Marble Floors: DO's and DON'Ts
Marble flooring is a great investment for any home. And although marble is, well, hard as a rock, it’s smooth surface can be easily damaged if the proper precautions are not taken. So here are some “do’s”, “dont’s” and recommended care for your marble flooring.
DO’s
Sand and grit carried in from outdoors by shoes can easily scratch and
grind your marble floor's surface like sandpaper. To prevent dirt,
water, and road salts from getting to your marble floors, you should
place large mats with waterproof backings at all entrances to your home
(helpful accessory: door mats with waterproof backings). In particular, you will want to catch road salt, which can dissolve and pit your marble’s surface .
You should also protect your marble floor by placing rugs in areas of
high traffic. And furniture legs that come in contact with the marble
floors should be fitted with special felt pads or plastic floor
protectors. And any houseplants should be placed on a special base or
stand to prevent deep stains and scratches (helpful accessory: plant mats).
And if any liquids are spilled on you marble floors, quickly remove the
spill by blotting with a paper towel (helpful accessory: plastic floor protectors). But do not wipe, since wiping will spread the spill.
DON’Ts
Marble floor tiles are porous and can easily be discolored by spills
from food, oil, ink, water damage, etc. Don’t allow any liquids or foods
containing acid to be spilled onto your marble floors. These can etch
or leave dull marks on marble surfaces. Examples of acidic liquids are
lemon juice, orange juice, carbonated beverages, cranberry juice, apple
juice, wine, tomato, etc.
The use of detergents for routine cleaning is not recommended as they
tend to dull polished stone and many contain chemicals that are harmful
to your marble’s finish. Cleaning detergents which contain acid can
cause etch marks and stains on your marble. Examples of these are tile
cleaners, vinegar, Ajax, Soft Scrub, etc. And cleaning solutions that
contain high alkaline levels or bleach can also damage marble floors and
cause it to lose its shine.
Avoid dragging heavy objects or leaving sharp items on the floor, as
these can cause deep scratches or gouges that are permanent. And do not
allow your marble to come in contact with materials that can stain the
surface, such as items made of iron, bronze, copper, oil and grease,
ink, tobacco, and smoke.
Tap water can also damage a marble floor. Local water could contain
chlorine, salts, magnesium, potassium and other minerals. When water is
used regularly to clean a marble floor, it may ruin certain types of
marble by causing pitting, spalling and yellowing.
And never attempt to remove stains or deposits by scraping, scouring, or
indiscriminately applying bleaching agents, liquid marble cleaners, or
other harsh chemicals.
RECOMMENDED CARE
Always use the gentlest means possible to clean your marble floor. You
should keep your marble floor routinely clean of superficial dirt by
using a minimum amount of plain warm water and a cotton string mop (but
remember the problems with using regular tap water that we described
above). And be sure to only use neutral cleaners or stone soap liquid
specifically designed for natural stone, that will not harm the surface
or erode its luster (helpful accessory: marble floor cleaners).
Damp mop the floor regularly to remove dirt and soil. Frequent mopping
will help prevent soil from penetrating the surface. Use only cold or
warm water that is clean. Do not use hot water since this will cause the
marble floor tile to streak.
For general griminess, add a very small amount of ammonia to water (so
little that you can’t even smell it). Alternatively, you can use
extremely dilute solutions of a mild, neutral pH detergent such as
dishwashing liquid. But first be sure to test it on a small area of the
marble, that is in the least noticeable area.
If your marble tends to streak when you mop the floor, try drying the
marble with a clean terry cloth towel or buffing with a residential
buffing machine.
And finally, if your marble floor is scratched, deeply soiled, or has a
build-up of yellowed wax or discolored sealers, then the luster and
natural color can be restored by wet sanding and chemical stripping by a
professional.
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