Marble is an exquisite stone that happens to be a little soft or fragile. This widely used building material is much more porous than granite, with some slabs boasting strong graining features where the minerals tend to be different.
Here, grains or veins add the much-needed look and increase the overall worth of marble. As this stone is more porous and fragile than other flooring materials, it requires higher levels of maintenance and is also prone to accidental scratching and staining; which ends up diminishing the aesthetics of its shiny surface.
Fortunately, many of these scratches can be repaired. While the deeply embedded scratches on marble tiles are difficult to remove by simple methods, the shallower ones can be easily improved. Take a look at some simple steps that help you remove those unappealing stains.
How to Remove Unsightly Scratches from your Marble Tops
1. At the very onset, you need to clean the marble surface and remove the last traces of dirt or grit. It’s best to use specialized stain cleaning agents to get rid of any unsightly marks on your marble countertop, flooring, and/or tiles. In most cases, these stain-removing products can be purchased off the racks of hardware stress and are neutral pH cleansers that contain no abrasives.
2. Take steel wool and gently move the same along the scratch. This act of polishing goes a long way in transforming the bigger scratches into smaller ones and making them look less conspicuous than before. Well, polished marble is basically a super-fine scratched top surface that appears to be totally mark-free.
The marble that you are planning to treat should ideally boast a sealer surface treatment that’s likely to prevent your steel wool from performing to optimal levels. So, it’s best to limit your efforts to rubbing the areas that have the worst scratches.
3. After using the steel wool, clean the area thoroughly. Remember, small traces of steel bits remaining on the surface of marble can rust and get embedded in the layers below.
4. Shake your polish well and apply an appropriate amount to a clean hand buffing pad. You may like to hand-buff it before proceeding with the next step.
5. Apply the polish onto the entire marble surface and let it air dry.
6. Use your drill/buffer to get the shine back up. Once dry, the polish serves as a super-fine abrasive, which when rubbed briskly in a circular motion (often with the power buffer), ends up acting like tiny sandpaper. The result on hand will be a shiny area with an improved marble appearance.
7. You may use distilled or soft water for washing off any residue. To prevent any streaks or ruin of the appearance of the marble, let it dry thoroughly before using it again.
Things you will Need
* #0000 Steel Wool
* Portable drill that comes with a buffing pad attachment
* Hand buffing pad
* A gallon of soft/ distilled water
* Tanned leather (optional)
* Marble polish
* Soft towels
Tips & Warnings
It may be essential to reseal your marble. To test whether you need to go about the task of resealing, pour a quarter size area of water on the marble surface and wait for about 20 minutes. Does the spot have a different coloration after being wiped off? If the answer is in the affirmative or if the water fails to bead up in a proper way, you will require a sealant. It’s good to use a sealant that is specifically marketed for marble surfaces and promises to keep further stains and scratches at bay.
Prevent the accumulation of any dirt or liquid on the surface. Regular dusting is a smart way of alleviating the fear of scratches. If you are planning to place decorative pieces on top of the marble, then it is best to rest the same on felt or rubber pads. This protects against the formation of deep scratches that are impossible to clean with simple DIY methods.
Last but not least, always use the raw side of well-tanned leather to polish fine marble as in ancient times effectively. As marble is very chemically sensitive, it is crucial to use high-quality products that do not aggravate its texture.
So, regardless of whether you intend to remove scratches from marble tiles, tabletops, powder baths, tub surrounds, floor tiles, showers, or stone fireplace surrounds; these how-to tips will go a long way in addressing your cause.
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