There’s no denying the fact that marble is a beautiful material that has graced many homes and buildings for generations. The great fact about marble is that it is extremely durable (as evidenced by all those ancient marble buildings which are still standing today), versatile, and beautiful as well.

Whilst having these stellar qualities, marble still needs to be maintained in the proper manner so it can last for a long time. If you have any marble décor or furniture in your home, such as a marble fireplace, it needs to be regularly cleaned and maintained in order to keep it looking shiny and new. But this is quite easy – all you need to know is how to clean it and what cleaning implements to use.

Preparing marble for cleaning

The first thing you have to do is clean your marble by removing accumulated dirt, grease, stains, and grime on its surface. You can use a commercial cleaner specially designed for stone. Apply a dab on a clean cloth and wipe away the dirt on the surface. Avoid using cleaning products like a bathroom cleaner or other products with lemon on your marble fireplace, because the acid in the cleaners has a dulling effect. Natural cleaners like vinegar should be avoided as well.

Everyday and regular cleaning

Simply wipe the marble with a soft cloth and warm water to get rid of dust and food or liquid spills. Afterwards, wipe it completely dry with another soft cloth, preferably a microfibre one.

For regular cleaning, keep in mind that marble is quite delicate, so use a dish soap which is pH-neutral for a deeper clean. If your marble is darker in colour, you can also use acetone, and if you have lighter-coloured marble, you can opt to use hydrogen peroxide. Once you have wiped this mixture on the marble, rinse it thoroughly with warm water and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

Polishing marble

To give your marble fireplace a good shine, you can make use of a chamois cloth on the marble’s damp surface. For an even better shine, use a commercially bought polish and then wipe dry with the same chamois cloth.

Getting rid of scratches and stains

If your marble fireplace has a scratch, especially if it’s only a light scratch, you can remove it with steel wool or coarse sandpaper, preferably 120-320. For deeper scratches, you can ask for assistance from professional marble cleaners.

For stubborn stains, mix baking soda with some water to make a paste. Stains that are oil-based can be removed with this paste mixed with rubbing alcohol. Water-based stains, such as those from coffee or juice, can be removed with the same paste mixed with acetone or hydrogen peroxide. Simply wet the water- or oil-based stain and rub the mixture over it. Then cover it with plastic wrap and let it dry for a day or two. Once it dries, the stain can be lifted out.

Marble specialists like http://www.firesandfireplaces.co.uk know that keeping your marble fireplace as beautiful as the day you had it installed is easy if you know what to do and what to make use of. With the right cleaning and maintenance, your marble fireplace will remain a wonderful asset to your abode for years to come.

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