Last Updated on October 26, 2026 by Royal Stone Care
If you’ve just installed a marble floor, bathroom vanity unit or kitchen worktop, congratulations! You will no doubt love the way you have added a permanent touch of style and elegance to your home.
But, as a natural stone, marble certainly isn’t immune to damage, neither does it tend to be an especially cheap material. Follow these easy preventative steps to protect your marble surfaces, and keep them looking their brilliant best.
Understanding marble
The porous quality of marble means it absorbs fluid so the stone will stain if you don’t mop up any spillages quickly. It also reacts to stringent chemicals, which can lead to etching, or dull spots.
However, the good news is that if you look after it properly and avoid the errors which can lead to long-term damage, your marble will yield years of sophisticated aesthetic appeal.
Buy the right marble in the first place
Make sure the marble you fit is of the best quality you can afford, and, as far as you can, a type that resists stains from food and drink; especially if yours is a busy household. Some do this better than others, and not all marble is made equally.
Buy the right cleaning products
Check with the manufacturer of your piece of marble for their recommendations. Always test any products on a less visible area of your floor or worktop first of all before you use it on a more prominent spot.
Tackle spills right away
Don’t panic if you spill anything – accidents happen. But leap into action immediately with some warm water and a mild dish detergent. Dry thoroughly afterwards; any standing water left on marble can harm it, so be careful.
Finally, prompt action is vital. So mop up any spills right away. That’s especially the case if someone has spilt something like coffee, red wine or vinegar on your stone surface. In a busy home, especially if you love entertaining and are always having people round, spillages are more likely. But you have to remain vigilant and, as we said, act quickly.
Preventing problems in a busy household
If yours is a busy home with people coming and going all the time, spills are pretty much inevitable. However, it’s the way you to respond that will make all the difference. So follow the usual basic common-sense procedures. And there are preventative measures you can take. Make everyone put coasters under glasses, for example, and place hot dishes on trivets to avoid ring stains or heat marks.
When cutting food, always use a suitable board to prevent knife scratches or harm from acidic products including, for example, tomatoes, lemon or other citrus fruits.
Take protective steps
These might include, for a table or worktop, sturdy coasters, or rugs over high-traffic areas for a floor. If sofas or other items of heavy furniture are on your floor, use pads under the legs of the items, and consider limiting drinking red wine, coffee and the like in that room, or at least doing so with caution.
The seal-good factor
This is another key action. Marble sealants serve as a protective barrier which means liquid is absorbed less quickly. So you get more time to clean up any spillages before they result in staining. And you may need to reseal your stone once or twice a year. Proper sealing helps to keep marble looking glossy, while minimising the risk of daily activities causing etching.
How we at Royal Stone Care can help
You should be able to handle most routine, daily or weekly marble cleaning tasks yourself. However, for more stubborn stains, marble chip repair or marble restoration, you need to talk to the experts. Royal Stone Care is a marble specialist covering the whole of the London area.
Whether you need marble stain removal or anything else, make us your first port of call.
