Cleaning a marble fireplace requires a lot of carefulness. Since marbles are porous materials, you need to ensure that you use the right products and strategies in cleaning them. Else you end up dulling or damaging them.
Are you searching for how to clean a marble fireplace? This article explains everything you need to know about that. Read on.
Marble fireplaces are great. It doesn’t take much to notice how beautiful they are. But with all that beauty, they easily get stained. They pick up dust quickly and constantly needs cleaning.
Also, they are highly porous. So using the wrong chemicals in cleaning them can become a problem. The liquids can get into them and cause them to cause them serious damages. That is why it is important to pay attention to the type of cleaners you use in cleaning them and the methods you use.
“So how do you clean a marble fireplace?” You ask. Below lies the answer.
Cleaning A Marble Fireplace: A Step By Step Guide
To Properly clean a marble fireplace without causing it any damages, the following is what you are to do.
- Ascertain the Type And Level Of The Stain
You can’t treat every type of stain the same way. You have to, first of all, ascertain the type of stain you are dealing with and the level. By the level of stain here, I mean the degree of the stains on the marble fireplace.
Different kinds of stain can be found there from time to time. You have to learn how to get rid of them all. One by one.
In case you are wondering about the various types of stains that can easily be found on a marble fireplace, below is a full list of that.
- Biological Stains
Just like the name suggests, biological stains on a marble fireplace has to do with stains that come as a result of the activities of microorganisms. For instance fungi, mildew, and mold.
Biological stains are usually brown, green, and powdery. If this is the type of stains you are dealing with, it is best to use very specific cleaners for them. That will not only get rid of them, it will also stop them from growing back.
- Oil-Based Stains
This is one of the most common stains on a marble fireplace. The stains usually come as a result of milk, cooking oil, cosmetics, and grease accidentally spilling on the marbles. If you don’t act quickly enough and let it sit for long, they can get into the marbles and cause some damages there.
Chemical cleaners with active ingredients that dissolve oil, will do a very good job here. Ensure you act fast before they darken your marble fireplace.
- Ink Stains
Ink stains from biro, maker pens, and felt pens can also be seen on the marble fireplace once in a while. Especially in a house with the kids around.
When left to sit for long, ink stains can be very difficult to clean. You have to get rid of them as soon as you can. Before they get absorbed into the stones.
Using acetone, hydrogen peroxide or bleach can be a very effective way of cleaning the ink stains away.
- Soot
Smoke and flames from the fireplace can affect the marbles. When this happens, you would need to use proper smoke cleaners to remove them. If you find it difficult to do this, you may have to get the services of expert cleaners for it.
- Organic Stains
Sometimes organic items can be the cause of stains on a marble fireplace. Things like food items, tea, coffee, red wine, etc. The stains can be any color, depending on the exact natural substances that spilled on it.
For these types of stains, you can use ammonia. Just a little of it. You can also go for other options like hydrogen peroxide. Whichever one you intend using for it, ensure you do not let the cleaner sit for long on the marbles. Since marbles are porous, the cleaner can find its way into them and then affect them negatively.
Due to their color, organic stains are usually easy to identify. On a general note, they are usually brown. Except when the cause of the stain is of a different color.
- Paint Stains
During decorations, paint can accidentally spill on the marble fireplace. The good news is, paint stains are not difficult to notice. They are also very easy to remove.
Depending on the degree of the stains, you can either remove them yourself or get the help of expert cleaners to do it for you.
If the paint stains are minimal, you can scrape them off using any available material. You can also remove it using caustic soda or a paint stripper like Citristrip QCSG801 paint & Varnish Stripping Gel. It’s available on Amazon and other e-commerce websites.
- Metal Stains
Fireplace tools, nails, screws, etc, can cause stains on the marble fireplace. These stains are usually muddy brown, rusty, and so on.
Left for long, metal stains can become very difficult to remove. They can even become permanent if not cleaned on time. That is why it is important to do something quick about them.
- Use The Right Cleaning Products
Cleaning a marble fireplace can be tricky. Without using the right products, you may end up damaging the stones inside and causing their surfaces to crack.
For most types of stains, it is best to clean them using just water. Distilled water. That is because distilled water is pure and safer on the marbles than most chemicals out there.
For stains that just wouldn’t clean with water, you can use any liquid stain remover that is specifically meant for marbles. Below are just a few of them you would find very helpful:
- Black Diamond Stoneworks Marble & Tile Floor Cleaner
This is a specially formulated cleaner for marbles. It is one of the best options you can use to perfectly clean your marble fireplace.
The product is made with natural cleaning agents that are very gentle on marbles. They can easily lift any kind of stain or dirt from the pores of the marbles without much effort from you.
You can use this liquid cleaner to get your marble fireplace shining like it’s completely new.
- Granite Gold Stone And Tile Floor Cleaner
This particular cleaner can completely get rid of oil stains from your marble fireplace. It can also wipe out dirt without leaving any noticeable residue behind.
Granite Gold Stone and Tile Floor Cleaner are made from 100 percent natural ingredients. It is non-acidic and non-toxic. It is one of the liquid cleaners that are truly safe for your marble fireplace. Even if you were to clean your mobile fireplace every day with the formula, it won’t affect it in any way.
- Howard Products GM5012 Howard Natural Granite & Marble Cleaner
Are you thinking of a better alternative to chemical-based cleaners? Consider using Howard Natural Granite & Marble Cleaner & Marble Cleaner.
The formula was specially designed to break down dirt and stains in no time. Safe to use on a marble fireplace, it guarantees you of a better satisfying result.
The liquid cleaner is completely free from any form of bleach, ammonia, petroleum distillates, and other chemicals. It is carefully made from plant-based sources. The active ingredients go deep into the pores of your marbles and lifts of any form of stains there. Including those that have lasted a while.
- Weiman Granite Cleaner and Polish
Weiman Granite Cleaner and polish is one of the most recommended products on Amazon for cleaning a marble fireplace. The formula contains very active ingredients that will leave the surface of your marble fireplace constantly shining.
The marble cleaner is highly effective and yet gentle on stones. It will not cause any damage to the insides nor cause the surfaces of your marble fireplace to crack.
The liquid cleaner will thoroughly get rid of organic stains, oil-based stains, and even hard water stains.
To use this, simply apply it directly to the areas of your marble fireplace you intend to clean. After that, wipe the whole area using any clothing material that is not just clean but also soft.
- Stone Care International Granite Cleaner
Unlike many household cleaners that are capable of damaging your marble fireplace, this liquid cleaner penetrates the pores and lifts out all kinds of dirt. It won’t dull the surfaces of your marbles or cause them to crack.
The marble cleaner is free of ammonia and phosphate and is PH neutral. You can use it to clean your marble fireplace every day without causing any form of damage to it.
Helpful Tips For Cleaning A Marble Fireplace
- If you are using just water to clean your marble fireplace, ensure that it is not hot. It is best if it is just warm. Hot water can affect the quality of your marble.
- Avoid leaving too much water on the surface for too long. Dry it off as soon as possible.
- Remember that any stain not thoroughly cleaned on time can get deep into the marble through the pores and fissure. When this happens, the stain becomes difficult to get rid of. You must act as soon as you notice the stain on your marble fireplace.
- Instead of using bleach or acid-based products to clean your marble fireplace from time to time, go for the more natural options. Like the ones in this article.
In Summary
Knowing how to clean a marble fireplace is something you must pay some kind of attention to. This is because marbles are very delicate stones, and using the wrong products can dull or damage them.
This guide explains everything you need to know to completely clean and restore the shine on your marble fireplace. Without damaging it in any way.
I hope you find this article useful.
