Avoid using a vacuum to clean dust and dirt off of marble, since the edge of the vacuum cleaner hose may scratch the sensitive marble surface. Even if you’re not planning to use a liquid cleaner afterwards, you should still dust your marble tabletop at least once every 2-3 days just to keep it clean. Dirt can be abrasive and damaging to a marble tabletop, so it’s best to do regular cleanings to protect your table. [3] X Research source

When you add the water, leave about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) of empty space at the top of the bottle. This will ensure there’s enough empty space in the bottle for the soap and water to mix. Don’t use any dish soap that contains acids, alkalis, or any other abrasive chemicals, as these will most likely damage the marble. [5] X Expert Source Marcus ShieldsHouse Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 22 September 2019. [6] X Expert Source Chris WillattHouse Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 1 July 2019. Stick to dish soaps that are marketed as being non-abrasive.

Although you’re going to wipe all of the cleaning solution off anyway, if you spray too much on your marble to begin with, this makes it more likely that you’ll accidentally leave some behind when you go to wipe it off.

It’s fine to leave ordinary water on the surface for now, since you’re going to dry it off later. The most important thing to do right now is just make sure all the cleaning solution has been removed. For best results, use a microfiber cloth.

For best results, use a cotton towel. If you don’t have a dry towel, you can also use a squeegee to remove the excess liquid.

Because marble is so delicate, it’s best to use a very small amount of ammonia. Stick to 1⁄4 teaspoon (1. 2 mL) of ammonia when you first try removing the stain. If this amount doesn’t work, make a new solution and add a few more drops to it to make it stronger. You can buy these cleaning solutions at any grocery store that sells cleaning supplies. For darker marble, you can use acetone as an alternative to hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. Just dip a cotton ball in the acetone and rub it directly on the stain. [11] X Research source

If you spread the mixture onto the unstained marble areas, you may cause serious damage to your tabletop.

Continue blotting until all of the cleaning mixture is removed. Don’t leave any liquid behind on your tabletop, since it may stain the marble again.

Note that applying a sealer will not protect your marble against etching. If you don’t deep clean your marble at all, you should at least apply sealer to the surface once every 2 years.

You can also try using a little lacquer thinner to remove the stain. If you have to use a paint stripper to remove a larger area of paint, purchase a “heavy liquid” paint stripper and follow the application instructions carefully. You may need to re-polish the tabletop when you are done. If you use a paint stripper or lacquer thinner, use only wood or plastic scrapers to remove the softened paint.

0000 is an extra fine grade of steel wool. Coarser grades (such as 000, 00, 0, or 1) might damage your tabletop.

This also applies to other acidic products, such as salad dressing, ketchup, tomatoes, wine, soda, citrus fruits, and so on. Although you’re probably not cleaning with these items, avoid putting them on the surface of your marble tabletop as well.

Whenever possible, use microfiber cloths to clean marble surfaces.

Cutting boards are especially important when you’re working with acidic foods, like lemons, apples, or other citrus fruits. If you keep any small appliances (such as a toaster or coffee maker) on your marble tabletop, attach some felt pads to the bottom to protect the marble from scratches. [22] X Research source

This is especially important if your marble tabletop doesn’t have a plywood backing (which most marble surfaces do not). Dropping anything heavy onto your marble will leave little white dots called “stun marks” that can’t be removed, so avoid holding heavy objects over your marble, too.