Marble Cleaning

Eco Friendly Marble Cleaning

Stone counter-tops have become quite trendy for home decoration in recent years. In particular, granite and marble are showing up in many places. However, some homemakers are a bit confused about these two stones and especially about some of the excellent eco-friendly ways to clean marble.

First, a bit of geology: Granite and marble are not the same stone.

Granite is the name given to a rock classed as "igneous," meaning it was formed by fire, usually volcanic action or the intense heat that occurs with great pressure. Granite has a coarse grain and a hard surface, and usually consists of quartz, mica and/or feldspar rocks. Granite counter-tops are often used in the kitchen because of their strength

On the other hand, marble is a much softer stone classified as a "metamorphic" rock. This means it results by being altered over centuries, usually by compression of limestone or dolomite. Marble often gets its color from impurities present during the metamorphic process. Its color variations make it popular for use in sculpture and architecture. In the home, marble is more often used for floor tiles, furniture and bathroom counter-tops.

Fortunately, basic marble cleaning and granite cleaning are roughly the same: Wipe the counter top with a soft cloth dipped in warm water with a few drops of liquid soap. Next, rinse out the cloth and dip it in clean warm water to wipe off any soap residue from the stone surface. In both cases, always be sure to a soft cloth and don't rub too hard; granite can withstand some pressure, but marble is much softer and scratches more easily.

At CleaningNaked we LOVE what vinegar and lemon juice can clean around out house. But whatever you do, do not use vinegar, lemon juice or anything acidic for marble cleaning (and granite as well). The acid in these liquids will eat away at the stone and leave scratches that can harbor dirt and germs.

Many manufacturers suggest using marble cleaners made with chemicals, but this isn't really necessary. Instead, try cleaning marble counter-tops with this process:

• Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda with 4 cups of warm water. Soak a soft cloth in the solution and wring out well. Wipe the marble counter-top with the solution and leave it on for at least two hours. Then rinse off the counter-top with a soft cloth dipped in clear water (always wring out the excess) and dry with another soft cloth. (By the way, old, cut-up T-shirts make great cleaning cloths)

Now that the marble counter-top is clean, give a nice shine with a little more water and a piece of white chalk, like the kind kids use with their slates or chalkboards. Crush the chalk into a fine powder and then dip a damp, soft cloth into it. Rub the cloth across the counter-top using overlapping strokes. Next, let this dry for about 60 seconds and then rinse with fresh water and dry with another soft cloth.

Whatever you do, don't be hard-hearted about maintaining your granite and marble counter-tops. Treat them gently and use environmentally safe cleaners, and they'll be gorgeous for years to come.

Thanks for reading and good luck with your marble cleaning.