There is no doubt that marble is one of the most elegant and sophisticated materials for building. No matter how you incorporate marble into your interior, it will always look stunning. Investing in marble wall cladding offers many benefits, from timeless appearance to durability and affordability.
While marble demands much less care than many other natural stones, it still needs routine maintenance to stay in top shape. Of course, the marbles on your walls are much less likely to get stains than the marble countertop. Yet, you should be cautious when keeping them clean, disinfected, and sealed and wash them carefully.
So, how do you clean your warble walls without damaging them? The below section discusses how to clean marble safely and what to avoid for cleaning. Keep reading!
Cleaning Marble Wall Cladding: What’s Safe And What To Avoid?
Marble comes in a range of different textures and finishes. The ideal way to protect marble walls and countertops can vary based on the finish. What you need to remember is that all marble is porous. They are prone to staining, etching and scratching. Hence, using harsh chemicals on these natural stones is always a no-no. Read below to learn what you can and cannot use to clean your marble walls and countertops.
What Can You Use To Clean Marble?
1. Warm water and mild soap
One of the easiest and safest to clean marble countertops or wall cladding is with a mix of mild soap and warm water. Confirm that the soap does not have acidic or damaging chemicals, such as lime. First, dust the wall surface to clean up the dirt and grime, then use a spray bottle to apply the cleaning solutions. You can use any clean, microfibre cloth to wipe it off until there’s no residue.
2. Hydrogen peroxide for light-coloured marbles
Try hydrogen peroxide if your marble wall cladding has stains that won’t budge with the previous cleaning solution. Mix a little amount of hydrogen peroxide with water and shake it for a couple of minutes. After that, spray the mixture on the wall and use a sponge or a microfibre cloth to wipe it. Use this solution only if you have light-coloured marbles because it can cause spots on dark marbles.
3. Stone soap
There are many stone soap washes available for specific stones like marble. These cleaning solutions are safe, effective and easy to use. All you have to do is apply them and then wipe them off the surface. Also, you can find many stone soaps or cleaning solutions that are natural, eco-friendly and help heal the marble surface.
What Do You Need To Avoid?
1. Store-brand chemical cleaners
Popular cleaners used for grout, tubs and tiles are fantastic at removing dirt buildup. However, these cleaners can scrape away the sheen and leave the surface dull when used on marble. The reason behind this is the incredibly abrasive chemicals in the cleaners.
2. Aciding Cleaners
Ingredients like vinegar and lemon juice are great cleaning agents for synthetic surfaces. The acidic solutions can have the opposite effect on natural surfaces like marble. It can etch the marble, make it dull and cause staining.
3. Alkali
Alkali is a significant chemical compound found in many cleaners. This ingredient is excellent for removing dirt. However, if you use it on a porous material like marble, it won’t take much time to damage the surface.
4. Vacuuming
A lot of people vacuum their marble floors and walls to remove dirt. What they don’t know is that the bristle and metal edges of the machine can cause scratches and wear on the marble. The etching will only force you to get unnecessary re-polishing. Instead of vacuuming, consider using a dry microfiber cloth to clean marble surfaces.
Bottom Line
Marble wall cladding is definitely one of the best ways to make your interior or exterior stand out. However, it requires careful maintenance to maintain its beauty and charm. Remember the above points and keep all acidic, coloured ingredients away from your marble surfaces. And if you end up staining the wall anyway, consider taking advice from a professional marble seller to learn the correct way to deal with stains.
