How to Clean Marbles
Marbles roll all over the floor, into nooks and crannies, picking up dust and grime as they go. Today, most marbles are made of glass, although collectibles also can be made of marble or ceramic. Cleaning glass marbles is easy. However, if you are cleaning a marble that's made of marble, it's a little more complicated. Marble is a porous rock, which easily picks up dirt and discoloration, and needs to be cleaned gently so as not to damage the stone. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Gently place the marble or ceramic marbles in a colander and rinse with cold water to remove any loose dirt. Then place them in a basin and cover with hot water.
-
2
Add 2 tablespoons of dishwashing detergent. Add a little more it you're cleaning a lot of marbles.
-
-
3
Gently swirl the water and marbles to mix in the detergent. Allow them to sit for at least 24 hours and preferably longer, stirring periodically.
-
4
Pour the marbles back into the colander and rinse. If they're not as clean as you would like, repeat the soaking process with more hot water and dishwashing detergent.
-
5
Make sure the marbles are well-rinsed. Then, if you are satisfied with their cleanliness, pour them onto a large hand towel and dry.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If cleaning glass marbles, cover them with water in a basin and add one cup of white vinegar. Swirl around and gently rub the marbles with your hands. Rinse and dry. Once your marbles made of marble are clean, you may want to consider having them professionally polished. This will help protect them from getting more stains.
When cleaning marbles made of marble, never use a scouring pad or anything abrasive to remove stains because they will scratch the surface and damage the stone.
