Marble has been around for centuries as a building tool. From gorgeous cathedrals, to statues, to kitchens and showers marble has been an added bonus for architecture. Welcome back to the American Bath Remodeling blog. Today, we will be telling you all about how to clean cultured marble in your home.
You might be wondering what cultured marble and if your marble even is cultured. To learn more about what it is read our previous blog, What is Cultured Marble, and Other Questions. Marble is a foundation material to architectural marvels all around the world, so learning how to properly clean it is important.
Cultured Marble
Cultured marble is made from resins, particles of stone, and different pigments. This is usually made with 25% resin and 75% marble dust. It is more durable than regular marble due to its gel coating, where regular marble is soft and delicate. Throughout the process of creating cultured marble it gives the stone colors and patterns that all appear to be natural.
Cultured marble is often used in many bathrooms for bathtubs, shower pans, vanities, and even shower bases. While this type of marble is sturdier than regular marble it does require constant care and cleaning to keep it in tip top shape. However, it is important to use proper cleaning products to learn how to clean your cultured marble. Using incorrect products can cause staining and stripping of the shiny gel coating on your marble.
How to Clean Cultured Marble
There are multiple products and ways in which you can clean cultured marble, but regular cleaning in a must. You want to prevent any soap scum, dirt, and stains from settling into the marble. While some colors may hide these issues better than others you want to keep it looking new and fresh. When showering also be sure to prevent water stains by cleaning up around the shower base as well.
Avoid Abrasive Cleaners
When cleaning your cultured marble you want to avoid any abrasive cleaners and pads. Use a soft cloth to make sure you do not harm the marble. You want to avoid products such as Ajax, a scrubbing pad, the rough side of a sponge, or steel wool. These products can scratch the surface and damage the seal on your cultured marble.
Build Up
Be sure to keep on top of soap scum and build up before it gets out of control. However, you want to be gentle when removing this from the surface of your marble to prevent scratching. One of the best ways to clean cultured marble is purchasing a solution such as Mrs. Meyers or Method Shower Cleaner, both of which contain a neutral PH balance for your cultured marble. Use a spray bottle to avoid access solution sitting on your marble. Once you have sprayed this on immediately wipe it down with a soft cloth. Once all of the solution is wiped down rinse with water and wipe again.
Hard Water Stains
Water stains can be worse in some states than others depending on the minerals in the water. Using the same solutions mentioned above spray it on your cultured marble then wipe down wipe down with a damp soft cloth. This may take some elbow grease as some water stains can be worse than others. To help prevent this it is always recommended that you dry showers and sink areas after use. If the water stains do not come up immediately repeat the process of using the solution and remember to be gentle!
Maintenance
Overtime your cultured marble will need to be waxed and refinished. Either annually or biannually you may need to have a professional wax the surface to bring back the original shine. While it is possible to do this yourself, you may want to consult a professional due to the fact that cultured marble does scratch easily. To wax the marble yourself you can use a special countertop wax but be sure to test on a hidden area. If you maintain and learn how to clean your cultured marble properly it can last a considerable amount of time without professional help.
Learning how to clean your cultured marble and the products to use is not difficult! Just be sure that you are gentle with your marble to prevent scratching and damage. If you are looking for professionals to do the right job American Bath and Remodeling can do it for you. Contact us and we can install your cultured marble!