How to clean and care for a marble table

Marble has a reputation for being fussy. It isn’t, once you know the two things that actually harm it: acid and neglected spills. Here’s how we look after the stone in our own workshop and showroom, and what we tell everyone who takes a piece home.

Etching and staining are different problems

Most marble damage falls into one of two kinds, and they need different fixes.

• Etching is a dull, lighter mark where acid has reacted with the surface of the stone. Lemon juice, wine, vinegar, soft drinks and many bathroom and kitchen sprays can all do it. It isn’t a stain sitting in the stone; the surface itself has changed.
• Staining is a darker mark where a liquid has soaked in, usually oil, coffee, red wine or tea. A good seal slows this right down, which is why sealing matters.

Granite and quartzite are much harder and far less prone to both. Marble and onyx are softer, which is part of why their veining is so dramatic, and why they need a little more care.

Everyday cleaning

• Use a soft cloth with warm water and a drop of mild dish soap, or a pH-neutral stone cleaner.
• Dry it afterwards with a clean cloth so water doesn’t sit on the surface.
• Avoid vinegar, lemon, bleach, ammonia, “multi-surface” sprays and anything abrasive, including scourers and cream cleansers.

Dealing with spills

Blot, don’t wipe. Wiping spreads a spill over more stone. Press a paper towel onto it to lift the liquid, then clean the spot with warm soapy water and dry it. Red wine, coffee, citrus juice and oil are the ones to get to quickly.

Day to day, use coasters under glasses and mugs, and a trivet or board under anything hot. Water rings from a cold glass usually wipe away, but a glass of wine or juice left overnight can etch.

Sealing: how often

Every Prime Piece top is finished with two coats of nano-top sealer before it leaves the workshop. We recommend resealing marble once a year with a quality stone sealer.

Resealing is easy: clean and fully dry the top, apply a thin coat of stone sealer with a lint-free cloth, leave it for the time on the bottle, then buff off the excess. Always test a new product on the underside or a hidden corner first.

Onyx needs a softer touch

Onyx is the stone behind our most translucent pieces, like Jade Jewel and our pink onyx boards. It’s softer than most marble, so treat it gently: coasters always, nothing hot directly on it, and only soft cloths. The reward is a stone that glows when light hits it.

Indoors or outdoors?

Marble is happiest indoors or under cover. Long exposure to rain and UV can wear the finish. If you want stone on a deck or terrace, granite and quartzite handle covered outdoor use better, and we can make a custom piece in a tougher stone.

Marble serving boards

Stone boards are food safe once sealed. Hand wash in warm soapy water and dry them, and wipe away lemon, vinegar-based dressings and wine promptly. Give them the same yearly reseal as a table, with a food-safe sealer.

If something does go wrong

A light etch or stain is rarely permanent. Don’t reach for anything abrasive. Send James a photo and he’ll tell you whether it’s something you can treat at home or something we should look at in the workshop.

Frequently asked questions

How do I clean a marble coffee table?

Wipe it with a soft cloth and warm water with a drop of mild dish soap, or a pH-neutral stone cleaner, then dry it. Avoid vinegar, lemon, bleach, multi-surface sprays and anything abrasive.

How often should marble be sealed?

Once a year is a good rule. Prime Piece tops leave the workshop with two coats of nano-top sealer. To check, put a few drops of water on the stone for 10 to 15 minutes; if the stone darkens underneath, it is time to reseal.

What is the dull mark on my marble table?

A dull, lighter mark is usually etching, where something acidic like wine, citrus or a cleaning spray has reacted with the surface. It’s different from a stain, which is darker and caused by liquid soaking in. Send us a photo and we’ll tell you the best way to treat it.

Can a marble table go outside in New Zealand?

Marble is best kept indoors or under cover, as long exposure to rain and UV can wear the finish. Granite and quartzite handle covered outdoor use better, and Prime Piece can make custom pieces in those stones.