How to Clean Marble Floors and Tile

Marble is easy to keep looking good once you know two things: it is softer than most flooring, and it reacts to acid. Clean it gently, with the right product, and a marble floor lasts for decades. This guide covers daily care, deep cleaning, stains and what to avoid.

The short version

• Sweep or dust-mop often. Grit scratches marble.
• Mop with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner made for stone.
• Dry the floor with a soft cloth or microfiber mop.
• Blot spills right away. Do not wipe them across the tile.
• Never use vinegar, lemon, bleach, ammonia or abrasive powders.
• Keep the stone sealed, and reseal when water stops beading.

Why marble needs different care

Marble is made mostly of calcium carbonate. Acids dissolve a thin layer of the surface, which leaves a dull spot called an etch. Etching is damage to the stone, not a stain, so a cleaner cannot lift it. Lemon juice, wine, tomato sauce, vinegar and many bathroom and kitchen cleaners can etch marble.

Marble is also porous. Oil, coffee and dyes can soak in and leave stains. A sealer slows this down, but it does not make marble waterproof or stain-proof. It buys you time to wipe up a spill.

Daily and weekly care

1. Dust-mop or vacuum. Sand and grit act like sandpaper under shoes. Use a soft brush or a vacuum with a hard-floor setting and no beater bar.
2. Wipe up spills at once. Blot with a paper towel or soft cloth. Rinse the spot with clean water and dry it.
3. Use mats. Put a doormat outside and a rug inside each entry. Use felt pads under furniture.
4. Mop weekly or as needed. Use warm water and a few drops of pH-neutral stone cleaner. Mop with a damp, not wet, microfiber mop, then dry.

How to deep clean marble tile

1. Sweep or vacuum the whole floor.
2. Mix the stone cleaner with warm water as the label says.
3. Mop a small section at a time. Let the cleaner sit for a minute or two.
4. Rinse the mop and go over the section again with clean water.
5. Dry with a clean microfiber cloth to prevent water spots.

Read the cleaner label. It should say it is safe for marble or natural stone. Test any new product on a spare tile or a hidden corner first.

Cleaning a marble shower

Showers collect soap film and hard-water spots. Squeegee the walls after each use. Once a week, wash with a pH-neutral stone cleaner and a soft sponge. Use a soft nylon brush on grout lines. Do not use bathroom cleaners that list acid, and do not use tub-and-tile sprays on marble. Keep the shower sealed, and make sure the room can ventilate.

Removing common stains

Stains depend on what caused them. Work from gentle to stronger, and keep it small.

• Oil (cooking oil, cosmetics): a poultice of baking soda and water, spread on the spot, covered with plastic wrap and left for 24 hours. Remove and rinse.
• Coffee, tea, wine (organic stains): a poultice made with 12 percent hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, on white marble only. Test first.
• Rust: use a rust remover made for stone. Do not use household rust removers, because many are acidic.
• Etch marks: these are surface damage. Light etches can be buffed with a marble polishing powder. Deep etches need a stone restoration professional.

If you are unsure, ask a stone restoration professional before you try a stronger product.

What not to use

• Vinegar, lemon juice and any acidic cleaner
• Bleach and ammonia
• Scouring powders and abrasive pads
• Steam mops. Heat and moisture can harm the sealer and grout.
• Generic floor cleaners that do not say they are safe for stone

Polished, honed and tumbled marble

Finish changes how a floor looks as it ages. Polished marble shows etching and scratches more clearly because the surface is glossy. Honed marble has a matte surface that hides small marks, but it can show water spots. Tumbled marble has a soft, textured surface that hides wear well. See our finishes guide for how each looks in a room.

Sealing and resealing

A penetrating sealer fills the pores of the stone so liquids soak in more slowly. To check your floor, put a few drops of water on the tile. If the water beads, the seal is working. If the stone darkens in a minute or two, it is time to reseal. How often depends on traffic, the stone and the sealer, so follow the product label. See the stone care page for more.

Common questions

Can I use vinegar and water on marble? No. Vinegar is acidic and can etch marble.

Is a steam mop safe for marble? We do not recommend it. Heat and steam can wear down the sealer and grout.

How often should I mop marble floors? Sweep as needed and mop about once a week in busy rooms. Wipe spills immediately.

What cleaner is best for marble? A pH-neutral cleaner made for natural stone.

Does honed marble need different cleaning from polished marble? The method is the same. Honed finishes can show water spots, so dry the floor after mopping.

Choosing marble that suits your home

If you are still choosing, look at marble tile, White Carrara or Calacatta Gold. Order a sample first to see the color in your light and to test how it handles your usual cleaner. Shipping is free on every order, and large orders go by freight.

Care advice here is general guidance for natural marble. Follow the label of any sealer or cleaner you buy, and ask a stone professional about valuable or antique stone.