How To Clean Marble Countertops Before Sealing
If the mineral oil leaves no stain then your marble or granite is not in need of sealing.
How to clean marble countertops before sealing. A secret in knowing how to clean marble countertops. What you want at the end is to wipe off any remaining sealer that remains on the surface. Let your marble surface sit for 24 hours before using it. For most organic food stains the marble institute recommends cleaning with a solution of 12 hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia.
The one exception is when sealing a white marble shower like carrara marble. Sealing your countertop is probably the best way to protect it but before sealing it you should make sure it needs to be sealed. You don t need specialty cleaners for marble. Test the marble with water or mineral oil.
It s a must to wait 3 weeks post install before you apply the marble sealer if testing shows the shower could be sealed. If it dries before you can wipe it up with a dry cloth or paper towel simply spray more sealer wait a few minutes and wipe up. At the end of the prescribed period wipe up the mineral oil with a soft clean absorbent cloth. This will remove any impurities from the surface of the marble that may interfere with the sealing process.
Then use a clean dry towel to dry the countertop. This will remove dirt but won t heal any etching or stains. Scrub gently and wipe soapy solution off with. Waiting a few weeks allows all moisture to evaporate.
On the other hand if a stain is present where the mineral oil was you will need to seal marble and or granite with a petroleum based sealer. Wipe sudsy water on the counter with a soft cloth or sponge. Step 1 if not using marble cleaner mix a squirt of gentle non abrasive dish soap with warm water in a spray bottle and spray the counter generously. Wait for 15 minutes while observing the sealer step 4.
Spray the counter with a marble cleaner and buff dry with a soft cloth. Clear off the surface and clean it. Mild soap and hot water will do just fine. Step 3 seal the countertop.
If the sealer soaks into the crevices and pores of the marble before 15 minutes is up apply more sealer and repeat. Sealing a marble shower typically isn t necessary since the risk of staining is very low. Wipe up the liquid. When doing this mist the cleaner and let it sit on the countertop for about 30 seconds before wiping the area clean with a cloth or sponge.
If you spilled anything oil based like a vinaigrette. Steps for sealing marble.