How to care for natural stone in bathroom

Marble Do’s and Don’ts

Marble is a popular material for bathroom countertops, floors, and walls due to its durability, resistance to moisture, and elegant appearance. Marble can add a luxurious and timeless feel to a bathroom, but it is also requires regular maintenance.

A specialist in restoration of natural stone, from Athena Stone Care, shared valuable tips on how to maintain and care for real marble as well as the things to avoid.

DO’S

Cleaning vanity tops regularly using only pH neutral stone cleaners – if in doubt check the label
Using alcohol to clean your windows and mirrors, as it will produce the same results as glass-specific cleaners without the risk of damaging your stone
Investing in a cupboard, coaster or tray for your bottles and cosmetics, to avoid the temptation of putting them down on a stone surface.
Keeping an eye on grout and particularly silicone throughout the bathroom. If it looks worn or loose then consider replacement, as water that gets behind the stone can
cause damage beyond repair.
Cleaning your shower and bath area daily. The easiest and most effective way is to spray the walls and floor of the stall
with a stone-safe cleaner, then squeegee down after everybody in the home has taken a shower for the day. This will stop hard water deposits on the surface of the stone.
Ventilating your bathroom as much as possible. Inadequate ventilation can cause stone surfaces to suffer from moisture damage and even mould and mildew growth.
For dark coloured stone, periodically applying a colour enhancing impregnator will not only help protect your stone but will enrich the colour and keep the surface looking good for as long as possible

DON’TS

Cleaning areas of your bathroom with harsh chemicals as over spray or spillage could damage your stone. For example, many glass and metal cleaners will contain acid, so check the ingredient list before spraying near your natural stone. It only takes a small amount of damage to require an expensive restoration. The pH of a product is rarely advertised, but often citric acid, lactic acid or similar ingredients will be published.
Placing and leaving wet cosmetic or perfume bottles directly on your stone surface.
Using any limescale removers, mould removers
or soap scum removers on polished stone unless the label specifically states they are ‘stone-safe’. The chemical composition is likely to be too strong and will etch the stone surface.
Scrubbing the surface of your stone vanity tops, shower walls or bathroom floors with any rough textured scouring pads, as these could scratch the surface of the stone.
Using bleach or toilet cleaner in a liberal fashion that is likely to splash onto floors unless you have completely protected surrounding stone.
Letting metal bathroom accessories (toilet brush holder, toilet paper stand, etc.) sit directly on the stone floor. Moisture, even from condensation, will pool around the bases and can cause unsightly and difficult-to-remove rust marks to the stone.

Sealing and Protecting

All stone, no matter what type and where it is in your home, will need to be protected. This will help to prevent staining, extend the lifespan and enhance the natural colour of the stone. Protection of stone can be broken down into impregnating and surface sealants.

Impregnating sealants penetrate the capillaries of the stone and protect from within. They can leave the stone with a natural or colour-enhanced appearance, but always with the stone surface exposed.

Surface sealants form a physical barrier between the stone and the environment. Modern sealants are either wax or polymer-based, which can achieve matt, satin or gloss finishes to the stone. Such sealants however cannot be applied outdoors or in wet areas as they are affected by moisture.They are also ineffective if applied to a polished surface as they cannot penetrate the surface sufficiently to bond