How to Care for Carrera Marble
The Carrera marble company supplies marble for kitchen and bathroom counters and floors, fireplaces and even furniture. Caring for marble is different from caring for ceramic tiles or other common materials--marble is prone to staining and can also be etched by some substances. To avoid serious problems with your marble, you must take care to choose suitable cleaners and avoid using anything not deemed safe by the manufacturer. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Mild soap-free detergent
- Sponges
- Soft cloths
- Whiting
- 20 percent hydrogen peroxide
- Acetone
- Plastic wrap
- Spatula
- Silicone-based sealer for marble
Instructions
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Keep Carrera marble clean by wiping or mopping with plain water or using a mild detergent. Carrera-marble.com suggests using lukewarm water and rinsing the marble well if you use a mild detergent. In addition the detergent should contain no fats (in other words, do not use soaps).
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Prevent spills of food or drink, when at all possible. According to Carrera, oils, wine, meat and butter can cause bad stains. In addition, acidic substances such as citris juices and wine may cause etching in addition to stains.
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Treat all spills promptly to prevent stains--sop up liquids with a clean cloth and clean the marble with water and detergent.
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Handle common stains by applying a paste of whiting (available from paint stores) mixed with 20 percent hydrogen peroxide for stains such as coffee, tea or wine. For oily stains (such as butter) Carrera suggests first cleaning the stain with ammonia and rinsing with water. If it persists, use whiting with acetone. After applying the paste to either kind of stain, cover it overnight with plastic wrap. Scrape the paste off in the morning with a spatula.
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Apply a silicone-based sealer to the marble to make it easier to clean and prevent stains. Carrera advises sealing the marble twice a year or more frequently if necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
If etching occurs, Carrera suggests contacting a professional, rather than trying to correct it yourself.
If you notice a rust stain, Carrera-marble.com suggests first trying to get it off with a dry cloth. If the stain persists, use a paste of rust remover and whiting and placing this thickly (½ an inch) over the stain, leaving it there overnight. As with other pastes for stain removal, place plastic wrap over it to prevent it from drying out.
Carrera-marble.com warns against using any type of abrasive cleaners as these may scuff or scratch the marble.
Marble.com advises against using vinegar (it is acidic) to clean marble. In addition if protein-based substances, such as milk or blood, spill on marble, avoid using hot water to clean them--use lukewarm or cold water for cleaning these substances.
