Most establishments use marble as their preferred choice when it comes to flooring. This material that is made of lime comes in two primary forms, natural marble, and cultured marble. By looking at them, you might not tell one from the other. But there are quite a few practical tests you can do to determine which is which. An easy example is to feel the temperature of the marble floor. Natural marbles tend to be cooler as compared to its surrounding, and cultured tend to be warmer or the same temperature as the environment.
Both types do give out amazing results, and each does require a specified regimen when it comes to cleaning them. So after finding out which is which, follow the instructions below when cleaning your marble surfaces.
- Sweep Off Solid Particles
All flooring surfaces, marble or not, do gather a substantial amount of solid dust and debris particles. So, before the use of soap and water, you are required to first clear these solid pieces by sweeping them off.
In the case of natural marble, which is more prone to scratches, be gentle, and use soft bristled brooms as opposed to hard or metallic ones. Once this is done, feel free to proceed.
- Clean With Soap And Water
The next step is to clean the floor with water and a mild soap mixture. You are urged to use a soft microfibre cloth or if you are using a machine, use one with soft microfibre bristles. For natural marble use a neutral detergent as acidic ones tend to eat through the statue. For polished marble tiles (using a polishing wheel for grinder), use nylon bristles or non-abrasive scouring pads. They may be harder to get scratches, but they still do get them if brushed too hard or if you use metal scrubbers.
- Get Rid Of Stubborn Stains
Considering natural marble stone is porous as compared to its counterpart, it is also more prone to getting stains that water and soap may not wash off. Wine, tea, and soda spillages are among the main culprits when it comes to tough stains. Therefore, for such stains, you are advised first to dampen the marble with water then apply a few drops of cleaning chemical. Then brush the stain off by using a soft bristled brush. One application may not be efficient, and you may be forced to repeat the exercise once or twice more. Cultured marble, on the other hand, may not have such stains as it is manufactured with a protective coat that prevents such liquids sipping through.
- Polish The Marble Surface
After the stain removal, marble floor polishing is next. First before the polishing is done, the floor needs to be completely dry and free from any debris. If it is so, you may proceed. For a natural marble floor, you may use a simple and eco-friendly mixture of baking soda and water to do the magic. To wipe the mixture off, be sure to use warm water and a soft microfibre cloth to avoid scratching the floor. Use full circular motions to dry off the surface completely. Most cultured marble surfaces do not require polishing as they already have a polished surface from manufacture.
- Add A Sealant
Last but not least, after the surface has been cleaned, dried and polished, you can add a sealant. This step is not necessary for every time you clean as it may require more than an hour to be done. For natural marble surfaces, you first tape off the areas that do not need sealing. Then you apply several layers of the sealant, allowing each coat to dry off first and use a burnisher. Then finally let the marble cure for a few hours avoiding contact of any nature until dry. Application of a sealant can be done every one to two years. Sealants are unnecessary for cultured marble surfaces.