Why You Should Think Twice Before Cleaning Your Marble Countertops With Baking Soda
White marble countertops are so popular because they make any kitchen look luxurious. Not only do they look beautiful in a modern-style kitchen, but they pair well with traditional ones too. There are many different types of marble. Everyone pictures a white slab with grey veins running through it, but this stone can even be black, red, or blue. Depending on the one you choose for your countertops, it can range from $40 to $200 per square foot. This may seem like a lot of money, but putting this stone in your kitchen will increase your home's resale value in the long run. Caesarstone explains that marble is even better than granite when considering how much you'll get from selling your home later in life.
While marble countertops have advantages, they also come with their fair share of disadvantages. Since it is a natural stone, it needs a protective coating. Over time this top layer will fade away, and you'll need to reseal the marble. If you don't keep up with it, you'll be stuck looking at dull and damaged countertops. To get the most out of your marble countertops, you must be diligent about how you care for them. Always use the right products, and never forget to reapply the sealant.
Don't use baking soda
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a crystalline powder that is great at cleaning many different surfaces. However, marble countertops are not one of them. Baking soda is an abrasive alkaline cleaner that works like a mild exfoliant. You never want to use it to wash marble countertops because it will damage the porous stone. Lifehacker explains that your countertops will begin to look dull and foggy as the protective coating is scrubbed away. It can also leave lots of scratches on the stone.
On the other hand, Royal Stone Care recommends using baking soda as long as you scrub gently, don't do it often, and never leave it on for more than a couple of seconds. If you clean with it daily, your protective coating will need to be reapplied quicker than expected. Ultimately, it's safer to avoid using baking soda on marble. Then you won't risk damaging the protective layer and staining any exposed marble. Once you scratch the actual stone, you won't be able to repair it. Instead, you'll have to live with the stain or replace your entire countertop.
How to clean marble countertops
There are many other ways to effectively clean your marble countertops without the risk of damaging them. One of these methods is with warm water and dish soap. It's easy since you likely already own these items. Although, you can make it even more convenient to apply by putting the solution in a spray bottle. Then simply cover your surfaces with the mixture and wipe them down. To prevent any residue from fogging the shine of your countertops, rinse them with fresh water.
Academy Marble explains that microfiber clothes are the best option for cleaning this stone. They're gentle so that they won't damage the sealant and are super absorbent, so you won't be left with water spots after putting in all the work to clean your countertops. Another option is to purchase a commercial marble cleaner. Since it's already formulated to have the perfect pH level for marble, you won't have to worry about anything. All you have to do is spray your countertops and wipe them down. You won't have to do extra steps like mixing the cleaning solution or rinsing the marble.