How to Clean and Care for Marble, Granite and Quartz

Daily cleaning

For everyday cleaning, marble, granite and quartz all want the same thing: a soft cloth or microfibre mop, warm water and a few drops of a pH-neutral cleaner or mild dish soap. Wipe, rinse with clean water, then dry. Drying matters on polished marble because it stops water marks and keeps the shine even.

Sweep or vacuum floors often. Sand and grit carried in on shoes act like sandpaper and slowly dull a polished floor, so a doormat at the entrance does more than you might expect.

• Wipe spills straight away, especially juice, coffee, tea and oil
• Use coasters under glasses and a board for cutting
• Change the mop water often so you do not spread dirt back

What never to use on marble

Marble, travertine and limestone are made of calcite, which reacts with acid. Even a short contact with lemon or vinegar can leave a dull, rough spot called an etch. It is not a stain sitting on top. It is damage to the surface itself, and it usually needs polishing to remove.

Granite is much harder and tolerates more, but strong chemicals can still wear down the sealer and leave it open to stains. Quartz does not etch like marble, but the resin that binds it does not like harsh solvents.

• Vinegar, lemon and any cleaner that promises to remove limescale or rust
• Strong bleach or ammonia used often or undiluted
• Scouring powder, steel wool and rough green pads
• Oven cleaners, drain cleaners, paint strippers and similar strong products

Sealing: who needs it and a simple test

Sealer is a clear liquid that soaks into the pores of natural stone and slows down how fast liquids get in. It does not make stone stain-proof, and it does not stop acid etching on marble. It gives you time to wipe a spill before it sinks in.

The stones that usually need it are light marble, travertine, limestone and some lighter or more porous granites. Many dense granites absorb almost nothing. Quartz is non-porous and never needs sealing.

To check, put a few drops of water on the surface in several places, including next to the sink and hob, and wait several minutes. If the stone darkens under the drops, it is absorbing and is due for sealing. If the water stays beaded and the colour does not change, the sealer is still working. Always use a sealer made for natural stone and follow the instructions on the pack.

Removing common stains gently

Most stains in stone are something that soaked in, so the aim is to draw it back out. The usual method is a poultice: a paste spread over the stain, covered with plastic film, left to dry fully, then lifted off. It can take more than one round. Test anything first on a hidden spot.

• Oil and grease — a thick paste of baking soda and water, covered and left to dry, pulls the oil up as it dries
• Coffee and tea — on light stone, a poultice with a little hydrogen peroxide often lifts it; skip peroxide on dark stone, as it can lighten the colour
• Rust — harder to remove, because many rust removers are acidic and will etch marble; use only a product labelled safe for natural stone, or ask us first
• Water rings on polished marble — often a light etch rather than a stain, so they need polishing rather than cleaning

Re-polishing marble floors (جلي)

After years of footsteps, a marble floor loses its shine and collects fine scratches and dull patches. Cleaning will not bring it back. The fix is re-polishing, known in Egypt as جلي. A craftsman runs a floor machine with a sequence of diamond pads, from coarse to fine, taking off a very thin layer and bringing the surface back to a polish.

You can go back to a high gloss, or stop at a softer honed look that hides scratches and footprints better in busy areas. Move the furniture out, cover wooden doors and skirting, and expect water and slurry during the work. Once the floor is dry, it should be sealed again.

Caring for quartz

Quartz is engineered from crushed quartz and resin, so it does not need sealing and resists most household stains. The resin is its weak point.

Heat is the main risk. A pot straight off the flame can scorch or crack a quartz worktop, so always use a trivet under hot pots, pans and trays. Clean with warm water and mild soap, and avoid oven cleaners, paint thinners, strong degreasers and heavy bleach. Dried paint or glue can be lifted gently with a plastic scraper rather than a blade. Quartz is also not made for strong direct sun, which can fade or yellow the resin over time.