Maintenace Manual for Marble

MARBLE / NATURAL STONE CHARACTERISTICS 

Marble and many other stone types are a natural material, of sedimentary origin, formed by a metamorphic process in nature. They bring an earthy, organic element into a space. From piece to piece, and even on a single quarried slab, there will be color and texture variations. Surfaces will have pits and fissures that appear as cracks. These are a result from immense heat and pressure which have formed the stone a long time ago. These characteristics do not impair function or durability, rather they add to the beauty of this natural material. Natural stone is certainly quite durable but by no means should it be treated as indestructible. This material is extremely delicate, it is porous and can absorb liquids resulting in stains. Spills of wine, coffee, lemon, vinegar and other liquids containing aggressive agents must be wiped off immediately as these liquids have an etching effect on the marble surface causing, almost impossible to remove, stains. Polished surfaces are more vulnerable to stains then matt finished surfaces. 

CARE AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS  - Preferably clean or buff with a soft cloth only. If you use water to clean then immediately dry the surface with a soft cloth. Only use Alkaline cleaners specifically formulated for the stone type you want to clean.  - Immediately remove spills of any kind as they can leave stains or marks which are almost impossible to remove. Stains can only be removed by professional re-finishing of the marble surface which is very costly.  - Use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or acidic juices.  - Use placemats under ceramics or other solid objects that may scratch the stone surface.  - Do not use bleach, ammonia, general-purpose cleaners or abrasive cleaning agents.  - Do not use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub and tile cleaners.