How To Polish Marble Floor-Step By Step Guide

Marble Floors are a classic love and the good old flooring choice that always seems the most adorable and which can never possibly go out of fashion. These are the wondrous floor treatments that have a fool-proof tendency to perfectly get along with any and every decor organization.

However, this versatile and vintage floor beauty does ask for well-maintained upkeep and besides the regular cleaning, there are multiple maintenance aspects to it, as well. Moreover, often there are times when the day-to-day cleaning fails to do any good or there might be any wrong cleaning attempts that eventually lead to the beauty loss of Marble Floors.

And another major culprit could just be the time that causes aging to the Marble Floors, ultimately leading to the point where they lose all their lustrous beauty. No matter whatever the root cause is, the situation always asks for a potential fix, so as to not let your investment go in vain or the attractiveness of your places is compromised in any way.

Pro Flooring Guide presents you with all the effective and all-time favorable solutions to address this majorly experienced home improvement concern.

It’s high time you revive the most serviceable part of your places, folks!

How To Polish Marble Floor

Here are two efficient ways in which you can not just carry out the perfect polishing of your Marble Floors but also bring back their entire shine of theirs. You can choose the one which you find more suitable and practical for yourself.

Besides, there is an essential piece of info about the type of Marble floors that needs to be acknowledged beforehand, so as to not go for any misconduct and address each type only the way in which it’s supposed two.

There are two types of Marble Floors and you need to detect the type that you own, followed by proceeding accordingly.

1. Natural Marble 

Indicating Criteria	Signs Of Natural Marble
Construction	Natural Marble is a high-end and luxurious material that gets quarried naturally from the Earth.
Temperature	Natural Marble features a lesser temperature than the surrounding air and therefore is cool to touch.
Acid Test	Natural Marble will show a frizzing or appearance of bubbles when in contact with an acidic substance, such as Vinegar.
Scratch Test	Natural Marble is easily prone to scratching and the test can be done with the help of a simple nail, followed by examining the scratched area under a magnifying glass.

2. Cultured Marble 

Indicating Criteria	Signs Of Cultured Marble
Construction	Cultured Marble is an affordable man-made surface that features a resemblance to Natural Marble.
Temperature	Cultured Marble features a temperature similar to the surrounding air and therefore feels the same as the rest of the space.
Acid Test	Cultured marble goes both ways, i.e it can and cannot show the signs of scratching.
Scratch Test	Cultured Marble does not scratch easily.

P.S. If you don’t really manage to identify the kind of marble you have (cultured marble is sometimes difficult to detect) then you should ideally proceed with the polishing and maintenance methods associated with Natural marble since those are the safest and you don’t pose any threat to your flooring or other surfaces.

Marble Floor Polishing By Hand

This is a simple and super effective method to address Marble floors and the outcomes are guaranteed to be really favorable. All you need to do is avoid the usage of harsh cleaners as well as vigorous or abrasive ways of cleaning.

Supplies And Materials Required

• Dishwashing Detergent (get a mild one)
• Poultice
• Baking Soda
• Soft Sponge
• Nylon Brush with soft bristles (for cultured marble)
• Cultured Marble Polishing Powder
• Sealant (optional)
• Spatula/ Razor Blade

Method For Polishing Natural Marble Floors 

1. Start by removing all the staining with the help of mild dishwashing soap and a soft sponge. Keep rubbing the stain gently yet thoroughly until you manage to get rid of it completely. Besides, you can also consider using a Poultice if the stains are too tough. Rinse off with clean water.

2. Make a paste by mixing up to 3 tablespoons of Baking soda with a quart of water to make a paste. Take a clean microfiber cloth to apply the paste thoroughly on the Marble Surface, followed by letting it rest for the next 5 hours.

3. Once the marble dries completely, buff it properly with another cleaning cloth. You can also add a sealant at this point if you feel the need to.

Method For Polishing Cultured Marble Floors 

1. Start by removing all the staining with the help of a household cleaner (take a non-abrasive one) and a Nylon bristled brush. Keep rubbing the stain gently yet thoroughly until you manage to get rid of it completely. The cleaner residue can either be wiped or rinsed off.

2. Take a Commercial Cultured Marble Polishing Compound (Powder) and apply it to the marble surface, followed by letting it stay there for the recommended time span. Alternatively, you can also make use of car wax for the purpose.

3. Cultured Marble usually dries easily and you might only need to go over the floor surface once in order to remove the polishing compound. There is no need to add a sealant, either.

Marble Floor Polishing By Machine

This method, as you can guess by the name, involves the usage of an electric sanding machine and some of the associated equipment like a couple of diamond polishing pads. Besides, we highly recommend that you insure your safety by using safety goggles, dust masks and gloves, so as to not come across any hand/ eye injury or some sort of breathing difficulty.

P.S. Machine Polishing is the same for both types of Marble floors since most of the job is done with the help of electric equipment.

Supplies And Materials Required

• Turpentine
• Electric Sander
• Microfiber Polishing Pad
• Polishing Powder
• Mop/ Vacuum Cleaner
• Cleaning Cloths/ Broom

Method For Polishing Marble Floors By Machine

• Before you do anything with the floor polishing, consider protecting all the surrounding spaces of your working site, particularly those that are sensitive and prone to damage.

• Start by peeling off all the wax as well as the residue with the help of Turpentine.

• Use clean and cold water to cover and protect the entire work surface.

• Take the Sandpaper’s coarsest grit (the one that’s been recommended) and attach it to the electric sander.

• In the first place, you’ll need to go over the entire surface with the Sander by proceeding in a side-to-side motion, essentially 4 times, so as to thoroughly remove any of the wax or sealant residues that could be left. Be extremely careful about maintaining a distance of inches from the nearby wall as you continue using the grit.

• Go over the whole floor with either a Vacuum or a Mop, ensuring to not leave any of the spots.

• Have another round of the Sander and this time with the usage of relatively less coarse grits. Keep repeating until you get to achieve the desired level of shine on the floor.

• With your last attempt, have the marble plaster added to the grit, followed by its application on the floor in a similar way as before? Clear out the floor thoroughly with either a mop, broom, or vacuum, so as to ensure perfect cleaning.

• The final touch goes with the addition of a Microfiber polishing pad to the machine.

• Read the provided instructions regarding the amount of Polishing powder, followed by placing it accordingly.

• Buff the marble immediately, while concentrating on the smaller sections, to the point that you get to see your marble surface shining.

• Go over the entire floor with a final round of either mopping or vacuuming, so as to clear out any of the debris buildups.

How To Maintain Shine Of Marble Floor

Consider acting upon these useful guidelines to retain the shine and beauty of your marble floors and ultimately make the most out of your floor treatment investment.

• Consider wiping up all the spills and splashes then and there as even plain water can lead to the dulling of the Marble surface within a prolonged contact. Cleaning the grout present in the floor line is an effective method for marble floor shine.

• When it comes to cleaning Marble floors, commercial cleaners are the best and safest choice since they feature a corresponding formula. Besides, you need to strictly avoid the usage of any homemade cleaning solutions with an acidic nature such as those containing lemon juice or vinegar, and all-purpose cleaners, as well.

• Always mop (a sponge mop works best) or sweep (use a broom with soft bristles) the marble floors in terms of regular cleaning and avoid vacuuming them since the hard vacuum parts can cause serious damage to the Marble floors.

• Do place welcome or outdoor maps at all the doors, so as to diminish the passage of any harmful debris or abrasive particles. Avoid walking with shoes atop marble floors.

• Treat the furniture legs with soft felt pads and try your best to not drag it but to lift it, every time a movement or shifting is mandatory.

• Consider resealing your marble floors every 3 to 6 years, so as to sustain their shine.

• Do seek professional maintenance for your marble floors at periodic intervals, as it involves the restoration of marble shine with the usage of high friction diamond abrasives on a large commercial-grade marble polishing machine.

FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions

What To Use For Restoring The Shine Of Marble Floors?

Baking Soda paste is the ultimate reviving solution for dulled-out marble floors. All you need to do is take Baking Soda and water in a 50-50 ratio and mix them together to make a smooth paste. Start by spreading the paste gently yet thoroughly over the marble surface, followed by letting it sit there until dried completely. After that, you can wipe off the entire treated area with a soft cleaning cloth and water, so as to get rid of all the paste residue, and you should be left with perfectly clean and revamped marble floors.

Is It Okay To Wax Marble Floors?

It’s quite a favorable idea to use wax on marble floors since it serves as an excellent protectant too, in addition to polishing the marble surface. However, using wax atop marble floors can sometimes backfire too, as it causes discoloration of the floor surface. Apart from that, when you use wax on marble floors, there is a huge possibility for them to require more maintenance than they normally would. The reason for this is wax which is highly prone to scuffing and dulling out, eventually leading to the beauty loss of the marble floors.

How Often Should Marble Floors Be Polished?

Marble Floor Polishing should ideally be carried out at least every 1 to 3 years, so as to perfectly upkeep their luxurious beauty. Polishing not only is a crucial maintenance procedure for marble floors but it also serves as a restoring manner, thus making them last for long. That’s because polishing works for effectively removing all the scratches, scuff marks, impact depressions and most importantly for bringing back the beautiful shine of Marble floors. So one has got to consider doing the treatment at regular intervals.

How To Polish Marble Tile?

Start by cleaning the area thoroughly to clear out all the possible build-up, followed by wiping the area with a damp mop/ rag. Take the commercial marble polishing powder and sprinkle it over the entire marble surface in accordance with the directed amount. Next up, comes the buffing which needs to be done according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Finish off by drying the entire treated area and revealing the glistening of the marble tiles.

Is Steam Cleaning A Good Idea For Marble Floors?

Steam mopping is what you should preferably settle for, instead of using steam cleaners that work with very high levels of heat. Steam mopping on the other hand, when done the right way and with careful handling can easily help get rid of all the dirt buildup, sitting atop the marble surface. Another advantageous approach in this regard is to only make use of smaller steam mops and strictly avoid the usage of any commercial-strength floor cleaners for marble. Besides, you also need to be careful about minimizing the moisture.

What Cleaning Products Should Be Used On Marble?

A mixture of mild dish soap and warm water, Baking Soda paste, Hydrogen Peroxide Solution, and Specialty Stone Cleaners are the safest and most highly recommended choices when it comes to cleaning Marble floors. In addition to that, you must always consider utilizing microfiber cleaning cloths and mop pads for wiping the Marble surfaces, so as to not cast any damage to it. This is particularly important for dealing with counter surfaces, in order to not end up taking the sealant off or scratching the surface.