Marble cleaning & restoration methods:

This article describes procedures for cleaning marble surfaces typically found in, on or around buildings such as floors, walks, steps, exteriors, and countertops or fireplace mantles. We point out when to leave marble alone, when to consult an expert, and which marble cleaning products or home-made cleaners are safe and which should be avoided.

The article includes reference & research citations for expert sources on art and artifact restoration, marble cleaning, and preservation.

Cleaning Procedures for Marble Surfaces

Choosing a Cleaning Approach for Marble Surfaces or Artifacts

The choice of most appropriate method for cleaning a marble surface depends on several factors including:

1. The type of marble surface: open versus polished and/or sealed
2. The type of marble item: interior flooring, exterior walls, monuments, or valuable art or historic artifacts. The latter should not be treated in any way before you consult with an art conservation professional.
3. The location of the marble material that is soiled or stained
4. The causes of the marble material staining

[Click to enlarge any image]

A variety of marble cleaning materials are used depending on the factors listed above and perhaps others that should be added to that list by conservationists. Historic artifacts, even building exteriors are sometimes cleaned using enzymes or by using a laser treatment method.

Conversely, cleaning a hard finished polished marble floor may simply involve damp mopping or use of a non-abrasive cleaner sold for that purpose.

General Marble Surface Cleaning & Scratch & Stain Prevention Advice

• Is it really marble? Other materials may look like marble but are made of something else and may need different cleaning methods.
  
  Not marble and needing different treatments are alabaster, artificial stone, polishable limestone, Scagliol (faux marble), Pietre dure, and Porphyry.
  
  Engineered stone and cultured marble as well as some plastic or fiberglass surfaces also resemble natural marble but may require different cleaning methods.
  Also
  see COUNTERTOPS, KITCHEN & BATH for more examples of marble countertops.
• Is it valuable? 
  Watch out: do not attempt to clean valuable marble art or artifacts unless you are a trained art, artifact, or building conservationist - or unless you have first consulted one.
• How serious is the marble scratch or stain? Always try the most gentle, least-aggressive cleaning method first.
• Protect the marble from scratches. Do not use abrasive cleaners on marble surfaces.
• Wipe up spills promptly using a damp cloth then wipe the marble surface dry using a soft clean cloth
• Sweep up materials that will stain promptly, such as spices (indoor countertops or floors) or leaves (outdoors)
• Use mild cleansers: When a cleaning solution is needed use a mild soap or a product specifically formulated for cleaning marble. The V&A Museum recommends avoiding any solvents other than distilled water, white spirit, or 2% non-ionic detergent.
  
  Watch out: do not use acid-based nor strong alkali-based cleaners on marble (such as vinegar or stronger acids) as it will cause softening, etching, or corrosion of the marble.
  
  A mild base such as hydrogen peroxide may be acceptable for some light coloured marble surfaces (it may lighten or bleach dark marbles).
• Stains on marble: in addition to using a commercial marble cleaning product, a common homeowner remedy for stains on marble is the use of a baking soda (or flour and dishwashing detergent) paste as a poultice that is placed over the stain to (possibly) absorb the stain materials.
• Light scratches on marble: we have successfully polished out light scratches on marble countertops and floors using toothpaste.
  
  Commercial marble scratch removing procedures use power buffers and specially-formulated compounds. Beware that over-buffing with a power tool can leave a dent, depression or other damage in the marble surface.

• Marble surface sealants: are easy to apply and can reduce future staining of marble floors and countertops.
  
  Sealers work best on marble surfaces that are not highly-polished and hard.
  
  The black marble bathroom countertop shown at left, like a kitchen countertop, is exposed to frequent abandonment of water droplets, soap, and other sources of stains and water marks
  
  This countertop has been very stain-prone. An application of a sealant at the time of installation and periodic re-application of sealant every 1-2 years would have reduced this cosmetic problem.
  
  Watch out: using sealers and polishing marble walking surfaces can increase the chances of slip-fall injuries, especially if the walking surfaces are wet.
  
  See SLIPPERY STAIRS, WALKS, ROOFS for details

Research on cleaning methods for marble surfaces

• ART CONSERVATION - Cultural Heritage and Aerobiology [book review] of
  Mandrioli, Paolo, Giulia Caneva, and Cristina Sabbioni, eds. Cultural heritage and aerobiology: methods and measurement techniques for biodeterioration monitoring. Springer, 2003.
• Asmus, John F., Carl G. Murphy, and Walter H. Munk. "Studies on the interaction of laser radiation with art artifacts." In Annual Technical Symposium, pp. 19-30. International Society for Optics and Photonics, 1974.
• Bonini, Massimo, Sebastian Lenz, Rodorico Giorgi, and Piero Baglioni. "Nanomagnetic sponges for the cleaning of works of art." Langmuir 23, no. 17 (2007): 8681-8685.
• Farsari, M., P. Pouli, G. Totou, V. Zafiropulos, C. Kalpouzos, and C. Fotakis. "Clean art."
• Hunt, B. J. "A mechanism of marble staining." Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 24, no. 1 (1991): 49-53.
• TecPro, Tecnicas Profesionales de Superfices, S.L., Quimicas Eurolux, S.R.S., "Floor Treatment and Maintenance."Products for Cleaning of Terrazo and Marble Floors [PDF] retrieved 11/30/2014, original source: http://tecprosl.es/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ 1-QUIMICOS-13-23-SIN-PRECIOS-INGLES.pdf#page=7
• Kessler, Daniel William. A Study of Problems Relating to the Maintenance of Interior Marble. US Government Printing Office, 1927.
• Klein, S., F. Fekrsanati, J. Hildenhagen, K. Dickmann, H. Uphoff, Y. Marakis, and V. Zafiropulos. "Discoloration of marble during laser cleaning by Nd: YAG laser wavelengths." Applied Surface Science 171, no. 3 (2001): 242-251.
• Konkol, Nick, Chris McNamara, Joe Sembrat, Mark Rabinowitz, and Ralph Mitchell. "Enzymatic decolorization of bacterial pigments from culturally significant marble." Journal of Cultural Heritage 10, no. 3 (2009): 362-366.
• Lan, Tran Thi Ngoc, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thoa, R. Nishimura, Y. Tsujino, M. Yokoi, and Y. Maeda. "New model for the sulfation of marble by dry deposition Sheltered marble—the indicator of air pollution by sulfur dioxide." Atmospheric Environment 39, no. 5 (2005): 913-920.
• Lazic, V., F. Colao, R. Fantoni, V. Spizzichino, and E. Teppo. Online monitoring of the laser cleaning of marbles by LIBS sulphur detection. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2007.
• Margheri, Fabrizio, Stefano Modi, Leonardo Masotti, Piero Mazzinghi, Roberto Pini, Salvatore Siano, and Renzo Salimbeni. "SMART CLEAN: A new laser system with improved emission characteristics and transmission through long optical fibres." Journal of Cultural Heritage 1 (2000): S119-S123.
• MIA, Marble Institute of America, GUIDE to CARE & CLEANING of NATURAL STONE [PDF], MIA, Marble Institute of America 28901 Clemens Road, Suite 100 • Cleveland, Ohio 44145 USA Tel: 440-250-9222, E-mail: MIAinfo@marble-institute.com, Website: www.marble-institute.com. retrieved 2019/08/16, original source: https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/default/assets/File/stone-professionals/commercial_care_clean.pdf
• Perera, S. A. S. "Silicone-wax filler to give stain resistance to cement, tile, terrazzo, terra cotta, marble, granite and timber surfaces." (2013).
• Rodriguez-Navarro, Carlos, Alejandro Rodriguez-Navarro, Kerstin Elert, and Eduardo Sebastian. "Role of marble microstructure in near-infrared laser-induced damage during laser cleaning." Journal of applied physics 95, no. 7 (2004): 3350-3357.
• Strangstad, Lynette. "How to Clean and Polish Marble." The Old-House Journal, October 1982, pp. 208-211
• Tudor, Phoebe B., Frank G. Matero, and Robert J. Koestler. "A case study of the compatibility of biocidal cleaning and consolidation in the restoration of a marble statue." In Biodeterioration Research, pp. 525-533. Springer US, 1990.
• Tykot, Robert H., Richard Newman, and Nikolaas J. van der MERWE. "Weathering surfaces on Classical marble sculptures: isotopic and X-ray diffraction analyses." Delta 10 (1999): 6-4.
• US GSA POULTICING RUST STAINS FROM LIMESTONE AND MARBLE [PDF] U.S. General Services Administration, retrieved 2020/12/14
  Excerpts:
  
  This procedure includes guidance on removing rust stains from limestone and marble by poulticing using different chemical solvents or by using a paste containing a commercial rust remover.
  
  Metallic stains from iron or steel have the appearance of rust. This type of staining is often caused by the run-offfrom flashing, gutters, statuary and fasteners. The source of the rusty runoff should be determined and cause abated. Cleaning should be undertaken after rectifying deficiencies causing the rusting.
• US GSA REMOVING COPPER/BRONZE STAINS FROM LIMESTONE & MARBLE [PDF] U.S. General Services Administration, retrieved 2020/12/14
  Excerpt:
  
  This procedure includes guidance on removing copper and bronze stains from limestone and marble. Several methods are described.
  
  Copper stains appear as green or muddy-brown discolorations and result from the action of moisture on nearby or embedded bronze, copper and/or brass items
• Victoria & Albert Museum, "Cleaning Marble", V&A South Kensington Cromwell Road London SW7 2RL Tel. +44 (0)20 7942 2000, un-dated, retrieved 11/30/2014, original source: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/c/cleaning-marble/
  | [excellent article on cleaning various types of marble]
• Waite, John G., and Roger J. Cheng. "A Case Study of the Cleaning and Conservation of Marble at the Schenectady, New York, City Hall." In Cleaning stone and masonry: a symposium sponsored by ASTM Committee E-6 on Performance of Building Constructions, Louisville, KY, 18 April 1983, no. 935, p. 107. ASTM International, 1986.
• Weaver, Martin E. "Cleaning and Conserving Decorative Interior Marblework." The Interior's Handbook for Historic Buildings, Vol. 2. Washington, D.C.: Historic Preservation Education Foundation, 1993, pp. 3-1 - 3-14.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

Question: how to clean a white marble

(Nov 21, 2014) Anonymous said:

hello
I am new here, can you please tell me how to clean a white marble?
and plese tell me which chemical is best for use.

Reply:

This question was originally posted at STONE, STUCCO & BRICK CLEANING METHODS and is answered in the article above.

...

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Citations & References

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