How Do You Take Care of Marble Countertops In A Bathroom

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Everyone is always talking about how to clean marble kitchen countertops and what to avoid while you are in the kitchen. Great as those articles are, it raises the question of do those same methods apply to marble bathroom countertops? Do you need to be as careful when there are fewer sharp objects in the bathroom? What type of stains can form on marble while in the bathroom?

By the time you have finished reading this article, you will have the answer to all those questions and more. Without any further ado, let us get into how to take care of marble countertops in a bathroom.

Marble Stone Countertops

Marble countertops are the epitome of elegance for stone material and interior design. Royal families living in high society have been decorating their home with marble countertops, walls, floors, and commissioned famous artists to create masterpieces from marble stone. However, just because something is popular with high society, does not make it the best stone ever.

To get a better understanding of how durable marble countertops are, fabricators like us rate stones on a 1-10 scale with a higher number showing more resilience to a particular attribute.

Marble Stats Sheet

Overall, marble has average stats for a stone deemed to be exemplary for the wealthy. Marble stone is very porous by nature, meaning it can absorb chemicals, debris, and other tiny particles of matter quickly to cause staining or dulling of the stone called etching.

The true worth of marble comes from its rarity and elegant, yet simple designs. Marble comes in several styles, but the most coveted are Calacatta and Carrara marble as they are the iconic marble stone everyone wanted for interior design.

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Common Bathroom Messes

Before we get into how to keep your bathroom marble clean, you should be aware of what common messes are found in the bathroom. The bathroom is one of the more dangerous rooms in the house due to the high chance of slipping on a wet floor or blinding yourself with chemicals while bathing. Prevention is always the best form of caring for something, and it applies equally to marble countertops.

• Water Stains: Also known as mineral stains, these form when water is left to evaporate and leaves behind miniscule minerals of calcium which stick to the surface. Water stains can be very difficult to remove since the calcium deposits dry onto the countertop. It requires careful cleaning and if done improperly, can scratch or etch the marble stone.
• Soap Scum: Common soaps contain harsh chemicals which are absorbed by the pores of marble stone. These chemicals will etch the stone, causing it to look dull and faded. Soap also contributes to water stains forming and transferring body oils into the stone to cause more problems.
• Paint: Extra care must be taken when homeowners are using paints like hair dye or nail polish as any spill will seep into marble countertop pores and cause stains. Paint stains are difficult to remove, requiring specific marble stain removers to clean.
• Hair Straightener: Hair straighteners and curling irons both radiate a large amount of heat which can cause burn damage. Marble is known for being heat resistant, but these tools are heated by metal and can burn marble countertops if they are set directly on the stone. Burn stains can be nearly impossible to remove and could require the homeowner to completely replace their countertop.

Caring for Marble Countertops

Time to get into the nitty gritty of the article and show you how to properly care for your bathroom marble countertops. It really is not that much different from cleaning kitchen marble countertops, but here is the basic rundown.

Clean Daily

Create a routine of cleaning bathroom marble countertops daily using a microfiber cloth, dish soap, and warm water. Cleaning bathroom marble countertops is the same as cleaning kitchen marble countertops. Have an extra towel handy to completely dry the marble stone to avoid water stains from forming. Bathrooms conduct a lot of moisture, so marble countertops have a higher chance of developing water stains.

Blot Spills Immediately

When it comes to paint and soap spills, blot the mess up with a towel or wash cloth. Wiping the spill will spread it across the countertop, giving it more chances to seep into the marble to cause staining. Blotting the spill reduces the spread and absorbs the mess. After blotting up as much as possible, use the regular cleaning method of warm water, mild dish soap, and soft rag to clean the countertop.

The longer a spill is left to rest on a countertop, the higher chances it has to stain.

Sealing and Polishing

Marble countertops should be sealed upon installation and resealed every 6 months to 1 year. Sealants provide an extra layer of protection to porous stone, filling in the pores to prevent stains from forming. Sealants are also helpful in making the sheen of your countertops last longer.

After sealing your marble countertops, use a polishing agent as an additional layer of protection to keep your marble countertops shining.

Home Remedy Cleaners

Bathroom stains and messes are going to happen. That is why having some options for removing those stains will be important in keeping your marble countertops clean and healthy.

• Making a poultice from baking soda and water and letting it sit on the stain from 24-48 hours can help remove deep stains like paint, burns, and calcium deposits.
• Having 0000 fine steel wool is a safe option to help scrape away calcium deposits or other solid stain matter on the countertop. Be sure to be careful using this as scrubbing too hard will cause etching.

Marble Specific Cleaners

In case of situations where a spill has been left to sit and home remedies are not working, use marble specific cleaners to remove the stain without harming the stone. Mr Stone has several marble safe cleansers which can easily remove stains, soap scum, and mold and mildew from countertops when they develop.

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Trays for Bathroom Objects

Bathroom objects like toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair dyes, colognes, lotions, and make-up containers can leave stain rings on a marble countertop. Place these objects in a tray or container where they will not spill or rest directly on the stone.

Things to Avoid

Take this as a small reminder to avoid using these things on or near marble countertops.

• Hair Spray: Hair spray contains many chemicals which can be absorbed into marble’s pores to cause etching.
• Harsh Cleaners: Strong chemical cleaners like Windex, bleach, Lysol, and lemon scented cleaners can stain or etch marble countertops quickly.
• Abrasive Scrubs: Abrasive scrubs will etch and dull a marble countertop finish.
• Hot Objects: Do not place hot objects like a curling iron or hair straightener directly on marble countertops as they will leave burn marks.

Marble In the Bathroom

Fun fact, marble can be installed used in the bathroom more than just countertop material. Marble can also be installed as:

• Bathroom backsplash
• Bathroom wall tile
• Bathroom floor tile

If you have enough marble to fill the bathroom, a homeowner could decorate their entire bathroom in marble stone. However, it will be quite expensive if you do so.

Conclusion

Caring for marble bathroom countertops is very similar to almost the same as if it were in the kitchen. Marble has a lot of pores which need to be sealed and protected through daily cleanings and using soft cleaners like a mild dish soap or marble specific cleaning agent.

Why you can trust Marble.com

When it comes time to get the job done, our fabrication and installation teams have the equipment and expertise it takes to get your project cut and delivered the right way, every time. We at Marble.com are known for our incredibly quick turnaround, as we understand having countertops and other mainstays installed quickly and properly is important to our customers. We value your time, and our goal is to create the best work possible and have you enjoying it as possible.

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