Martha Stewart's Top Cleaning And Care Tips For Restoring Marble Countertops

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Depending on the material, kitchen countertops can be quite challenging to maintain. Marble, for one, is prone to staining because it is porous. In terms of durability, different types of marble countertops have varying strengths due to their dissimilar compositions, with some being more vulnerable to scratching and etching. If you have just upgraded to marble countertops at home and you're unsure of how to clean and take care of them, it's time for you to learn a thing or two about Marble Maintenance 101 from homemaking expert Martha Stewart. As someone who owns multiple homes and has been sharing expert advice on how to keep kitchens clean and organized for decades, Stewart has a good understanding of how to care for marble countertops. Her top advice is to use the right products when cleaning marble.

According to Stewart, you will need four things to clean marble countertops properly: acetone, sandpaper, a cleaning solution, and a sealer. She learned this trick from her friend Mark Galazzo, who owns Precision Stone, Marble & Granite, a specialized countertop fabricator and provider based in Greenwich, Connecticut. She also specified the products she's using on her own marble kitchen countertops to eliminate etching marks. For the cleaning solution, she prefers Stonetech Revitalizer, Cleaner & Protector. As for the sealer, she uses the Bulletproof Sealer from the same brand. "These products remove the marks and rings typically caused by acidic substances that react with the calcium carbonate in the marble," she wrote on Instagram.

When Martha Stewart shared 14 tips for a cleaner kitchen, she highlighted how acetone can help remove rings and other marks caused by acidic substances from marble countertops. Apparently, pure acetone works well in erasing discolorations. After clearing the surface, wipe it down with a clean rag that has been moistened with a small amount of acetone. Don't use too much and don't let the acetone sit for too long on the countertop, as the substance can also etch its surface. The next step is to pour water over areas with visible acid marks and polish them with a waterproof 400-grit sandpaper. Wetting the surface is crucial, as the water prevents the sandpaper from scratching the marble. Check from time to time to see if the marks have been removed.

Once you're done sanding the etching marks off, wipe the surface with a dry towel, then proceed to spray it with the Stonetech Revitalizer, Cleaner & Protector. Stewart recommends this product as it restores the natural beauty of the material and helps protect the surface from future stains. Spread the cleaner using a fresh, clean rag, ensuring that the entire surface is covered. Wipe dry afterwards, checking if the rag has accumulated dirt. Repeat this step until the rag is dirt-free after wiping the countertop. Finally, pour some Stonetech Sealer on the surface and spread it thoroughly with a cloth. This will seal the surface, also creating a protective layer against future acidic damage.