Harsh cleansers and cleaning techniques may be fine for manmade products, but a gentle and more-natural approach is needed when it comes to marble and porcelain care recommendations. These gentle, but effective, tips are key to retaining these surfaces’ luxurious appearance (and value)!
We understand this goes against the usual tendency—which is to use brand name stone cleaners, and/or other harsh (dare we say, unnecessary!) solutions.
But after years restoring and caring for these beautiful, often rare, products, we want to change the way people think about natural stone care! At TERSO MR® we strongly advise gentle ways of keeping a natural stone surface.
Here are our simple marble, natural stone, and porcelain surface care recommendations to use on countertops/vanity tops, showers, and floors. Try them for yourself and discover the difference.
NATURAL MARBLE & PORCELAIN CARE RECOMMENDATIONS
Countertops and Vanity Tops
What you’ll need to make your own cleanser
Hydrogen peroxide (3% solution)
Distilled water
Green Palmolive® brand dish soap
Spray bottle (8 oz bottle could be a good size)
Microfiber towels or white bounty paper towel
Or, 3% hydrogen peroxide wipes
How to use:
In a spray bottle, fill with equal parts hydrogen peroxide (3%) and distilled water, followed by three drops of the green Palmolive dish soap.
Spray directly onto the surface or on a Microfiber towel to lightly buff the surface, dry if necessary using a 2nd dry Microfiber towel.
Or, simply use the 3% hydrogen peroxide wipes.
Important Note:
All marble and porcelain care recommendations must begin with you being informed about how to protect your prized surfaces against damage. In many ways, periodically sealing countertops’ surface can actually be a waste of resources; the most effective solution is to care for these surfaces from day one!
The most important guidelines:
Avoid letting citrus or acid products sit on the surface—these will cause surface etch marks (e.g., vinegar, wine, citrus fruit juice, tomato paste, coffee, ammonia, or bleach,).
Keep coasters, placemats, or food trays handy; choose cutting boards with juice catching grooves.
Clean any spills off as soon as you see them, ideally with water and soap to neutralize any lingering product.
There is NO sealer that will prevent surface etch marks caused by citrus spills, because they are not simply surface stains.
Shower Surfaces
What you’ll need to make your own cleanser
Hydrogen peroxide (3% solution)
1 teaspoon green Palmolive brand dish soap
Spray bottle (8 oz could be a good size)
Soft car wash sponge or soft car wash brush
Microfiber towels
How to use:
Clean regularly, as soap scum and mildew tend to accumulate on the surface of the stone, marble or porcelain.
In a spray bottle filled with hydrogen peroxide (3%) add 1 teaspoon green Palmolive dish soap.
Spray directly onto the surface and use a soft sponge or soft car wash brush to remove any stubborn soap scum or mildew.
Finish by buffing with a microfiber towel to dry the surface.
The same mixture can be used on shower glass, toilets, and sinks—thereby avoiding any other harsh detergents that usually damage the finishes.
Important Note:
Marble and porcelain care recommendations can help your surfaces be free of what sits on top, but no cleaner will be able to remove persistent mildew, mold, and calcium in grout seams caused by Waterlogged Shower™.
If you’re seeing (or smelling) mildew or mold, or notice color changes in your marble shower floors or walls, we suggest contacting us for a consultation. TERSO MR® will do a thorough assessment and if Waterlogged Shower™ proves to be the issue, we’ll provide a recommendation and estimate, and be happy to perform any necessary repairs.
Water that has intruded behind your marble, porcelain or natural stone has the potential to cause the most serious damage to your bathroom, health and investment.
Marble & Porcelain Floor Care
What you’ll need to make your own cleanser
Hydrogen peroxide 3%
Green Palmolive brand dish soap
Gallon bucket
Microfiber mop (without metal frame)
How to use:
First gently brush, vacuum (no roller), or dust mop to remove any loose surface debris.
In a gallon of water, add two cups of the 3% hydrogen peroxide, and a teaspoon of the green Palmolive dish soap.
Use a microfiber mop to clean the floor surfaces.
Dry with a microfiber towel, if necessary.
Extra Tip: Have a designated microfiber mop for the kitchen and one microfiber mop for the bathroom floor to avoid cross-contamination.
Important Note:
We recommend soft padding and/or rug at your entrances, work areas, and other busy areas around the house.
Protect stone surfaces by using soft felt pads on chair legs to avoid scratching or marking the floor.
Avoid using vinegar, bleach, ammonia, crystalized coatings, scrubbing pads or harsh household cleaners on any natural stone.
These marble and porcelain care recommendations are just one way that TERSO MR® assists homeowners in the delicate quest to preserve new or existing marble structures. Our goal is to save your valuable materials and resources, and help you enjoy your stone for generations.