If you have granite or marble floors or worktops, you will know that while they look fantastic they can be a pain to look after.
The best tips for cleaning granite or marble are to ensure that whatever product you are using for day-to-day cleaning is suitable for use on the surface. If you don’t like to use chemicals in your home you could try mixing 500ml water, 125ml distilled vinegar 1tsp castile soap, 60ml hydrogen peroxide and 20 drops each of tea tree oil and lemon essential oil in a large spray bottle as a safe alternative.
Granite and marble can be very easily damaged due to them being so porous. If spills aren’t immediately wiped up they will soak in and many can cause stains to appear.
If you do have a stain on your floor or worktop you can create a poultice to draw out the mark. Mix together bicarbonate of soda and water to form a thick paste. Blot the stain with a clean cloth first to remove any excess liquid, then spray the mark with water. Cover the stain completely with your mixture and wrap the area with cling film. Leave this to work for at least 24 hours. When it is time, remove the poultice and wipe clean the area with mild soap and water. The stain should have gone but if not, you can re-apply the mixture to lift away the last of the mark.
Be careful when looking on the internet for tips for cleaning granite and marble surfaces. Many people post tips that they haven’t tried or are not aware of the problems with granite and marble and their tips can cause more damage than good. Always ensure that you test a small patch of the surface that you are treating beforehand to test that the colour won’t be affected.
Polish your granite or marble worktops regularly to ensure that they are sealed and protected from stains. Using a micro-fibre cloth to clean will also help to bring the worktop up to an unbeatable shine.
For more tips for cleaning your home come back next week.
