Cleaning Marble
Marble which is a type of stone is often thought to be invincible. However, such myths are not true. Marble can easily stain or scratch. Like wood, marble should be regularly cleaned to avoid stains and scratches. Spills should be wiped up immediately to avoid staining.
Maintaining marble is an extremely easy task. Wiping a marble surface with lukewarm water is sufficient enough to clean it. Using a white towel or rag will prove most effective. Usually you don't need any cleaners since marble will not leave any streaks behind.
If your marble is starting to lose color, then you might need a commercial cleaner. Companies that specialize with marble are likely to carry a wide variety of cleaners and polishers. Instructions to apply the cleaner will vary between products. Putty powder can be used on heavily damaged surfaces. Simply apply with a clean towel as needed. Fold over the towel and keep re-applying until you get the desired effects. After any cleaner is applied, it's recommended you clean the area with warm water and a detergent.
Despite regular cleaning, stains can and do occur. Removing organic stains such as coffee or tea are among the easiest. A home made concoction consisting of peroxide and ammonia will take the stain right off. Sometimes even simple warm water works fine. Cleaning oil stains from fatty foods or lotions can also be easy to remove with practice. You can apply a white powder such as starch to the area and let it sit. This will soak up any slimy residue that resides on your surface. After you let it sit, scrub the area with lukewarm soapy water. If needed, you can re-apply the white powered that you originally used. Lastly, cleaning rust stains. If you've left a metal object residing on your marble surface for too long, rust might have built up. Any commercial rust remover will do the job in this case. However, it's recommended that you make sure the product is safe to use on your marble. If you're having trouble with your cleaners drying up when you let them soak in, use saran rap. Apply a large sheet of it over the area in question. Tape up the sides of it to trap in all moisture. This should prevent your cleaner from drying up and let you soak the stain for hours.