Never use vinegar, lemon juice, bleach, ammonia-based glass cleaner, bathroom descalers, abrasive powders or melamine “magic eraser” pads on marble. The acidic ones — vinegar, lemon, descalers — etch the surface on contact, dissolving the polish and leaving a dull mark that cannot be cleaned off. The abrasive ones scratch the finish instead. Marble is calcium carbonate, and a descaler designed to dissolve limescale is chemically aimed at almost exactly what the table is made of.
Why these specifically
Marble is calcium carbonate. Acid dissolves calcium carbonate, and that reaction does not need the acid to soak in — it happens the moment the liquid touches the polished surface. This is why marble behaves so differently from granite or quartz, and why the fix for a dull mark is not a stronger cleaner.
The safe routine
- Wipe spills as they happen — especially anything acidic.
- Clean with warm water and a few drops of pH-neutral washing-up liquid, or a cleaner sold specifically for natural stone.
- Dry with a soft cloth rather than letting it air-dry, to avoid water marks.
- Use coasters under glasses and boards under anything hot or oily. Trivets matter less for heat damage than for what is usually on the pan.
What to keep away from marble
| Never use | What it does |
|---|---|
| Vinegar | Acidic — etches on contact. |
| Lemon juice | Acidic — etches on contact. |
| Bleach | Can dull the polish and discolour some marbles. |
| Ammonia and most glass cleaners | Alkaline enough to damage the finish over time. |
| Bathroom or tile descalers | Formulated to dissolve limescale — which is chemically close to what marble is made of. |
| Abrasive powders and scouring pads | Scratch the polish. |
| Magic-eraser style melamine pads | Micro-abrasive; they dull polished marble. |
Marble damage, diagnosed
| What you are seeing | What it actually is | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A dull, lighter patch | Etch — acid corroded the polish | Marble polishing powder. Cleaning will not touch it. |
| A dark mark that will not wipe off | Stain — something absorbed into the pores | Poultice, 24–48 hours, repeat as needed. |
| A ring where a glass stood | Usually an etch from the drink, sometimes hard-water minerals | Wet it: if it vanishes while wet, it is an etch. |
| Cloudy film across the whole surface | Soap residue or hard water, not damage | Rinse with clean water and buff dry. |
| A fine scratch you can feel | Physical abrasion — marble is soft | Polishing powder if light; a professional if you can catch a nail in it. |
| Yellowing over a large area | Often iron in the stone oxidising, or old sealer breaking down | This one is a professional job — DIY attempts usually worsen it. |
| A crack or chip | Impact or thermal shock | Professional. Epoxy repairs are colour-matched by eye and hard to do well. |
Frequently asked questions
I already used vinegar. What now?
Rinse thoroughly with water and dry. If a dull patch remains, it is an etch — try marble polishing powder, and a professional if that does not lift it.
Is dish soap really safe?
A few drops of pH-neutral washing-up liquid in warm water is the standard trade recommendation. Avoid anything sold as degreasing or descaling.
What about steam cleaners?
Avoid them on marble and especially on the seam of a veneered or engineered top, where heat and moisture can lift the adhesive.
Related guides
Sources
- Natural Stone Institute — Cleaning Products for Natural Stone — view
This is one part of looking after stone furniture. For how the material behaves in the first place, and which pieces suit which rooms, see Marble Furniture: The Complete Buyer’s Guide.