How to Care for Marble Countertops -

Let me start this off by saying, marble is not for the faint of heart. If you want your countertop to be as perfect and pristine as the day you have it installed, marble is not for you. If you love the idea of living surfaces that develop a patina and a story as they age, you are in the right place. Marble is known for being a soft and porous stone. It is prone to scratches, chips, etches, and stains. However, all that being said, when you walk around Europe it is still the most common stone for bars and table tops. And the patina those 100+ year old surfaces have developed is BEAUTIFUL. So if you are considering marble for your kitchen/bathroom, or you have existing marble, I’m going to share my top tips on how to care for marble countertops.

How to Prevent Marble Stains

My first recommendation is to seal your marble. This will help to prevent stains. I like to use this marble sealer because it is an “impregnator” sealer. That essentially means that instead of creating a protective layer, or film, on the surface of the stone, it penetrates into the stone. This allows it to have longer lasting effects, which means you do not have to seal your countertops as often.

You will have to do a bit of planning before sealing your countertops because it does take time for the sealer to cure. For the sealer I use, the directions are to apply to the counters evenly, let soak in for 3-5 minutes and then buff excess product off with a clean cloth. Allow to cure for 24-72 hours. In our kitchen we will seal just the island, and use the surrounding countertops while it cures. And then seal the surrounding countertops and just use the island. This should be done 1-2 times a year.

How to Remove Marble Stains

For the most part, we have not had any issues with our marble staining. We have spilled red wine, coffee, sauces, and spices with no real issues. However, we have had one incident with staining. It was JUST after we finished the kitchen and it gave us a mild heart attack. A metal coffee canister was left next to our coffee maker, which leaked water, and we were left with a large rust ring. I mixed up a thick paste of baking soda and water, applied it to the stain and covered it with plastic wrap. After 12 hours, I removed the plastic wrap and softly rubbed with a cloth. I could see the stain lifting but there was still a light stain. I repeated the baking soda paste and plastic wrap for another 12 hours and the stain disappeared fully!

How to Prevent Marble Etches

Now etching is a whole different ballgame. Etching occurs when an acid eats away at the top layer of the stone. Think: lemon juice, tomato sauce, soda, wine etc. The more acidic the item, the faster it will create “etches.” Lemon juice is the WORST. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to prevent this other than avoid contact as much as possible. We squeeze lemon juice either in the sink or at our kitchen table. If we are cooking something like tomato sauce that is prone to splatter, we will put a silicone mat next to the stove. We use placements under our plates, especially for the kids. And we have gotten into the habit of wiping up spills immediately. But what happens when we do get etches?

How to Remove Marble Etches

For the most part nothing! Over time the etches all start to blend into each other and create a soft patina. However, there have been cases where the etches are very noticeable. For example, when my 2 year old found a tomato on the counter, took a few bites, and left it on the kitchen island while I nursed her baby sister. We were left with a nice big, splotchy etch, in a very noticeable location.

When we get an etch that is really noticeable, I will use this miracle etch remover. You can watch how I use it here but this is what I do:

1. Apply the paste to the etch.
2. Use a microfibre cloth to cup the product and rub it over the etch in a circular motion.
3. Check your progress after a few circles to make sure you aren’t over polishing – if your product is totally dried out, add a couple drops of water and keep polishing.
5. After concentrating on the etch itself I like to do a few bigger circles to help blend the spot in.
6. Finish with your favourite marble cleaner and polish!

The key with this etch remover is to use it sparingly and make sure you are not “over polishing” or you will get a shiny spot.

How to Clean Marble

That brings us to how to clean your marble! We like this daily marble and granite cleaner. I use it in my kitchen, laundry room, and bathrooms. I love the smell and it works well. We use this pretty much every day.

On a less regular basis, maybe once or twice a week, we use a marble polish that our stone fabricator provided us. I haven’t been able to find the same one, but this one looks similar and has great reviews.

How to Care for Marble Countertops

Is marble more high maintenance than quartz or granite? For sure. BUT I don’t think it is nearly as scary as some people make it seem. The first few scratches and etches will make you cringe but after a while you will get used to it. And over time, those etches and scratches turn into an old world patina that tells a story about your home. I hope these tips make you feel confident in how to care for marble countertops!