Marble is the royal stone which adds royalty to the place where ever it is touched with. The elegant finishes in the most sought after colours add extra sparkle of beauty to the interiors and the exteriors of the place. Like all treasured things this stone definitely needs extra care as the stone is soft and porous, and is prone to staining by spillages. For making the marble stain free following are some tips which will keep your marble shining and you mad about your marble.

1. MOPING: Mop marble surfaces regularly with lukewarm water and wipe dry with a soft, clean cloth. Using a suede cloth is a good option as it does not leave swab marks. One can rinse marble surfaces with a mild, detergent solution once every six months but do remember that you wipe it completely. Using detergent solution often can harm the marble.

2. WAXING: If you are opting for waxing a marble surface, use only colour less wax and make sure that you are not waxing the white marble as the wax coat tends to turn yellow with time. Marble sealer is a better option than waxing as sealer will protect the marble from staining and
allow you to easily wipe off dirt with a damp cloth.

3. HANDLING STUBBORN STAINS: Carbonated beverages, tea and coffee, fruit juices, wine and natural dyes seep into the marble, corroding it and destroying its shine. Wipe spills immediately. Then clean the surface with a wet cloth, followed by a dry wipe. If the damage is high, the marble may require re-polishing. Glasses placed directly on a marble surface tend to leave ring-marks. Prevent this by using coasters on marble top tables. Oil and fat-based goods such as butter, body creams and lotions also seep into marble. In such cases, sprinkle some cornstarch on the stain and allow it to soak the oil/fat. Once done, brush it off, re-sprinkle the cornstarch and leave it on for 24 hours. Afterwards, apply a warm, mild non-acidic detergent solution with a brush and scrub the stain free.

4. FIGHTING RUST: Use a commercial rust-stain remover. Carefully follow the instructions in the product manual. Leaving the rust-remover for long can damage the marble as they contain acids.

5. Using marble cleansers can help you retaining the shine. These are generally available with people who sell marble and the procedure generally requires help of the professionals. Putty powder is also used to polish dull surfaces by rubbing it onto the marble with a damp cloth. This is followed by buffing the surface with an electric buffer.

THE CULPRITS

1. Water.
2. Atmospheric agents such as smog and acid-rain.
3. Lime or lemon juice.
4. Vinegar.
5. Rust.
6. Fizzy drinks and caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee.
7. Wine.
9. Oil-based products such as butter, creams and lotions.