Material file · Hard surfaces
Marble: what it can take
Covers marble, limestone and travertine countertops, tables and floors. It tolerates hot water (up to about 60 °C (140 °F)) for the final wash, but only after any protein has been rinsed out cold.
- Water
- Yes
- Max temperature
- 60 °C (140 °F)
- Rubbing
- Fine
- Stain files
- 31
01 What it is
Marble is porous stone, so spills can soak in and stains have to be drawn back out.
Marble, limestone and travertine are calcium carbonate, which acids dissolve: that is etching.
It is porous, so time matters: the longer a spill sits, the deeper it goes.
02 House rules
- It tolerates hot water (up to about 60 °C (140 °F)) for the final wash, but only after any protein has been rinsed out cold.
03 Field notes
- Marble is calcium carbonate, which acids dissolve: lemon, vinegar, wine, tomato and many bathroom cleaners leave dull etch marks.
- An etch is damage to the surface, not a stain: it looks dull or whitish and no stain remover will fix it. A stain is darker and sits inside the stone.
- Stone stains come out with a poultice: a paste that pulls the stain up into itself as it dries over 24–48 hours.
04 Every cleaner, rated
| Cleaner | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Acetone | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Baking soda | Test first | Fine in a poultice, but scrubbing with it can dull polished marble. |
| Borax | Test first | Not acidic, but rinse it off; residue dulls polish. |
| Cornstarch | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Dish soap | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Bio detergent | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Enzyme cleaner | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Hot water | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Hydrogen peroxide 3% | Test first | Used in poultices for organic stains on light stone; it can lighten dark stone. |
| Oxygen bleach | Test first | Not acidic, so it will not etch, but rinse it off fully and test on a hidden area. |
| Rubbing alcohol | Test first | No material-specific permission is established by this general entry. Check the exact item and product labels and pretest; if compatibility is unknown, consult the manufacturer or a professional. |
| Chlorine bleach | Avoid | It can dull and discolour polished marble, and it does nothing for most stains in stone. The exception is mildew on stone, where stone-care guides use a weak solution (about ½ cup per gallon of water) and rinse it off. |
| Citrus adhesive remover | Avoid | The oil can soak into porous marble. |
| Household ammonia | Avoid | Regular ammonia dulls marble polish; stone cleaners are pH-neutral. |
| Magic eraser | Avoid | It dulls polished marble. |
| Steam cleaner | Avoid | Heat and moisture can cloud marble and stress the sealer. |
| Lemon juice | Never | Citric acid etches marble, limestone and travertine within minutes. |
| Oxalic acid cleanser | Never | Strong acid etches marble badly. |
| WD-40 | Never | Marble is porous; the oil soaks in and stains. |
| White vinegar | Never | Acid dissolves calcium carbonate, so vinegar etches dull spots into marble, limestone and travertine. |
05 Stains on marble
| Stain | Difficulty | Never |
|---|---|---|
| BBQ sauce | Specialist | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
| Hair dye | Specialist | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
| Berries | Tough | Vinegar or lemon, Bar soap |
| Grape and cranberry juice | Tough | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
| Mustard | Tough | Hot water, Vinegar or lemon |
| Nail polish | Tough | Vinegar or lemon |
| Red wine | Tough | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
| Salad dressing | Tough | Vinegar or lemon |
| Tomato sauce and ketchup | Tough | Hot water, Vinegar or lemon |
| Turmeric and curry | Tough | Hot water, Vinegar or lemon |
| Ballpoint ink | Stubborn | Hairspray, Vinegar or lemon |
| Beetroot | Stubborn | Vinegar or lemon |
| Bird droppings | Stubborn | Hot water, Vinegar or lemon |
| Chocolate | Stubborn | Hot water, Vinegar or lemon |
| Cola and soda | Stubborn | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
| Grease and cooking oil | Stubborn | Vinegar or lemon |
| Rust | Stubborn | Acid rust removers, Chlorine bleach |
| Avocado | Manageable | Hot water, Vinegar or lemon |
| Blood | Manageable | Hot water, Chlorine bleach |
| Butter | Manageable | Vinegar or lemon |
| Candle wax | Manageable | Hot water, Vinegar or lemon |
| Coffee | Manageable | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
| Egg | Manageable | Hot water, Steam |
| Gravy | Manageable | Hot water, Vinegar or lemon |
| Matcha | Manageable | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
| Orange juice | Manageable | Hot water, Ironing |
| Perfume | Manageable | Ironing, Vinegar or lemon |
| Soy sauce | Manageable | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
| Tea | Manageable | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
| Water stains and rings | Manageable | Spot-wetting, Vinegar or lemon |
| Beer | Easy | Vinegar or lemon, Hot water |
06 The most common mistakes on marble
Counted across all 31 stain files for marble:
- Hot water (22 files). Hot water helps the colour bond, and leftover sugar browns later under an iron or in a dryer.
- Vinegar, lemon or acidic cleaners (20 files). They dissolve calcium carbonate and etch dull marks into marble.
- Vinegar or lemon (11 files). Acid dissolves calcium carbonate, so vinegar etches dull spots into marble, limestone and travertine.
- Bar soap or soap flakes (6 files). True soap is alkaline, and alkalis set tannin stains such as wine, coffee, tea and fruit.
- Chlorine bleach (2 files). Chlorine bleach can worsen rust-related marks. Use a compatible product labelled for the actual stain and material.
- Ironing over it (2 files). Heat browns leftover sugar and melts wax deeper into the fibres.
07 What the marble files use most
These are the products the 31 stain files for marble rely on most. Dish soap leads because surfactants have a water-loving end and an oil-loving end.
08 When to call a professional
Etching larger than a coin, honed (matte) marble you want polished, and rust stains.
Specialist-rated stains on marble: BBQ sauce and hair dye.