll still need to wipe the surface with a wet cloth. If the surface is etched, some form of polishing may be required to bring back the shine.

Oil stains such as butter, cooking oil, hand cream or lotion; need to be wiped up immediately before they’re absorbed into the marble tile. If you’re marble does get an oil stain spread the surface with an absorbent fine powder such as whiting or even corn starch. After about 10 minutes, brush the powder off the stain and reapply more powder. Let it stand for 24 hours. To remove: Scrub with a hot detergent solution and a stiff brush or wipe it with ammonia-dampened cloth, next, rinse and wipe dry. If this didn’t remove the oil stain then go for a solvent. Dampen a cloth with acetone or amyl acetate, or with a home dry cleaning fluid. Be sure you have good ventilation when using these solvents. Do not use near a spark or flame, and do not leave the solution on for too long.

Organic stains such as tea, coffee, colors bleached from paper, textiles or soft drinks can leave an ugly stain on your marble tile. Use a damp cloth with a solution of 20% peroxide, the hair bleaching strength, and add to that a few drops of ammonia to wipe the stain away.

Rust stains from metal items such as lamps or metal plant pots can leave your marble tile with a nasty stain. I recommend you use a commercial rust stain remover. Follow directions exactly and don’t leave it on the marble tile surface for long periods of time because the acid in many rust removers can etch the marble surface.

For general care of your marble tile, just use a dust mop or a Swiffer SweeperⓇ on interior floors frequently. Sand dirt and grit cause the most damage to natural stone surfaces due to their abrasive qualities. Mats or area rugs inside and outside an entrance will help to minimize the sand, dirt and grit that will scratch the stone floor. Be sure that the underside of the mat or rug is a non-slip surface.