Marble is a very durable material, but it’s porous and can be susceptible to staining, particularly from acidic materials. As such, it’s important that it’s regularly cleaned, and if you spill something on it, then it needs cleaning straight away.
To clean your marble fireplace surrounds and mantels, you should use products specifically designed for use on marble, such as this one. Never use any harsh cleaners like bleach or Windex. When cleaning, use a soft cloth. Never use steel wool or other rough cleaning tools.
| CLEANING TIPS: MARBLE FIREPLACE DO'S AND DON'TS | |
| Do's | Don'ts |
| Use marble cleaner | Do not use common multipurpose cleaners |
| Use a soft cloth | Do not use steel wool or other rough cleaning tools |
We have the following advice on how to clean a marble fireplace depending on what's been spilled on it:
Cause
Grease, tar, cooking oil, milk, cosmetics
What it looks like
Darkening of the stone
How to clean
If it’s an oil-based stain, it must be chemically dissolved. Don’t worry: if you do it quick enough and don’t let it rest then it shouldn’t damage the marble.
Clean the stone gently with a soft, liquid cleanser with bleach, household detergent, ammonia, mineral spirits or acetone.
Cause
Anything natural – coffee, tea, food, tobacco
What it looks like
Can cause a pinky-brown stain but can depend on what it was that was spilled.
How to clean
Use 12% hydrogen peroxide (the strength for hair dye) and a little ammonia.
Cause
Spilled water, leaving glasses on the surface
What it looks like
Regular water spots or rings
How to clean
Use dry 0000 steel wool
Cause
Marker pens, biro, felt pens
What it looks like
Pretty much how you’d imagine ink to look
How to clean it
As marble is usually light-colored, use bleach or hydrogen peroxide, but only use a little at a time to make sure it doesn’t strip the color. For darker stones you’d use acetone or lacquer thinner.
Cause
Paint spilled when decorating
What it looks like
Depends on the color and how much you’ve spilled!
How to clean it
If it’s only a small amount of paint, you may be able to use lacquer thinner or even scrape it off with a blade. If it’s a lot of paint, then you’ll need to use a commercial paint stripper, which contain lye or caustic soda – DO NOT use acids or flames to get the paint off.
Follow the manufacturer's directions or get a professional cleaner in to do it for you. Oil-based paints may leave an oily stain after cleaning – refer to the ‘oil’ section of this guide.
Cause
Flames and smoke from the fire or elsewhere if you’ve suffered a fire at home
What it looks like
Black or dark grey burn marks
How to clean it
You should either get in a professional cleaner or use ‘smoke removers’ to help restore your marble fireplace to its former glory.
Cause
Rust, iron, copper, etc. Can come from nails, screws, cans, fireside tools, etc.
What it looks like
● Iron and rust stains – orangey-brown
● Copper and bronze – green or muddy brown
How to clean it
Stains from metal must be removed using a poultice – a liquid cleaner or chemical mixed with a white absorbent material to form a paste. This will draw out the stain over the course of 24-48 hours. You can buy poultice or you can make your own depending on what stains you’re trying to remove. See below on how to make your own poultice for stains.
Some metal stains, if left for a long time, are permanent and can’t be removed.
Cause
Mould, mildew, fungi
What it looks like
Can be powdery, green or brown. Obviously, you know what fungi looks like.
How to clean it
Use diluted ammonia, bleach or hydrogen peroxide (½ cup in a gallon of water). DO NOT mix bleach and ammonia because it will create a lethal toxic gas!!!!
Here are some more general tips for getting those pesky stains off your lovely marble fireplace or surround…
● Use a soft microfibre cloth to remove surface dust and dirt.
● Use warm (not hot) water.
● Lightly rub the stain with the cloth, increasing in pressure if the stain is stubborn.
● Regularly rinse the cloth out to keep it clean.
● Use distilled water where possible as any impurities in the water can stain the marble.
● Dry with a soft cloth or towel – do not let it air dry as this can cause water marks.
● Avoid using white vinegar or limescale removers as they contain acids, or baking soda which is abrasive and could affect the finish of the marble.
● Carefully read the directions on any cleaning products you use and start with small amounts to test.
● You can use a marble wax to bring the stone’s shine out.
You’ll need to buy an absorbent base for your poultice which can contain materials such as talc, chalk, kaolin, and diatomaceous earth. Here’s how to make poultice for stains:
Oil-based stains
● Poultice with baking soda and water; OR
● One of the powdered poultice materials mixed with mineral spirits
Copper stains
● Poultice with one of the powdered materials and ammonia. This can be a particularly tough stain to remove so may need to several applications or even help from a professional.
Organic stains
● Poultice with one of the powdered materials and hydrogen peroxide or acetone
Iron stains
● Poultice with diatomaceous earth and rust remover. Again, you may need a professional for this if it won’t come off.
The consistency of your poultice should be roughly about that of peanut butter, and when you’re ready to apply it to the stain, follow these directions:
● Dampen the affected area with clean water (distilled if possible).
● Spread the poultice evenly over the stain so it’s about ½ inch thick, overlapping a little around the sides.
● Cover the poultice with plastic sheeting of some kind (a piece of plastic bag would do it) and tape down.
● Let the poultic dry and do it’s magic – this will take around 24-48 hours. After around 24 hours, take the plastic off.
● Remove the poultice, which will have drawn out the stain, and clean the marble with clean (again distilled if possible) water.
● Buff dry with a soft cloth.
● If the stains are particularly stubborn and ingrained, then it may take several applications before it’s completely gone.
Browse our range of marble fireplaces and marble fire surrounds today, or contact us if you have any questions about cleaning and maintaining them.
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