How To Clean Marble Tiles
Marble is one of the most precious natural stones used in buildings. Marble tiles are popular among many property owners because of their elegant look and durability. The tiles feature natural veining and colour that blends perfectly with most interior decors.
Marble floors usually match with both conventional and modern decors. Despite the fact that marble tiles are long-lasting, they require regular cleaning to guarantee their longevity. You should also care for and maintain the tiles using the right tools and products to maintain their great look. This article offers a well-detailed guide on how to clean marble tiles.
Table of Contents
How Often Should You Clean Marble Tiles?
Loose dirt and dust can cause tiny scratches on your marble surfaces. This makes their finish look dull, and with time, the stains go deep into the marble. Therefore, ensure you dust mop the marble surfaces at least two times a week. Keep in mind that most marble tiles are sealed to prevent spills, staining, dirt, and mud. Make sure that any acidic liquid that accidentally spills on the tiles is cleaned immediately. You can also perform a deep cleaning on the floor every month.
Factors To Put Into Consideration When Cleaning Marble Tiles
Marble reacts when touched by any acidic product. The chemical reaction between the marble and the acidic substances can cause permanent discolouration of your marble tiles. As a result, when choosing the right products to use to clean your marble tiles, you should avoid those with acidic contents.
Harsh cleaners such as chlorine bleach and ammonia can damage the finish of your marble tiles, leaving them looking unappealing to your eyes. Therefore, do not use gritty cleaners or products that promise to scour away dirt from the tiles. You should also avoid cleaning products with lemon juice or white vinegar.
In addition, do not use waxing or cleaning products that promise to clean and shine surfaces. These products are not formulated for marble tiles. They leave it with an overly slippery and dingy look.
What You Need To Clean Your Marble Tiles
To clean marble tiles effectively, you need to have the following tools and products.
- A damp mop
- Dust mop
- Tennis ball
- Mob buck
- Microfiber cloths
- Water
- Cornstarch
- Stone soap or mild soap specifically designed for marble
- Hydrogen peroxide
Routine Cleaning For Marble Tiles
Routine cleaning of your marble tiles ensures that the tiles’ look and quality do not get affected by dirt and dust in your house. Here are steps to follow as you do the routine cleaning.
Clean the Spills Immediately
When spills occur on your marble tiles, you should wipe them instantly. Allowing the spills to stay for long on the marble surfaces will affect their quality and elegant look. Even with their protective sealant, acidic substances such as soft drinks, fruit juices, and other vinegar-based condiments can lead to etching. You should also eliminate muddy footprints as fast as possible to prevent the grit from scratching the material.
To get rid of any solid particles and blot any spilt liquids, you can use a microfiber cloth. Do not smear while wiping the tiles to avoid making the stain larger. Once the spills and particles are off, rinse the tiles quickly using a damp cloth. Finish cleaning the spills by drying the stained area using a microfiber cloth to prevent water stains and slippery areas.
Trap Any Dirt and Dust on Your Marble Tiles
Trap all the dust and loose dirt with a dry dust mop or make use of a disposable dry sweeper cloth. Avoid using any form of dusting spray on your mop. You should ensure that you dust the marble tiles at least three times weekly. Avoid using a vacuum featuring a beater bar on your marble floors. Moreover, do not use stiff-bristled brooms to avoid scratching the marble surface.
How To Deep Clean Marble Tiles
You should deep clean your marble tiles at least once a month. However, deep cleaning marble flooring should be done as often as possible if there is high traffic on your property. Here are the steps to follow:
Dry Mop
Use a dry dust mop to begin the deep cleaning work as it traps all the loose debris and dust. If you do not dry mop the surface, you will push excess dirt to other parts with the damp mop.
Mix the Cleaning Solution
In your sink or bucket, mix the warm water and mild soap. Make sure you follow the instructions on the soap’s label for the right amount of water and cleaning agent ratio. Fill the second cleaning sink or bucket with clean water to help rinse the marble floor. You can find some special soap made specifically for cleaning marble surfaces in your local stores. You can also opt to use a highly diluted solution with a few drops of dishwashing soap for every gallon of water used.
Mop and Rinse the Marble Surface
Now dip a microfiber or cotton mop into your cleaning solution and wring well. Work in small parts as you rinse the mop frequently to get rid of the dirt. As you complete mopping the area, dip the mop in clean soapless water and clean the mopped marble floor to remove any soap residue left behind. This is a crucial step to ensure that your marble does not look dull or end up yellowing.
Treat the Stubborn Stains
If your cleaning solution fails to get rid of all the stains, you can use the following methods for removing stains from your marble tiles. Below is a list of some of the stubborn stains that you can encounter and how to remove them.
Ink Stains
Ink stains can be hard to remove, especially if you allow them to sit for a long time on your marble tiles. Start by saturating a paper towel or soft cloth using rubbing alcohol and put it over the ink stains. Allow it to sit there for some minutes and then blot the ink away. Repeat this process until the ink stain is removed completely. Finally, rinse the stained areas perfectly with clean water and then buff dry.
Organic Stains
To remove organic stains from your marble tiles, saturate a towel and soft cloth with some hydrogen peroxide and place it on the stain for about ten minutes. After ten minutes, check if the stain is removed completely. Rinse the stained areas well using plain clean water and then buff dry. If the stain fails to go away, repeat these steps and allow the hydrogen peroxide to sit on the stain for up to half an hour.
Oily Stains
Use a mixture of warm water and some drops of dishwashing detergent to clean the stained part. Blot as much oil as you can. If the oil stains remain, sprinkle the part with a layer of cornstarch. Leave the cornstarch to sit for about four hours. This allows it to effectively get the oil out of the marble tile. Repeat this process until the oil stain is gone completely.
Water Stains
When you clean marble, some water stains may remain on the surface. To remove the water spots, damp the marble floor lightly with plain water. Finish this process by using soft microfiber cloths to dry and buff the tiles by applying circular motions.
Dry and Buff the Marble Tiles
Use a microfiber cloth to dry and make the marble floor shiny. Work in large circles to leave your marble floor with a highly polished look. Get rid of excess water to prevent water stains. Remember that some marble surfaces have iron oxide particles. Therefore, when subjected to water for a long time, this can lead to rust stains that can prove difficult to remove.
How To Keep Marble Tiles Looking New And Shiny
To keep your marble tiles looking shiny and new for a long time, you can use non-skid doormats inside and at the entrance doors of your house. The doormats help trap grit that can scratch your marble tiles. You can also add pads to your furniture legs and avoid dragging heavy materials across the marble tiles. This helps prevent scratching the floor and other forms of damage.
Finally, do not use harsh cleaners and only use the right sealant for the marble floor and apply as recommended.
Tips To Maintain And Preserve Marble Tiles
Marble tiles are an expensive luxury, making it necessary to preserve the highly sensitive surface. Besides cleaning them correctly, it is also good to apply the best practices to enhance their durability and prevent damages. Here are some of the most effective ways to maintain your marble tiles.
Clean Spills Instantly
Marble is a porous material meaning that it absorbs standing liquids and water, including stains and spills. So, when spills occur, make sure you clean them immediately. Blot up the spill using a damp cloth. Begin from the edges moving to the centre to prevent spreading the liquids.
Do Not Allow the Marble Tiles to Air Dry
You should not allow your marble tiles to air dry. If you do, both the cleaning detergent and water get absorbed by the marble. This leads to staining and discolouration of your marble tiles. When drying marble tiles, make sure you always use a clean towel or cloth after mopping. It is also advisable to use a small amount of water when cleaning by thoroughly wringing the cloth.
Sweep the Marble Tiles Frequently and Mop them Occasionally
Dust makes your marble tiles look dull. Dirt can cause scratches on your marble tiles if dragged by bare feet or shoes. Thus, you need to sweep the surface regularly with a dust mop or soft broom to keep the dirt, scratches, and dirt at bay. You can also light vacuum with the recommended machine.
Unless you have high traffic in your space, you can deep clean the marble tiles once a month. Since marble is highly sensitive to water, you should limit the use of water on the tiles to preserve them.
Use Rugs and Carpets
You can also preserve your marble tiles by placing a few rugs or carpets in areas that get high traffic. This helps prevent wear on the tiles and prevents dirt and dust from settling on them. Use colourful carpets and rugs to showcase your taste and style.
Need Professional Help Cleaning Your Marble Tiles?
Cleaning marble tiles can be challenging. However, you do not have to go through a lot of stress. You can hire a cleaning company to help do the job perfectly. The professional marble cleaners apply state-of-the-art tools and techniques to make your marble look new. They will leave your marble tiles sparkling clean and increase their lifespan due to the reliable techniques that they apply.
