How to Clean Marble – Bob Vila

Marble is the friend who looks amazing in photos and then panics if you hand it the wrong drink. It’s elegant, bright, and timelessuntil a splash of lemon juice turns into a permanent “modern art” etch mark. The good news: you don’t need a chemistry degree or a secret handshake to keep marble looking gorgeous. You just need the right routine, gentle tools, and one big rule: when in doubt, keep it pH-neutral.

This Bob Vila-style guide breaks down exactly how to clean marble (countertops, floors, showers, tablesyes, all the marble things) without scratching it, dulling it, or accidentally giving it a sour face. We’ll cover daily care, deep cleaning, stain removal, and what to do when you’re staring at a mysterious spot thinking, “Is this a stain… or is my marble just judging me?”

Why Marble Needs Special Treatment

Marble is a natural stone made mostly of calcite. That’s why it has those dreamy veining patternsand also why it can be sensitive. Two key marble facts explain most cleaning “oops” moments:

• Marble can etch: acids (like vinegar, lemon, many bathroom cleaners, and some glass cleaners) can react with the stone and leave dull, cloudy marks.
• Marble can stain: because it’s porous, pigments and oils can soak in if spills sit too longespecially if the marble isn’t well sealed.

Here’s the practical takeaway: marble likes gentle cleaning, quick spill cleanup, and soft materials. If you treat it like a cutting board or scrub it like a greasy grill, it will… remember.

Before You Clean: Quick Marble Check (30 Seconds, Promise)

1) Identify the finish: polished vs. honed

Polished marble is glossy and reflective. Honed marble has a softer, matte finish. Honed marble can hide minor scratches better, but it may show stains more easily. Polished marble can show etches faster (hello, cloudy spots), but it often wipes clean nicely.

2) Do the “water drop” test (for sealing clues)

Put a few drops of water on the surface and wait about 10–15 minutes. If it beads up, the sealer is doing its job. If it darkens the stone or absorbs quickly, it may be time to reseal. This isn’t a perfect science experiment, but it’s a useful reality check.

3) Gather marble-safe supplies

• Microfiber cloths (at least two: one to clean, one to dry)
• Warm water
• Mild, pH-neutral dish soap (a few drops goes a long way)
• Optional: a pH-neutral stone cleaner labeled safe for marble
• For floors: a soft microfiber mop (no scratchy strips)

What you don’t need: vinegar, bleach, ammonia, abrasive powders, rough scrub pads, or “miracle” cleaners that don’t specifically say they’re safe for marble.

Daily Cleaning: The “Boring but Brilliant” Routine

If you want marble to look good long-term, daily cleaning is less about scrubbing and more about removing grit and residue before it has a chance to cause trouble.

Step-by-step: how to clean marble countertops (everyday)

1. Remove crumbs and grit with a dry microfiber cloth. Tiny particles can act like sandpaper if you wipe aggressively.
2. Mix a gentle cleaner: warm water + a few drops of mild dish soap (or use a pH-neutral marble cleaner).
3. Wipe with a damp cloth, not a dripping one. Marble doesn’t love standing water.
4. Rinse by wiping again with clean water to remove soap film.
5. Dry immediately with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to prevent water spots and streaks.

Pro tip: If your marble always looks a little “meh” even after cleaning, soap residue might be the culprit. Use less soap, rinse more thoroughly, and dry like you mean it.

Weekly and Monthly Deep Cleaning (Without Going Full WrestleMania)

Deep cleaning marble is mostly about being consistent, not intense. For many homes, a weekly refresh plus a monthly “detail clean” keeps marble looking sharp.

Weekly refresh

• Use the same pH-neutral routine as daily cleaning.
• Pay extra attention to high-contact zones (near sinks, around the stove, bathroom vanity edges).
• Dry thoroughlyespecially near faucets where mineral deposits can build up.

Monthly detail clean

• Clean the whole surface section by section (don’t just “spot wipe” your way through life).
• Check for early signs of stains or etching so you can address them sooner.
• Inspect caulk lines and grout (in bathrooms) for mildew or discoloration.

How to Clean Marble Floors (So They Shine and Don’t Turn Into a Slip ’N Slide)

Marble floors deserve a gentle approach. The goal is to lift dirt without scratching and to avoid soaking the stone.

Marble floor cleaning steps

1. Dust mop first to remove grit (this is the anti-scratch step).
2. Mop with pH-neutral cleaner and warm water using a soft microfiber mop.
3. Wring the mop wellyou want damp, not wet. Too much water can leave marks and seep into edges.
4. Rinse with clean water if you used soap/cleaner.
5. Buff dry with microfiber towels or a dry mop head for a streak-free finish.

Extra floor advice that saves sanity: use entry mats, avoid shoes indoors (or at least the ones that look like they’ve been hiking through history), and add felt pads under furniture. Marble scratches aren’t “character” when they’re under your dining table forever.

How to Clean Marble in Bathrooms and Showers

Bathrooms are marble’s “hard mode” because of soap scum, hard water deposits, and products that are often too acidic for stone. Keep it simple and frequent.

Bathroom marble routine

• After showers: squeegee or wipe walls down to reduce water spots and mineral buildup.
• Weekly: wipe with a pH-neutral cleaner and a microfiber cloth.
• Avoid: typical bathroom sprays that advertise “lime/rust remover” (acid city).

If you use hair products, perfumes, or skincare around a marble vanity, wipe up drips quicklysome ingredients can discolor stone or weaken sealers over time.

Stain or Etch? The Fast Diagnosis

This is the moment where you crouch down like a detective in socks. Here’s the difference:

• Stain: usually darker (or colored), may look “in” the stone, often from oil, coffee, wine, cosmetics, or food pigments.
• Etch: looks dull, cloudy, or lighter than surrounding area; it’s surface damage from acids, not something “soaked in.”

Why it matters: stains can often be lifted. Etches are changes to the surface finishso they’re “fixed” by polishing, not by cleaner.

How to Remove Common Marble Stains (Without Making It Worse)

First rule of stain removal: start gentle. The second rule: test in an inconspicuous spot. Marble is not the place for surprise experiments.

Oil-based stains (cooking oil, grease, lotion)

These often respond well to a poulticea paste that sits on the stain and draws it out.

1. Mix baking soda with water to form a thick paste (like peanut butter, not soup).
2. Spread about 1/4 inch thick over the stain, extending slightly beyond it.
3. Cover with plastic wrap and tape the edges. Poke a few small holes to let it breathe slowly.
4. Leave 12–24 hours (or until dry), then remove and rinse with clean water.
5. Dry thoroughly and repeat if needed.

Important note: baking soda is mildly abrasive, so don’t make it your daily marble “exfoliant.” Use it for targeted stain work, then go back to pH-neutral cleaning.

Organic stains (coffee, tea, wine, fruit, some food dyes)

For light stains, a gentle cleaning routine plus time may help. For stubborn spots, many pros use hydrogen peroxide-based poultices. If you try peroxide at home, choose a conservative approach:

• Use 3% hydrogen peroxide (common pharmacy strength) and test first.
• Apply to a cloth and dabdon’t flood the area.
• Rinse and dry well.

If the stain is deep or the marble is valuable/irreplaceable, consider a stone care professionalstronger peroxide solutions can lighten or alter some stones and finishes.

Water spots and dull haze

Often, these are from minerals, soap film, or leftover cleaner. Try:

• Clean with warm water + pH-neutral soap.
• Rinse thoroughly.
• Dry and buff with a clean microfiber cloth.

If the “spot” looks cloudy and appeared after lemon, vinegar, wine, or a harsh cleaner, you’re probably dealing with etching, not minerals.

Fixing Etching (The Cloudy “Why Me?” Marks)

Light etching sometimes improves with gentle buffing. Some homeowners use very fine-grade steel wool (the ultra-fine kind) for minor etches on certain finishes, but this is not universally safemarble varies, finishes vary, and scratches are forever.

A safer general strategy:

• For minor etches: try a marble polishing powder designed for stone (follow label directions exactly).
• For larger or deeper etches: call a stone restoration pro. They can hone/polish the surface evenly so it doesn’t look patchy.

Think of etching like a scuffed finish on wood: you don’t “clean” it awayyou restore the surface.

Disinfecting Marble Safely (When You Really Need To)

Most day-to-day marble cleaning doesn’t require disinfecting. Soap and water removes grime effectively, and frequent wiping prevents buildup. If you want to disinfect (especially in kitchens), use a product labeled safe for sealed natural stone and follow the instructions for contact time, ventilation, and rinsing.

• Avoid bleach and ammonia-based disinfectants on marble unless a product explicitly states it’s safe for stone.
• Don’t let disinfectants sit longer than instructed.
• Rinse and dry after disinfecting to protect the finish and reduce residue.

What Not to Use on Marble (A Short List of Regrets)

If you remember nothing else, remember this: marble does not want “strong.” It wants “gentle.”

• Vinegar or lemon juice (acid = etching)
• Bleach or ammonia (can damage finish and sealers)
• Glass cleaners not labeled marble-safe (some contain harsh ingredients)
• Abrasive powders and scrub pads (scratch risk)
• Hard-bristle brushes (especially on polished marble)
• Magic eraser/melamine sponges (can dull finishes and strip sealers)

Also: never mix cleaning chemicals. Your marble doesn’t need dramatic science-fair energy, and neither do your lungs.

How to Keep Marble Cleaner Longer (Prevention = Less Panic)

Kitchen habits that protect marble

• Use coasters under cups and glassesespecially citrus drinks, wine, soda, and coffee.
• Use cutting boards (marble is not your chopping soulmate).
• Use trivets for hot cookware.
• Wipe spills immediately: blot first, then clean.

Bathroom habits that help

• Keep a microfiber cloth handy for quick wipe-downs.
• Squeegee shower walls to prevent water spots.
• Choose stone-safe products whenever possible.

When to Reseal Marble (and Why It Matters)

Sealing helps reduce staining by slowing absorption. It does not make marble acid-proof, so etching can still happen. How often to reseal depends on the marble, the location, and the wear (a busy kitchen island lives a harder life than a decorative shelf).

If your water-drop test shows quick darkening, or stains are appearing faster than usual, resealing may be worth considering. Use a sealer designed for marble and follow directions carefullyor hire a pro if you want a guaranteed, even application.

When to Call a Pro

DIY marble care is great, but professional stone restoration exists for a reason. Consider calling an expert if:

• Etching covers a large area (especially on countertops or floors).
• Stains keep returning after multiple poultice attempts.
• You have chips, cracks, or uneven dull spots that need refinishing.
• The marble is high-end, historic, or sentimentaland you don’t want to gamble.

Conclusion: The Marble-Cleaning Mindset

Marble stays beautiful when you treat it like the luxury material it is: clean gently, dry thoroughly, and avoid acidic or abrasive products. For everyday cleaning, stick with warm water, a few drops of pH-neutral soap, and microfiber cloths. For stains, use a targeted poultice approach and patience. And for etching, remember: that’s a finish issue, not a dirt issuepolishing (or a pro) is the real fix.

Do that, and your marble won’t just look cleanit’ll look expensive. Which is the whole point, right?

Experience Notes: 10 Real-World Marble Lessons People Learn the “Fun” Way (About )

Marble has a way of teaching homeowners quickly. Not in a mean waymore like a stern yoga instructor who insists your form is wrong and then makes you hold the pose anyway. Here are common experiences people run into while learning how to clean marble, plus what actually helps.

1) “I cleaned it… why does it look streaky?”

This is often soap film or leftover cleaner. People tend to use too much dish soap because it’s gentle, so it feels “safe.” Marble responds better to less soap, a good rinse wipe, and a dedicated drying cloth. The upgrade is simple: cut the soap down, rinse once more, then dry until it squeaks.

2) “One lemon wedge ruined my day.”

Citrus is the classic etching culprit. Someone makes lemonade, sets down the cutting board for “just a second,” and later finds a dull spot that won’t wash off. The lesson: acids don’t stain marblethey change the finish. The fix usually isn’t more cleaner; it’s polishing (or professional refinishing for bigger areas).

3) “Vinegar works on everything… except the thing I used it on.”

Vinegar is a popular natural cleaner, so people try it on marble expecting a sparkling glow. Instead, they get a cloudy etch. The lesson: natural doesn’t always mean stone-safe. Marble’s “natural enemy” is acid, even when it’s eco-friendly and smells like salad dressing.

4) “Coffee rings are surprisingly stubborn.”

Coffee, tea, and wine can create organic stains that sit in the stone if the sealer is worn. People often scrub harder (which can dull the finish) when what they need is time and a targeted approachlike a gentle poultice or a carefully tested peroxide method for organic stains.

5) “My bathroom marble keeps looking cloudy.”

In bathrooms, haze is commonly soap scum plus minerals from hard water. The win is routine: squeegee after showers, weekly wipe-downs with pH-neutral cleaner, and drying the surface so minerals don’t get a chance to set up permanent camp.

6) “I used a scrubby sponge and now I regret it.”

Abrasive pads can micro-scratch polished marble. The surface may look dull, especially under angled light. Many people switch to microfiber and immediately see better results. The biggest “aha” is realizing marble cleanliness is about technique, not force.

7) “The mystery spot near the stove won’t budge.”

Near cooktops, grease aerosols settle onto stone over time. People often mistake this for a stain. A few rounds of gentle degunkingwarm water, pH-neutral soap, and consistent wipingoften works better than one aggressive cleaning session.

8) “Sealing didn’t stop the etchingwhat gives?”

This is a common misunderstanding. Sealing helps resist stains by slowing absorption, but it doesn’t prevent acid reactions on the surface. People feel “betrayed” until they learn the difference between staining and etching. After that, they use coasters more faithfully than they use their gym memberships.

9) “Small habits made the biggest difference.”

The most successful marble owners aren’t the ones with secret cleanersthey’re the ones who wipe spills quickly, use coasters, and keep a microfiber cloth within reach. Marble rewards boring consistency with glamorous results.

10) “Once I stopped experimenting, my marble got easier.”

People often try five DIY hacks from the internet before they settle on the simple formula: pH-neutral cleaner, soft cloth, rinse, dry. Marble doesn’t need a new trend. It needs a calm, repeatable routine. Honestly, same.