How To Remove Stains And Shine A Marble Floor?

Marble flooring at houses and public places looks stunning and classy if they are kept polished and finished all the time. Just as expensive and luxurious marble flooring is, its maintenance is troublesome too. And, if you fail to maintain the marble floor, it would eventually become dull and faded just like any other normal floor. This is why keeping the shine of marble is necessary. 

But, how to shine a marble flooring and how to maintain its condition? This becomes a common question as you can’t treat marble the same way you treat normal tile flooring. Even I had to do in-depth research to delve into the matter and find out how to maintain marble flooring, keep the shine, and increase its life. 

If you are one of them who is in a dilemma about how to shine and clean a marble flooring, I got you. I am going to discuss this matter in detail so that you get the answer to all your queries regarding how to shine marble flooring. 

So are you ready? Let’s start!

Know What You Need To Shine A Marble Floor:

Here is a list of items that you will need to clean and shine a marble floor:

• Warm water;
• Mop with soft fibres; (my recommended mop to clean floor)
• Chamois cloth;
• Alkaline or pH neutral cleaning formula;
• Diluted ammonia;
• Baking soda (for deep cleaning);
• Hydrogen peroxide (to remove stains).

Remember marble is a natural stone. It is made when limestone comes under immense heat and pressure and recrystallizes under the crust. Its shape and design are natural, but it is easy to shape and fix on the floor because marble is comparatively more fragile than artificially made tiles. So, cleaning has to be done with gentle hands. 

Keep in mind that it is an alkaline-based material and in contact with acidic substances, it will corrode and the shine will fade away. Also, if you scrub marble flooring, you would leave irreparable scratches and bruises that would kill the beauty and polish of the floor and also attract more dirt and pollution to settle on them. So, avoid using stiff brushes or scrub pads. 

Now that I have eliminated scrubs, brushes, and acidic cleaners, what are you going to use? You have to use chamois cloth, dust mops, or soft sponges for cleaning a marble floor. Also, you must apply formulas that are alkaline or pH neutral. Never ever apply lemon juice, vinegar, or acidic formulas on marble flooring. Be cautious. 

5 Steps To Shine A Marble Floor:

Shining a marble floor means keeping it clean and polished. If you regularly clean a marble floor cautiously, you won’t need to put on extra effort to make it shiny. The marble itself is a shiny stone. You just need to clean it so that the glaze doesn’t fade away. And trust me, it is not difficult at all if you start maintaining the condition from the very beginning. 

Here are the 5 steps to clean and shine a marble floor:

Step 1: Vacuum Clean Or Sweep The Marble Floor:

Now you must ask why vacuum cleaning is necessary as you are ultimately going to use a cleaning agent. The point is, even sand or pins can leave a scratch on a marble floor if it is rubbed on it. So, you must remove the loose dirt, debris, and pollution from a marble floor before cleaning it thoroughly and shining it. 

I prefer using a vacuum cleaner to swiftly take away all the dirt and pollution from the floor (my recommended vacuum clean). However, if you don’t have one, use a soft broom to sweep the entire floor properly so that it doesn’t have any loose dirt. Remember to sweep in one direction so that the dust can’t make any impact on the floor. 

After you remove all the loose dirt and dust from the marble floor, let us move to the next step. 

Step 2: Mop The Floor With Plain Water:

Before you apply any cleaning formula on the floor, you have to make sure that the specs of dust have been removed from the floor. So, before you deep clean the marble floor, it is a good idea to sweep the entire floor with plain water to remove any residue of dirt.

Dip a mop (that has the mop head with soft and feathery fibres) in plain water, and strain the extra water from the mop. Then sweep the floor gently to remove any dirt from the floor. Sweep in one direction to avoid rubbing it too harshly. 

Be patient! I am coming to the point of shining on the floor! But you have to do these two steps too to get the best result and avoid leaving any scratch or damage to the marble floor.  

Step 3: Clean With Ammonia Solution:

As mentioned before, you should use an alkaline solution to clean a marble floor and avoid using acidic solutions. To clean the marble floor, you have to take diluted ammonia. You have to mix only a half cup of ammonia with a gallon of warm water. This solution is very mild and perfect for marble cleaning. Keep the proportion correct so that there is no discolouration or damage. 

Take the solution in a spraying bottle and spray the solution all over the marble floor. Don’t spray twice in the same area as you should not put extra cleaning agents on the floor. Spray all over the floor only once. Leave it for an hour and let it work on the floor. 

While spraying the ammonia solution and leaving it on the floor for an hour, ventilation is necessary. Keep windows and doors open so that the strong smell of ammonia can escape. 

Step 4: Wipe The Floor With Water: 

Come back to the room after an hour. You may see that the floor has dried out. But just because it dried out doesn’t mean you can skip the part of wiping it. The ammonia solution is still there on the floor and if it stays like that, it would fade and corrode the floor. 

Soak a soft-headed mop in warm water, strain the extra water from it, and start wiping off the entire from one corner so that all the residue of ammonia gets washed away. Make sure that you don’t leave extra water on the floor. Also, when the bucket of water gets dirty, change the water, and wipe with clean water to avoid leaving dirt on the floor. 

After wiping the floor with warm water, let us move to the final step of cleaning. 

Step 5: Wipe And Dry The Marble Floor:

Again, you can’t keep the marble floor wet. The slightest residue of water and ammonia should be wiped off of the floor and the marble floor has to be completely dry. 

Take a microfiber or chamois cloth or a dry mop with a soft fibre head to wipe off the entire floor and remove any residue or water. Now, you can see that the marble floor has got back the shine, finish, and colour and revealed its true beauty and elegance!

However, you may get more ideas about marble floor cleaning from here.

5 Homemade Cleaners To Shine A Marble Floor: 

Relying on homemade marble cleaner is always the best idea as you mostly use organic substances. Also, you can mix the amount you require according to the condition of the floor while most marble cleaners found in the market have strong agents for deep cleaning. So, to get the best result and avoid harming the marble flooring, you can try some home remedies that I rely on. 

Here are the 5 best homemade cleaners that can give a shiny and polished marble floor:

1. Ammonia:

As you have already seen, the ammonia solution is a reliable agent for cleaning marble flooring. Ammonia is an alkali that goes perfectly with marble. But the proportion has to be correct so that you don’t overexpose the marble to ammonia and end up damaging the shine. 

Ideally, you should dilute a half cup of ammonia with a gallon of water. Spray it on the floor and keep it there for an hour and then wipe off the residue with a clean mop. Remember to keep the room ventilated while applying and leaving it there. 

2. Baking Soda:

Baking soda is well-known for its power of cleaning stubborn stains and dirt. Just as you use it for cleaning tile floors, it works similarly on marble floors as well. Baking soda is an excellent alkaline agent to deep clean the marble floor.

If the marble floor is too filthy that ammonia alone can’t do the job, you would need to mix ammonia with baking soda. You may also mix baking soda with plain water or hydrogen peroxide, whichever you prefer. Mix baking soda with any of these solvents and make a semi-liquid paste. 

Take a soft cloth and put the mixture on it. Now gently apply the paste to the entire floor. Let the semi-liquid mixture dry out completely. You can see the power of baking soda left on the floor after it dries out. Now wash and wipe the floor gently with clean water. 

3. Hydrogen Peroxide:

Hydrogen peroxide is an agent to clean stubborn marks and stains on the marble floor. So, don’t use it unless you need to. Only apply when the mark is dark and not removable by mild agents. Also, dilute it with water and apply only a little to avoid discolouration. 

If there is a stain on the floor, you can apply diluted hydrogen peroxide directly on the stained and dark areas and leave it overnight. The next morning, wash it off with clean water to see a stain-free marble floor. 

4. Cornstarch:

Cornstarch is an outstanding agent to clean stubborn stains of tea, coffee, and oil. Basically, it can absorb liquids easily leaving the floor clean. But again, apply the amount needed. Don’t put extra cornstarch as it would damage the smoothness and shine on the floor. 

Put some cornstarch on the stain overnight and wash the area with clean water and see how the stains and marks have vanished!

5. Liquid Soap And Water:

Believe it or not, a mixture of normal liquid soap and water is enough for regular cleaning and maintaining the shine of a marble floor. However, it only works if you use it for regular cleaning. If you are cleaning the floor once in a while and want to remove stains or marks, the aforementioned remedies would help. 

For regular cleaning, spray a mixture of soap and water on the floor and wipe it off with a mop. Dry the floor and it would be enough to keep it clean, germ-free, and gleaming. 

5 Ways To Remove Different Stains Marble Floor:

To be honest, if there are stains and marks on the floor and the colour of the marble has been blemished, the beauty and look of a marble floor no longer exist. In fact, your eyes would automatically go towards the stains. This is why it is necessary to clean the stains and marks from marble flooring. And you need to learn some tactics to do so. 

However, treatments are different for different types of stains. So, let me tell you how to remove each type of stain from marble flooring:

1. Water Stains:

The most common stains are caused by water. You may think water can’t leave any stain but actually, it can. It doesn’t only leave a watermark but sometimes the minerals in it can settle on the floor creating a hard layer that is difficult to remove. 

To remove watermarks instantly after you spill them, use a chamois cloth to wipe them off. If the stain is too dark, use cornstarch to let it soak the water and remove the stains. 

2. Oil And Grease Stains:

Another common problem is oil stains. Guests can spill food on the floor, or you may accidentally overturn a can of petrol. Whatever the case is, if you don’t clean it, a nasty and visible mark would be noticed. 

To loosen the oil molecules, use dishwashing soap and water to wipe off the affected area. If you see any residue or touch to find the oily surface, use cornstarch for soaking it up. For harder stains, use hydrogen peroxide solution or acetone. Remember to wash it off to remove any residue. Use a chamois cloth to dry out the area. 

3. Organic Stains:

Organic stains refer to the pet excretion, wine, tea, coffee, and stains caused by organic substances. Not only do they leave an indelible mark on the floor but also give off an odour. 

To clean out organic stains, blot up the area first and then use a solution of hydrogen peroxide or diluted ammonia to clear out the remaining stains. If you can still smell an odour, consider applying baking soda to the area and wash it off after an hour or so. 

4. Biological Stains:

Biological stains can be the plant sap and the growth of algae or mosses as a result. While keeping plants on a marble floor for decoration is common, it can pollute the floor too. It not only leaves stains but makes the floor unhygienic too. 

To remove biological stains, use hydrogen peroxide and a chamois cloth to gently wipe off the area. Make sure to dry the floor before placing the plants again. Try to keep the humidity low in the area and dry it out to stop the growth of organisms. 

5. Metal Stains And Rust:

Rusting becomes an issue when you have metal furniture items at home. Metals cause rusting when it gets wet. And that brownish rust is truly difficult to remove. 

To remove such stains, you can use a mixture of baking soda and ammonia on the affected area. You may need to treat the area several times as it is really difficult to clean out rust. Try to keep the area dry where there are metallic things on the floor. 

How Much Does It Cost To Shine A Marble Floor? 

If you shine the marble at home with natural ingredients, the cost is minimal. It may cost around $5 to clean per square foot of a marble floor if you use diluted ammonia. 

However, if you want a professional to do the cleaning, it may cost more. Let’s check the different methods of cleaning and the cost required. 

Method of Cleaning	Average Cost
Grinding	$5- $7
Polishing	$2- $3
Buffing	$2- $3
Powder cleaning	$2- $3
Crystallization	$1- $2

Is It Possible To Shine A Marble Floor By Hand?

You can’t clean or shine a marble floor with bare hands. As you would use a cleaning agent, it can burn your hands or make your hands itchy. But you can use a cloth to clean and shine a marble floor.

If you use a clean chamois cloth and gently wipe off a marble floor, it gives a better result as you can put on the right pressure with your hands. On the other hand, using a mop or wiper may not give the best result. 

Therefore, yes, you can use your hands and a cloth to clean and wipe off a marble floor.

How Frequently Should You Clean Your Marble Floor? 

You should vacuum clean or sweep the floor at least thrice a week so that particles can’t leave any scratch. Dust the marble floor every day if the family is big and you have pets at home. 

Consider mopping the marble with soap and water at least once a week and dry it after cleaning. That would suffice to keep the floor clean and shiny. But remember to blot up and thoroughly clean out stains and marks to keep the glassy and shiny look of the marble floor. 

To deep clean, the marble floor, use diluted ammonia at least once a month. Use it to wipe the floor and remove any dirt from the deep. It would keep the floor tiptop and tidy. 

Can You Polish Shine A Marble Floor?

Marble is a fragile natural stone that should be treated with care and caution. This is why hardcore polishing is never recommended. 

Polishing a marble floor means either make the surface too rough or too slippery. Both are dangerous as this can cause accidents. The smooth and glassy texture of the marble can get destroyed if you polish the floor too harshly. Ultimately, it would damage the marble floor rather than bringing back the shine. 

To bring back the shine, polishing is not necessary or recommended. Rather, use a paste of baking soda and water and spread it all over the floor. Let it dry out completely and then wipe away the area. You can see a glassy, smooth, and shiny marble floor after applying this remedy. 

What Are Some Tips To Keep The Shine Of A Marble Floor?

If you want to keep the marble floor shiny all the time, the most effortless way is to clean it regularly. When you clean and dry the floor regularly, you won’t need to put on extra effort to deep clean the floor. Also, you should remove the stains and marks immediately before they can settle on the floor. 

To maintain the shine of a marble floor, you have to follow the mentioned routine:

• Vacuum clean or dust the floor at least thrice a week. If you have a big family and pets, you should vacuum clean the marble floor every day to avoid scratches due to dust and particles. 
• Mop the entire marble floor once a week with soap and water. This would suffice if there is no stain or mark. 
• Remove stains and marks immediately after you see them. Blot up the stains first and never rub the floor. 
• Use diluted ammonia to deep clean the floor once a month. This would bring back and keep the shine of the marble floor. 
• Keep the marble floor dry. As marble is porous, water can easily get in it and make it fragile. Use a clean cloth to dry the floor after mopping and blot up liquids immediately after spilling. 

Follow these tips to maintain the grace and shine of a marble floor. 

Conclusion:

From time to time cleaning, removing the stains and marks properly, and deep cleaning the floor once a month is the key to keep a marble floor shiny and glassy. 

Apply the tips and techniques mentioned and see the amazing outcomes!