Marble Polishing and Cleaning: The Right Way and How to Remove Stains

Marble lasts a lifetime with the right care, but small cleaning mistakes can dull its shine or leave stubborn stains. This guide explains how to look after your marble, deal with stains, and when you need professional polishing.

Daily cleaning

• Dust daily with a soft dry mop — sand scratches the surface underfoot.
• Use warm water with a pH-neutral (pH 7) cleaner made for natural stone.
• Dry the surface after washing to avoid water marks.

Mistakes that damage marble

1. Vinegar and lemon: acids etch marble and leave dull marks.
2. Bleach and harsh cleaners: change the colour and weaken the sealer.
3. Abrasive sponges and steel wool: scratch the surface.
4. Leaving spills: coffee and oil soak into the pores.

Removing stains by type

• Oil and grease: a poultice of baking soda and water, covered and left for 24 hours, then wiped off.
• Coffee and tea: a few drops of diluted hydrogen peroxide with a little ammonia, for light marble.
• Rust: needs specialist products — best to consult a technician.
• Acid etching: won’t clean off; it needs polishing or light honing.

Always test any product on a hidden corner first.

When do you need professional polishing?

• When the shine has gone in walkways.
• When there are visible scratches or uneven tiles (lippage).
• After a new installation, to level the joints.
• When etch marks have spread.

Professional polishing stages

1. Grinding: coarse diamond pads to level the surface and remove scratches.
2. Honing: progressively finer pads.
3. Polishing: to restore the shine.
4. Crystallising and sealing: a protective layer that reduces absorption.

Sealing: your first line of defence

Sealing reduces how much liquid the marble absorbs and gives you time to wipe a spill before it soaks in. It is usually renewed every one to two years depending on use, and more often in kitchens and bathrooms.

KAASEB’s tip

Choosing the right finish from the start saves a lot of maintenance: honed for high-traffic areas, polished for quiet spaces and walls.