Since ancient times, marble was used for the construction of buildings and monuments, today present in all the largest cities in Italy. The majesty of this material obviously makes them very refined and precious. In Greek, this term means “shining stone” and it is exactly like this: marble is a metamorphic stone capable of reflecting light in various ways, according to an effect defined as “wax”. This extraordinary ability derives precisely from its singular composition: in fact, it is mostly formed by calcium carbonate and is formed through a metamorphic process between limestone, Dolomite and sedimentary rocks. In this way, a total recrystallization of CaCO3 is created, which gives rise to an enormous quantity of calcite or dolomite crystals.
Marble is a material that is not only and exclusively used for flooring: in fact, it is also widely used for the creation of bathroom or kitchen surfaces. Marble is a very precious material and, at the same time, it requires maintenance and attention in cleaning. Over the years, then, marble tends to deteriorate a lot as it is a very sensitive material.
Too often it happens that marble is cleaned with the use of chemical products: it is a mistake not to be made at all, as it tends to worsen the situation considerably. In this new mini-guide we will reveal to you all the most valuable advice and the main techniques used for an excellent cleaning of marble. Continue this reading!
Index
- Marble: cleaning a porous floor
- Do-it-yourself remedies to polish marble
- How to clean stained or yellowed marble
- How to clean rust stains
- How to clean acid stains
Marble: cleaning a porous floor
Marble is a precious material, of course, but also particularly porous and therefore not too easy to clean properly: they retain dirt a lot. Being a very delicate material, it is good to avoid using aggressive detergents, such as bleach or ammonia. In fact, it is much better to use a specific detergent for porous outdoor floors, or Marseille soap and bicarbonate.
To clean an outdoor porous marble floorOn the other hand, it is very important to remove the moss using anti-mold products that can be easily purchased in the store, but also online. Cleaning a porous surface is not impossible, but it is important to use the right products and follow all the ideal marble cleaning techniques. Now, we will analyze the major problems related to marble surfaces and the best techniques to clean them properly: yellowing, rust stains, acid stains. Do-it-yourself remedies to polish marble
A polished marble floorand clean and the desire for every perfect home. We know that this material is by no means easy to handle: it takes perseverance and patience to always keep it at the highest level and using the right cleaning products is certainly not a plus, but a must. Grandma’s natural remedies for polishing marble are many: bicarbonate and a woolen cloth, however, are the perfect ones.
Get three tablespoons of baking soda and water: that’s right, and leaving it on for a long time, you will get a shiny surface. A simpler solution, however, is to create a solution to be sprayed by dissolving a tablespoon of bicarbonate in a liter of water. Then pour the solution into a spray container, shake, spray and clean!
AAn old wool sweater , on the other hand, and the classic grandmother’s method: pass it over the marble to obtain a shiny surface, just like new. First, however, it is good to eliminate any dust so as not to make the work completely in vain. This technique has nothing to envy to the classic polisher. To keep the marble shiny and clean, you can create a completely do-it-yourself detergent in a few simple steps: three tablespoons of baking soda, ten of alcohol, and some castile soap.
All of these ingredients are readily available at the supermarket or in stores that sell personal care products. That said, make a compound with all these elements to be able to thoroughly clean the stained or dirty surface. Remember, if you want a more thorough cleaning, you can also choose to use awax-based abrasive compound .
Therefore, according to the type of cleaning you want to do, to stains, which can be more or less resistant, but also more or less recent and, obviously, according to the internal or external surface that needs treatment, you can choose the marble cleaning technique ideal for your needs. As we will see very soon, a porous external surface will need a different cleaning than an internal one, for example. Then, if you want a shiny and well-maintained surface, it is advisable to buy a good polisher to pass whenever you see fit. How to clean stained or yellowed marble
You have spilled a cup of coffee and now your precious marble floor is completely stained
. No problem! We have the solution for you. The fundamental thing is to act promptly to avoid extending the damage: the porous layer of this material, in fact, tends to absorb substances very quickly. Therefore, in case of fresh stains , it is necessary to use a damp microfiber cloth: by doing so, the cloth should absorb the liquid and your precious marble floor will be safe! Quickly dries any residual water on the floor which, being very rich in limestone, tends to leave ugly marks on the surface.
To clean yellowed marble, opaque or not and for indoors or outdoors, it is good to follow some important precautions: always use a dry pumice stone, ideal for degreasing and removing dirt in general. After working with the stone, it is advisable to rinse with water and Marseille soap. Another remedy to clean yellowed marble is to use a mixture of bicarbonate (1 tablespoon), a glass of water and a glass of lemon juice. Very simply apply this compound to the affected surface and scrub with a stiff (not iron!) Bristle brush. After that, rinse thoroughly.
If, on the other hand, you are faced with persistent and difficult stains to eliminate, you can consider using potato starch. This, in fact, is an excellent remedy to make the marble shiny and clean: pour it on the stained surface and let it act for a few hours. Finally, rinse it off gently. Surfaces like new in no time! How to Clean Rust Stains Removing rust stains from marble is not an impossible task, but it takes effort and a lot of patience. Generally, to solve this type of problem, we proceed with an abrasive method: ideal for eliminating small spots of recent origin. On the other hand, if you intend to eliminate larger rust stains, it will be good to resort to specific products.
The kitchen saltand a widely used method for removing rust stains from marble. To obtain a discreet result, it is important to cover the stain with a paste of fine salt and water and leave to rest for up to 24 hours. Only then will you have to rinse: and here is your shining marble! If the rust stains are very persistent, we recommend that you first cleanse and degrease thoroughly with a good product. The ideal is Marseille soap. How to Clean Acid Stains Marseille soap and baking soda , on the other hand, are the ideal combination for removing acid stains from your marble floor. In reality it is a very simple and fast procedure and shortly we will see how to do it: mix these two substances and rub on the surface. In no time, your marble floor will be as good as new!
If the stain persists, then you will need to move on to the next level: cooked linseed oil . It is perfect to fight the most resistant stains and it will be enough to pour a few drops on a cloth and then go to work on the dirty part of the surface. Then cover with a sheet of newspaper and leave it to act overnight: the next day clean with dish soap and water and that’s it!
In any case, to maintain the luster of your marble floor , it would be good to adopt the habit of using a floor polisher: in this way, you can guarantee a shiny surface for a longer time. Obviously, if you can’t buy one, you can always get around by using a simple wool cloth.
If the acid stain on the marble is very deep and struggles to go away, it is better to request the intervention of a specialist who will be perfectly able to solve the problem. Before proceeding, it is advisable to ask for a quote to evaluate the real costs of the work.
