Marble floors are susceptible to staining and require their due share of maintenance and when they are old, marble floor refinishing is required. Here are some pro tips to keep your investment shining:
1. Let Go of Acidic Substances and Harsh Cleaning Techniques
Stay away from harsh cleaners and detergents. Even something so mundane such as cutting lemons directly on a marble floor can wreak havoc on your stunning floors. The natural composition of marble constitutes of high levels of calcium making it highly sensitive to anything acidic. That being said avoid natural cleaners containing vinegar, lemon juice, strong acids, harsh detergents, dishwashing scrubs, powders, dry or rough cleansers or creams for cleaning tiles at all cost on your marble floors.
Avoid vacuuming your stunning marble floors. They may end up scratching or permanently damaging your floor surface.
Avoid abrasive brushes and scrubbing techniques on your marble floors.
2. Keep Dust and Dirt at Bay
Prevention is key, and sweeping your marble floors and tiles frequently help avoid dust built-up. A good rule of thumb to determine the frequency of sweeping is to mop once for every pet or person living in the house. That being said, dry sweep your floors with a soft note treated mop twice a week if two persons are living in the house.
Placing mats and rugs around your entrance can help prevent the build-up of abrasive dirt and dust particles that trickles around the house. The more dust it catches, the lesser the mopping sessions.
3. Deep Clean Once A Month
Schedule deep cleaning sessions once a month using a soapless cleanser with a neutral pH (7) if possible. You can also DIY your own cleanser at home by mixing 3 tablespoons of baking powder, dishwashing liquid and diluting it in a quarter amount of water. This cleaner can be used very effectively on a deep clean spree or can be used as a spot treatment for targeted areas of your floor.
- Apart from the baking soda hack, you can try pouring 1/8 of a cup of rubbing alcohol into a 16 oz. spray bottle. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid and you have a perfect spot cleaner.
- Mix together one cup of unbleached flour, 3tbsp of dishwashing liquid and some water. Mix to a paste consistency and apply for 24 hrs. On the stain then scrape afterward.
- Fold a piece of cotton gauze the size of the stain and soak it in hydrogen peroxide. Apply it on your stain, cover with plastic wrap and remove after 24 hours.
4. Steam Clean
Because of the sensitivity of the stone, conventional cleaning methods don’t work effectively on marble floors. If you can, then perhaps invest in a steam cleaning machine to bring out the true shine of your floors without causing substantial damage.
5. Polishing Marble
The good old baking powder and water paste can be used effectively as a floor polish for your dirty and unkempt marble floors. That’s DIY marble floor refinishing. Make sure to clean and mop the floors of all the dust and debris and using a microfiber cloth, apply this polish evenly. This will give your floors a lasting shine.
To get the best results, you can also use marble floor restoration services who do all this with the right tools and products.
