If you think that the stone surfaces require no maintenance, you are wrong. Marble, despite its durability, is rather porous stone which absorbs fluid greatly, is destructible under the influence of atmospheric conditions (rain, wind), cannot stand the impact of acids and mechanical effects leave traces on it.
So how to take care of marble surfaces?
The easiest and most effective way to deal with damage and contamination on marble is to prevent them.
1. Marble is easily exposed to mechanical impact. You should not walk on the marble floor in shoes with heels. Even sand and debris harm this stone, which get in the premise with shoes. It works as abrasive material and scratches the surface of the floor. Marble fades and loses its appearance.
In order the sand to remain at the entrance and not to be brought into the premise, you may put a rug at the door.
2. Stick felt pads to furniture legs, especially on chairs, stools, tables and other pieces of furniture that you periodically move.
3. Marble is very popular for the production of window sills. You shouldn’t put the flower pots on it, because water during watering the flowers may get on the stone surface and form streaks and rust stains.
4. Marble can and must be protected by special means. Use water-oil remedies that prevent not only liquids but also fats from penetrating into the stone.
It should be remembered that the impregnating agent is applied to a clean and dry surface, necessarily with a thin layer.
When using any remedy, it should originally be tested in inconspicuous places to make sure that it will not harm. Depending on the intensity of use of the surface, the protective impregnating agents are applied once in one to three years.
5. For the daily care of marble, do not use detergents. It’s enough to wipe it with a damp cloth, then polish by a suede cloth or by any other soft material.
Spilled liquids or any other stains should be immediately removed. Marble quickly absorbs dirt and stone color may change, leaving bad stains.
If nevertheless a stain appeared on the marble surface, try to remove it by one of the methods described below.
• If you react quickly, then it is possible to get rid of the stain that remained of various beverages, by cleaning it with soapy water. In a more complex case, you can use a solution of borax and warm water. Two teaspoons of borax are dissolved in a glass of water, a cloth is moistened in this solution and the stain should be wiped with it. The agent then should be rinsed with water and marble wiped dry.
• You can use hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from light marble. Apply peroxide to cloth, press it to the stain, and after a while, rinse with water.
• Limestone on the marble is removed mechanically. Rub it with a soft metal brush, which is used for washing dishes.
• Stains from ink or ballpoint pen wipe with hydrogen peroxide, if the marble is light-colored, or acetone – if the dark-colored.
• Treat places, damaged by mold or other fungi with ammonia.
In special cases, when all means have been tried, but the result is disappointing, perform the grinding of the marble surfaces. You shouldn’t do it on your own. Invite specialists.
