How to Clean Marble Floors
When the marble floors are dirty, it takes away their striking appeal. They lose their glossy exterior and their vein patterns turn filthy. At that point, your floor loses its touch of royalty. While cleaning it is the perfect solution, it’s not as simple as other types of floors.
And that’s because marble is a natural material, as a result, it is porous and easily gets damaged. If you want to learn how to do this right, here is a guide on how to clean marble floors:
How frequently should you Clean Marble Floors?
Debris and dust are major enemies of a marble floor. As such, you need to eliminate them. Else they will ruin the elegant finish of your floor. Through scratches, they can undo the protective marble floor layer and allow stains to get absorbed. As a result, you can protect your floor by dry dusting and mopping them twice weekly.
Even though most marble floors come with a protective seal, you should allow spills and stains to sit for long. And this applies to acidic liquids. Also, dirt and mud cleaning must be immediate. For deep cleaning services, you can schedule this once every month.
Critical Factors to Account for
For starters, marble is a natural material that is calcareous and alkali. As such, it can get corroded by acidic substances. When this chemical reaction happens, it can cause permanent discoloration. As such, it pays to choose a proper cleaning agent.
Harsh cleaning products like chlorine and ammonia are not suitable for marble floors. If you use them, they can permanently ruin the visual appeal of your floor. Also, avoid using abrasive cleaners to scrub off the dirt from this floor. Such cleaners can also ruin the visual appeal of your floor.
Further, acid cleaners suitable for granite floors, especially those with lemon juice or white vinegar must be avoided. And to not get tempted into using waxing products. While they can promise shine, they will turn your floor slippery with a dingy appearance.
Supplies you’ll need
Materials
- Cornstarch
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Water
- Marble formulated tone soap or neutral PH soap
Tools/ Equipment
- Tennis ball
- Microfiber cloth
- Damp-mop
- Dust mop
- Mob bucket
Guide
Routine Cleaning
- Immediately Clean Spills
If you spill something on the floor, you must clean it right away. Even when the floor has a protective sealant, acids in soft drinks, juices, vinegar, and fruit can still corrode it. Also, if you step on it with a muddy shoe, you must clean it right away. That’s because the soil particles can scratch it.
With the help of a dumb mob, you can eliminate the spill and solid particles from this floor. Also, avoid smearing as it can enlarge the stain. Thereafter, rinse the floor immediately with a clean damp mop. To finish up, use a dry microfiber cloth. This should dry up the floor and prevent it from getting slippery.
- Trap Dirt and Dust
You’ll need a dry mop in this step to trap loose solids and trap dust from your marble floor. Meanwhile, avoid dusting spray. As a thumb rule, dry dust your floor according to the number of people using it. For instance, if your household comprises three people, then do this thrice a week. This practice will protect your floor from getting scratched.
Warning though, do not use the beater bar when vacuuming the floor. While it helps to clean up your carpet, it has the potential to leave scratches on your floor. Avoid using stiff-bristled brooms also.
Deep Cleaning Marble Floor
You should deep clean your marble floor monthly to maintain it clean and scratch-free. However, if there’s higher traffic on the premise, then you’ve got to deep clean it several times a month. The following are steps to follow:
- First Dry Mop it
The first step to deep cleaning is eliminating the dust and solids from the floor with a dust mop. Avoiding this step means you’ll have to deal with excess dirt during wet mopping.
- Prepare the Cleaning Solution
In a sink or bucket, pour in warm water and add soap with a neutral PH. You can find on the label the accurate ratio of the cleaning agent to the water. In the second sink or bucket, fill it with clean water. You’ll use this to rinse your floor.
When getting the soap, look for those that are specifically for marble floors. If you can’t find them, you can dishwashing soap to create a very dilute cleaning solution.
Mopping and Rinsing the Floor
First, dip your microfiber mop or cotton mop in your cleaning solution. Thereafter, wring it well. Only use it when it’s damp and not soaking wet with water dripping down. Target a small section at a time until you completely clean the entire space. Also, frequently rinse the mop to eliminate dirt from it.
Once you complete cleaning a given area, dip your mop in the rinsing water. Rinse the place immediately after cleaning it to eliminate soap residue. Doing this should prevent stains from developing on your floor. This step is critical as it protects your marble floor from yellow stains.
Handling Tough Stains
The following technique should help you handle tough stains:
Scuffs – to remove scuffs, use a tennis ball to scrub them off gently. It must be a dry ball.
Ink Stains – dip a paper towel or cloth in rubbing alcohol and use it to wipe off the stain. You can repeat severally until the ink is no more. Thereafter, rinse it with clean water and dry the place.
Oil Stains – after bloating the oil, you’ll need warm water with a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap. If the stain persists, apply cornstarch on the spot and leave it there for a few hours. It will draw the oil from the floor.
Organic stains – Use hydrogen peroxide (12%); saturate a paper towel or microfiber cloth. Place the damp cloth on the stain and let it sit for 10 minutes. It will absorb all the stains from the place. Rinse afterward with plenty of clean water.
Water spots – use clean water to dampen the spot, and using a microfiber cloth, dry the spot. Thereafter, you can buff the place through circular motion.
Getting Started
Need help with marble floor cleaning; contact us at Equinox Cleaning Nutley, New Jersey. We will clean up your floor and exceed your expectations. Regardless of the stain on your floor, we’ve got a potent and safe cleaning solution. Our professional commercial cleaning services and housekeeping deep cleaning for marble floors apply to both commercial and residential properties. With our services, we can restore the glamour of your floor. For further information, reach out to us.
