How to Clean Marble Floors- A Full Guide

Published by Hala Zaqqout on June 7, 2022 | Last updated on May 20, 2023

Cleaning marble is more difficult than cleaning other types of floors. If you’re not careful, marble might be damaged due to its porous nature.

If you start wondering how to clean marble floors, Cleaners Advisor has made an effort to provide you with the best methods and products to clean marble floors, along with important tips in order to maintain your marble and keep it in good condition.

We’ve also covered other guides related to marble floors like can you steam clean marble floors, how to clean grout on marble floor, and is pine sol safe for marble floor, make sure to check them out.

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What is a marble floor?

Limestone breaks down and reforms into marble under extreme heat and pressure in the earth’s core, and the way the limestone recrystallizes gives it its beautiful appearance ⁽¹⁾.

Despite the enormous forces at work creating it, marble can be surprisingly fragile.

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How Often to Clean Marble Floors?

Dust and loose dirt are marble’s worst enemies because they cause scratches, dulling the finish and allowing stains to penetrate the marble. At least twice a week, dry dust mop the floors.

While most marble floors are sealed to help prevent stains, spills, particularly acidic liquids, as well as obvious mud or grime, should be cleaned immediately. Marble flooring only needs to be cleaned thoroughly about once a month.

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Materials and Tools Needed

Before answering how to clean marble floors, here’re the tools and materials you should keep in hand in order to clean marble floors and get the best results:

• Bucket or Sink
• Dust Mop
• Soft cloths
• Wet Mop
• Marble Polishing Powder
• Sealer
• Water
• Tennis Ball
• Mild soap with a neutral pH (pH 7)
• Stone Soap Formulated for Marble
• Hydrogen Peroxide

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How to Clean Marble Floors?

Let’s get into the best two methods for cleaning both fresh and set stains on your marble floors.

A. Routine Cleaning

If you don’t treat stains as soon as you notice them, the stain will be absorbed deeper into the grain of the marble. Bright-colored stains may soak into the finish quickly depending on whether your floors are sealed. Here’s how to clean marble floors easily:

1. Clean Up Spills Immediately

When you notice spills, they should be cleaned as soon as possible. Acidic messes like fruit juices, soft drinks, or vinegar-based condiments can cause etching even with a protective sealant. Muddy footsteps should be removed as soon as possible to avoid harming the marble due to embedded grit.

To remove solid particles and blot up liquid, use a damp microfiber towel. Smearing the stain will only make it worse. To prevent spots and slippery areas, give the area a quick rinse with a clean damp towel and then dry it thoroughly with a microfiber cloth.

2. Trap Dust and Dirt

The ideal tools for trapping dust and loose dirt on a marble floor are a dry dust mop or a mop with disposable dry sweeper cloths. On the mop, do not use any type of dusting spray.

B. Deep Cleaning

You’ll need more stain-fighting power and elbow grease if you notice a stain after it’s set. Food stains, especially coffee, tea, and fruit, can penetrate the marble and leave a nasty stain. Here’s how to clean marble floors properly:

1. Dry Mop First

To trap loose dust and debris, start the deep cleaning process using a dry dust mop. You’ll merely be pushing excess dirt around with your damp mop if you skip this step.

2. Mix a Cleaning Solution

Make a solution of warm water and mild, neutral pH soap in a bucket or sink. Follow the instructions on the product label for the correct ratio of water to the cleaning agent. Fill a second bucket or sink with clean water to use for rinsing the floor.

You can use a very dilute solution of just a few drops of dishwashing soap per gallon of water, or you can use specialty soaps made for marble.

3. Mop and Rinse

Wring a soft cotton or microfiber mop after dipping it in the cleaning solution. It is not necessary for the floor to be sopping wet. Work in a small area, rinsing the mop frequently to remove dirt.

Dip the mop in plain water and thoroughly rinse the freshly mopped floor to remove any soapy residue left behind as you finish the area. This is an important step in preventing the marble from yellowing and becoming dirty.

4. Treat Tough Stains

If the cleaning solution does not remove all of the stains, try the following methods:

– Scuffs

Using a dry tennis ball, gently wipe the scuff.

– Ink Stains

Using rubbing alcohol, saturate a soft cloth or paper towel and place it over the stains. Allow for a few minutes before blotting the ink away. Rinse the area well with plain water and buff dry until the ink is removed.

– Organic Stains

Apply 12% hydrogen peroxide on a soft cloth or paper towel and leave it on the stain for about 10 minutes. If the stain is gone, clean the area thoroughly with plain water and buff it dry. Repeat the steps if the stain remains, allowing the hydrogen peroxide to sit for up to 30 minutes.

– Oily Stains

To clean the area, blot away as much of the oil as possible and use a mixture of warm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. If the stain remains, apply a thick layer of cornstarch to the oily area.

Leave the cornstarch in place for at least four hours to draw the oil out of the marble. Rep until the stain is no longer visible.

– Water Spots

Using plain water, lightly dampen the floor. Using large, circular motions, dry and buff the floor with several soft microfiber cloths.

5. Dry the Floors

Wipe the floor down with a clean, soft cloth or towel as a final step. It can be changed whenever it is needed. Working in large circles gives your floor a highly polished look.

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How to Polish Marble Floors?

You now know hot clean marble floors but do you know how to polish marble floors?

Marble gives a touch of fascination and elegance to any place, but its beauty can deteriorate over time if not handled with care. For that, it’s not recommended to use polish on your marble. Not only may it damage the surface, but marble is so smooth that it can be dangerously slippery when polished.

Instead, remove any remaining water or cleaners from your marble floor using a dry towel or chamois cloth. If you want your cleaned floor to shine, even more, mix a paste with 50/50 water and baking soda and carefully spread it over the marble. Allow it to dry before wiping away the residue with a soft cloth and more water.

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Tips for How to Clean Marble Floors

Damage prevention is the best way to keep your marble looking new. Learn what can and cannot harm your marble floor, as well as how to restore shine to marble floors and keep it looking good. Here’re a few tips to follow to maintain your marble floors:

1. To avoid scratching, add pads to furniture legs and never drag heavy furniture over the floor.

2. To avoid falls from slippery flooring, choose honed, tumbled, or brushed marble for areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

3. To trap scratch-causing grit, use non-skid doormats inside and outside entrance doors.

4. Avoid harsh cleaners and floor care tools.

5. Use a sealant designed for marble floors and reapply as the manufacturer recommends.

6. The steam cleaning can eliminate bacteria and germs so you don’t need to buy and use expensive cleaning solutions.

7. Use a sealant recommended for marble floors and reapply as recommended by the manufacturer.

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How to Clean Marble Floors FAQ

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To Wrap Up

Whether you have natural or cultured floors, you must maintain them with care. Avoid abrasive cleaners and only use pH-neutral detergents. Seal your marble floors to prevent stains and spills from settling and discoloring them.

You can keep your marble floors clean and protected for years by following our tips of how to clean marble floors and being careful with the solutions you use.

Voilà! Stain-free marble.

If you have any questions about how to clean marble floors, share them with Cleaners Advisor in the comments box below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!