Many of the dull, rough patches we see on marble in Pakistani homes were not caused by feet, spills or age. They were caused by cleaning, often by the household’s most trusted bottle. If your marble has lost its shine in the bathroom or around the kitchen sink, check the cleaning cupboard first.
Keep these away from marble, travertine and onyx
- Toilet bowl cleaners. Most are strong acids. A splash on a marble floor etches it instantly.
- Limescale and descaling sprays. Acid, designed to dissolve calcium deposits, which is what marble is made of.
- Vinegar and lemon, including “natural” homemade cleaners.
- Rust removers. Usually acid-based.
- Multi-purpose bathroom cleaners that contain acids to tackle soap scum.
- Abrasive powders and creams. They scratch the polish.
- Bleach, used routinely. Can discolour some stones and damages sealers over time.
- Strong degreasers and oven cleaners. Highly alkaline; can dull and damage sealers and resin.
- Kerosene, diesel and oil “for shine”. Leave a film that attracts dirt and stains.
- Wax and instant-shine polishes. Build up, yellow and peel.
Read the label
If a label lists hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulphamic, citric, acetic or oxalic acid, or says “descaler,” “limescale” or “anti-rust,” keep it off marble. Granite tolerates more, but even granite is best cleaned with mild products.
What to use instead
- Daily: warm water and a few drops of pH-neutral stone soap or mild washing-up liquid.
- Kitchen grease: warm water with a little isopropyl alcohol on granite; neutral stone cleaner on marble.
- Bathroom soap film: a stone-safe bathroom cleaner and a soft brush, rinsed well.
- Hard water scale on marble: stone-safe scale removers; see our hard-water guide.
- Disinfecting: diluted hydrogen peroxide, tested first, or stone-safe disinfectants.
Tell everyone who cleans
Most damage happens when someone new helps with the cleaning and reaches for the strongest product. Keep the stone-safe cleaner in the bathroom and kitchen, and the acidic toilet cleaner well away from marble floors and basins, ideally used only inside the bowl.
Already etched? Light etching can be polished out. See our guide to fixing etch marks, or ask a polisher.
Want a list of stone-safe products for your home? Ask on WhatsApp +92 320 9900948.