Marble flooring makes for beautiful accents in homes and offices. Marble slabs, made from Calcium Carbonate, are relatively simple to upkeep, and can last for decades in pristine condition when properly maintained. However, using the wrong marble cleaner can scrub away the polished outer layer, exposing the raw marble to everyday use and conditions. Exposure, coupled with regular usage of harsh cleaning chemicals, will cause your flooring to deteriorate quicker, and leave a matte, unfurnished look to your space.
Common Marble Cleaning Mistakes
- Using abrasive scrubbing tools - Marble is a soft, porous material made from natural stones. Hence, scrubbing down your marble flooring isn’t the best idea if you’re looking to maintain your marble flooring for years to come.
- Using harsh cleaning solutions - Common household cleaning staples, like vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, will corrode marble over time and leave it looking dull and unpolished. Name-brand cleaners like Lysol and Windex are too harsh, and can leave stains on marble flooring.
- Cleaning with hot water or steam - While steam may do wonders for getting rid of bacteria and viruses, contact with prolonged heat can damage your marble floor. Hot pans and cookware on marble countertops can also damage its polish.
- Using homemade cleaning solutions - Professionally-made marble floor cleaner solutions were created to ensure usage safety that will not badly affect the material. While homemade solutions are convenient and inexpensive, they damage your marble floors when mixed with seemingly-safe, acidic ingredients such as lemons and oranges.
Top 15 Marble Floor Cleaner Choices
Looking for the best product to clean marble floors? An ideal marble floor cleaner should be strong enough to remove oil, dirt, and stains, while being gentle enough as to not abrade the marble or its polished upper layer.
Multiple options are readily available on the market, depending on your usage and purpose. Check this table below for a summary of the best marble cleaners for marble floors, with specific purposes, or check below for a detailed review of each.
Black Diamond Stoneworks Marble & Tile Concentrated Cleaner
The Black Diamond Stoneworks Marble & Tile Concentrated Cleaner tops our charts for being the best option for a multi-surface, all-purpose cleaner that is tough on dirt and stains yet gentle on stone and natural surfaces. Dilute the concentrate with water for a clear finish free of streaks. As an added bonus, the solution does not require rinsing, and is biodegradable.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-Surface Cleaner
Have more than just marble flooring? For a cleaning solution that goes beyond marble, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Multi-surface Cleaner is a safe option for cleaning hardwood floors, countertops, and practically all other surfaces. With a mild, clean scent derived from essential oils, this solution will leave your home smelling like a garden in bloom while keeping it pristine and stain-free.
Granite Gold Stone & Tile Cleaner
Stone-abundant homes would prefer Granite Gold Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner to clean and polish all types of natural surfaces. This easy-to-use, no-rinse cleaning solution safely and effectively cleans natural surfaces including marble, granite, ceramic, and travertine. Simply dilute the concentrated solution with water, and mop or wipe on surfaces for streak-free, stain-cleaning action.
StoneTech Oil Stain Remover
StoneTech Oil Stain Remover was specifically designed to pull oil and grease stains from deep within porous surfaces. Even stains accumulated from years of regular spillage are no match for this ready-to-use cleaning solution. The formula leaves no residue, but is dangerous to use around children and pets; so this product must be used with supervision.
LustroItaliano Etch Remover
Already tried acidic cleaning remedies on your marble? You probably have etch stains. However, LustroItaliano Etch Remover is a powdered cleaning solution that will remove those stains, restore your marble, and reseals the surface layer to bring back the original surface appearance. This cleaning solution works on water and oil stains too. Though, if you have granite surfaces, you may want to look into other options.
Stone Care: Hard Water Stain Remover
Water stains ruining your beautiful marble bath? Stone Care: Soap Film & Hard Water Remover clears mineral deposits present in tap water to ensure your bathroom is squeaky clean. Safe to use on shower tiles, faucets, sinks, toilets, and other bathroom fixtures. The formula also removes grout haze on new tiles, giving your home a polished look.
Stone Care: Mold and Mildew Stain Remover
Is there anything worse than the grimey looks and musty smell of mold growing around the home? Luckily, Stone Care: Mold and Mildew Stain Remover effectively kills mold and mildew, while clearing the stains left behind as well. Safe to use on all surfaces, this cleaning solution also sanitizes toilets and other bathroom fixtures.
Black Diamond Stoneworks Grout Cleaner
Grout can be especially tough to clean due to its porous texture. Good thing there’s Black Diamond Stoneworks Marble Cleaner that works the best in removing soap scum from grout, tile, and other crevices. Its solution is safe for both colored and white grout, as it contains no acid and was designed for both home and commercial use. However, the product does not work well on water stains and mineral deposits.
TriNova Marble Cleaner
TriNova Marble Cleaner, despite its name, works extremely well on other surfaces, particularly granite. This cleaning solution gets deep into the porous surface of granite and removes dirt before it could stain. The solution also adds a protective surface layer to prevent future stains with regular use.
Stone Care: Daily Cleaner
For general stone care and upkeep, reach for Stone Care: Daily Cleaner which not only cleans away grime and dirt, but also acts as a sealant that prevents future stains. Suitable for all types of natural stone, the solution leaves no streaks, and is mild enough to use everyday.
Method Granite Polish
For an all-natural cleaning solution that will leave your home smelling like an orchard, Method Granite Polish is a top pick for its cruelty-free, biodegradable solution. Although on the more expensive side, this product ticks our boxes for its environmentally sustainable practices.
Puracy Marble Clean
For the family-centric cleaner, Puracy Marble Cleaner is the number one pick; praised for its ability to tackle the toughest of stains - from food and grease, pet stains, and even makeup spills. Its plant-based solution makes it safe to use around children and pets, while its mild scent of green tea and lime would make any household smell fresh even after a rough day of cleaning.
Bio-Clean Hard Water Stain Marble Cleaner
Budget-friendly doesn’t mean ineffective. This Bio-clean Hard Water Stain Marble Remover was created by professionals for regular everyday home use. Its formula is mild enough that you won’t need gloves in handling it, while strong enough to remove even spray paint stains. However, this product is not applicable to glass as it may leave scratches on its surface.
Stone Care: Marble Repair and Polishing Kit
Comes with a Marble Polishing Powder, Countertop Cleaner, and Stone Polish to repair etch marks, stains, and scratches while adding a layer of protection to reduce fingerprints and maintain shine. This DIY kit is an affordable alternative to professional services but still keeps your marble in pristine condition.
Stone Care: Bath & Shower Kit
Marble flooring in bathrooms brings a tone of elegance into any home. However, marble is prone to water damage and mineral deposits. This kit includes Soap Scum & Hard Water Cleaner, Mold & Mildew Cleaner, and Countertop Cleaner to keep your bath and shower sparkling clean. Its formula is safe to use on all natural stones, including polished stones, and effectively clears stains with regular use.
Choosing the Appropriate Cleaner for Marble Floors
With a multitude of options, there are a few things to consider when looking for the best product to clean marble floors. Just because the bottle claims to be marble-safe, doesn’t always mean it’s the best option for your home. The best cleaner for marble floors should be gentle on the stone, yet tough on the dirt.
Always check the label for any harmful ingredients, especially if you have young kids or pets at home. Remember to stay away from highly acidic or highly alkaline solutions; whether commercial or homemade. With proper research, your stone tiles can maintain their elegance for decades.