3 Simple Techniques For The Pros & Cons Of Marble Countertops + What I use to Clean

PBNJ Productions, Getty Images In a time when marble is everywhere seriously, it's even on our walls it's typical to desire to hop onto a piece of nature's finest and never ever release, specifically when you start crunching the numbers (it's economical!). If you're entering into a kitchen area reno, though, you must know that marble's lovely exterior is hiding a couple of filthy secrets.

Here's whatever you require to know. 1. Marble is a porous, high-maintenance surface area. We could get into the geology of this, however the takeaway is that marble is susceptible to staining agents (like red wine, juice and oil) that leak deep into the rock. When this takes place, it's difficult to reverse, so professionally sealing the surface area upon setup is necessary to assist avoid damage.

Regrettably, you'll need to repeat the sealing procedure (you can do this yourself, with a quality sealant) every 6 months if you're a regular cook. If you do find yourself battling irreversible "pops of color" due to red wine stains, Carolyn Fort, the Home Care and Textiles Director at the Great Housekeeping Institute, recommends dipping a fabric into a couple of drops of ammonia and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide before cleaning the stain; repeat until the mark is gone.

Be prepared to see some scratches ... And to slice lemons on a butcher's block. Prolonged direct exposure to an acid (called etching) gets rid of the polish or sealant from marble's finish and makes it dull and more vulnerable to scratches. Developing your marble a procedure that leads to a matte, less polished effect might make etching less visible, however will not stop it from taking place, unfortunately.

For this factor, avoid leaning up against your marble island using a belt or long metal pendants. Getty Images 3. If you do not mind the extra work, they are a gorgeous addition. Read This " on Pinterest and scroll through it's hard not to pin every image, right? The gleaming surface area looks polished and feminine together with gold or brass accenting or monochromatic and contemporary when combined with chrome.

If you're a homeowner trying to find a wipe-and-go countertop, though, you'll most likely want to skip this one. 4. It's cost-effective, depending on the type of marble you purchase. Carrara marble (a grayer version with softer veins from Carrara, Italy) is one of the least expensive natural countertop products on the market, primarily due to the fact that it's easily offered.