Marble countertops provide an elegant look to your house but to keep them shine like new for a long time, they require some care from your side as well. Here are a few tips to care for your marble countertops.
Use a Good Sealant
New marble countertops don’t come with a sealant on them and since marble countertops have many pores, it is extremely essential to apply a sealant on it to cover the pores. If you won’t have a sealant on your countertop, every spill and stain would make a way through the pores and settle deeper into the marble making the stain permanent. Applying sealant is very simple that you can do it yourself easily but, if you doubt your skills, just ask your contractor for it.
How To Apply a Sealant
Here’s what you should do to seal your marble countertop. The process is pretty easy:
- Buy a good sealant.
- Clean the surface and make it dry completely.
- Pour the sealant little by little on the countertop.
- Wipe it gently using a soft piece of cloth.
- Make sure the entire countertop is sealed equally.
Refresh the Seal Regularly
Once you have sealed your marble countertop, remember that a good sealant stays perfectly approximately a year. As soon as one year completes, refresh the sealant by reapplying it with the same method. Keeping your sealant fresh is a great way to keep its look maintained.
Use Gentle Surface Cleaners and a Soft Cloth
For a year-long lifespan of your sealant, it is suggested by the experts to use mild surface cleaners and soft (non-abrasive) cloth to clean your countertop. Care for it countertops properly and on a regular basis so that you won’t have to spend a lot of money on countertop replacement after every couple of years.
Clean the Spills Immediately
After getting your countertop sealed, don’t take the spills easy because sometimes spills sneak through the sealant as well. Under some circumstances, even water can leave stains so, make sure that you clean the spills immediately. Spills of citrus, tomato and vinegar can even cause etching on the countertop so, never let them rest at any cost and wipe them off using surface cleaners as soon as possible. You can use paper towels for cleaning. Also, rather than directly putting water bottles and glass on the countertop, use mats or trays for it so that liquid doesn’t come in contact with the marble.
Clean on a Daily Basis
Regular cleaning would make your kitchen countertop shine flawlessly for a long time. As marble has an extremely delicate and contemporary look, you would definitely not want its appearance to be compromised because of dust sitting on it. So, as soon as your work is done, clean the countertop appropriately. And even if you don’t use the countertops much, grab a soft cloth and clean it on alternate days to prevent the dust from settling onto it.
Remove the Stains
If you see tough stains on your marble countertop then it is probably a sign that the sealant has lost its efficiency and it’s about time to give your countertop a new sealant finish. But, prior to the reapplication, remove all the tenacious stains. However, the penetrated stains don’t usually get cleaned easily by the action of surface cleaners, stronger action is required. Mix baking soda and acetone, apply it onto the stains, leave for about 24 hours and then soak it using a paper towel, the stains would come off completely.
Cleaning and Maintaining Marble Countertops Is Pretty Easy
If you have already read the above guide, you would be thinking marble countertops are difficult to maintain, but in fact, marble cooktops are easy to maintain as compared to granite and quartz. You do need to clean them regularly just as every other countertop. However, if you want countertops that are low maintenance, here’s the list of most easy to maintain kitchen countertops:
- Laminate countertops: As they are synthetic they are stainproof and quite durable.
- Silestone/quartz countertops: They are non-pours and stain proof.
- Next is soapstone countertops: It’s not damaged by heat and also scratch resistant.
In conclusion, follow the mentioned tips to take care of your marble countertops and if you are looking for countertop replacement Raleigh NC, we have given some excellent low maintenance options.