how do I keep my marble kitchen counters clean and shiny?

Question

Often when they are clean they have a dull finish. They are dark green.

Answer 1

I like TileLab cleaner & protector. It is a spray on application and not only cleans but leaves a nice shine. You can find it at the Home Depot in the aisle with stone and tile. One large bottle lasts for about 6 months and it even removes cooking grease from around the stove. If you can find it, there is also Countertop Magic for stone, but I've had a hard time finding it lately. I use them on both my marble and my granite with excellent results.

Answer 2

Alright, CBD, you are just WRONG!

If the countertops are marble.. vinegar will harm them. Marble is alkaline and vinegar is acidic. the two react together and vinegar will etch the surface of marble.

Green stone can be serpentine and serpentine is not affected by acid, nor is granite.

The dull finish that you see sometimes is probably from residual soap/grease from wiping your counters with a dishcloth.

The best thing that you can do is to dry off your counter with a clean towel after wiping them with a cleaning solution made up from 2 ounces of Murphy's oil soap in 16 ounces of water. Use this to clean, then rinse with water and dry the tops.

There are special spray cleaners that are formulated for stone that are spray-on, wipe-off. You can find them at stone fabricators, tile shops or Lowe's/Home Depot. They're faster and easier to use than the Murphy's solution, but also more expensive.

Answer 3

DO NOT USE COMMERCIAL CLEANERS!!! Only special Marble safe ones or distilled white vinegar, reduced half and half with water and a soft cloth. You can strengthen the mix gradually if the haze won't come off. Then rinse with water.

The same goes for granite. many cleaners are too harsh and will "eat" the lime and calcium, among other minerals, that actually make marble and granite; as these are just slabs of natural rocks.

I Build houses and have had countless customers clean their new and expensive counter tops with "easy off" or the like, only to ruin counter tops beyond repair.

Remember anything that dissolves substances on your counter top will also dissolve organic counter tops as well.

The best advice is to clean spills right away with a wet cloth and use the vinegar solution to clear the haze.

Answer 4

Sounds like they've been used as cutting boards (maybe prior to you?) and are scratched up. I'd call in a marble co. or a countertop co. that knows about marble and get them to come polish them again. They'd have the proper equipment.

Answer 5

try using White Vinegar and water, it will not only deoderize and become germ free, but it will add a natural shine to the counters.

Answer 6

use some windex'it works good and shines great also....or any glass cleaner will do,,,LOL