HOW TO MAKE A MARBLE TOP SHINY

Source:www.stonediamondtool.com Date:2019/12/9 Read:299

Written by S.R. Becker

Marble tops offer a sophisticated, durable alternative to formica, laminate and wood. Many antique pieces, such as old wash basins, have marble tops, as do coffee tables, mantels and other furnishings. Whether you've chosen marble tops, rented an apartment that has one or you have inherited a marble top, cleaning it properly will help it last a lifetime -- or longer. To make a marble top shiny, polish it after cleaning. If it's especially dirty or stained, you might need to apply a poultice or sand it. Sealing a marble top after cleaning or sanding helps give it a shine.

Cleaning

1. Wipe the marble top with a soft, dry cloth to remove any surface dirt and debris.

2. Wet a non-abrasive sponge with warm water, wring it out and wipe the marble top again.

3. Spray the marble surface with commercial stone cleaner and wipe it off with a clean, soft rag. As an alternative, add a drop or two of mild dishwashing liquid to the damp sponge, wipe the marble top and rinse well with plain water, or use a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to two parts water.

4. Dry the marble top with a chamois cloth. Buff it to a shine by rubbing the entire surface with the cloth in small circles.

5. Cover the surface with commercial stone polish or marble-polishing paste if you want more shine after buffing with a chamois. If using a spray-on stone polish, wipe with a soft rag. If using marble-polishing paste, follow the package directions for drying and buffing.

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Poultices

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of ammonia and 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide in a bowl.

2. Pour enough hydrogen peroxide into the powder to make a thick paste, stirring as you go.

3. Spread the paste over the stain on the marble top with a spatula or putty knife.

4. Cover the paste with plastic wrap and tape all the way around the edges with masking tape or painter's tape.

5. Allow the poultice to dry for 24 hours and scrape it up with a razor blade. Wash the marble top with water to remove any remaining powder.

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Sanding

1. Spray the marble top with water both before sanding and during the sanding process to keep the surface wet.

2. Place a piece of 120-grit sandpaper on the pad of a palm sander. As an alternative, use sheets of sandpaper or a sanding block and sand the marble top by hand.

3. Sand the marble top in a circular motion. After going over the entire surface with 120-grit sandpaper, repeat with 300-grit sandpaper, then 600-grit.

4. Wipe the marble with a damp sponge to remove sanding dust.

5. Seal the marble, if desired, with a commercial sealing product. The Marble Institute of America states that there are a number of different types of sealers, so choose an oil-repellent sealer with at least a 10-year life expectancy. Use the sealer according to the package directions.

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Things You Will Need

1.Soft rags

2.Stone cleaner or mild detergent

3.Chamois cloth

4.Marble-polishing paste or stone polish (optional)

5.Ammonia

6.Hydrogen peroxide

7.Baking soda

8.Plastic wrap

9.Painter's tape or masking tape

10.Razor blade

11.Spray bottle

12.Palm sander or sanding block

13.120-grit sandpaper

14.300-grit sandpaper

15.600-grit sandpaper

16.Oil-repellent marble sealer

Tip

If you have etching on your countertops from using the wrong cleansers, buffing with a chamois might not get them shiny enough. Marble-polishing paste helps fill in etch marks and scratches.

If using a palm sander, choose small sandpaper sheets made for your sander.

Warning

Any cleanser other than specially formulated stone cleaner can build up over time and dull the surface of marble.

Do not use abrasive or acidic cleansers to clean marble.