Critical Don'ts of Marble Kitchen Countertop Maintenance
Marble is among the most common natural stones that homeowners use for their kitchen benchtops. It is non-porous and handles humid conditions excellently, and it is also elegant. Moreover, the unique natural patterns on marble stone ensure that no two kitchen benchtops are similar. However, despite being durable, marble benchtops must be well maintained. Unfortunately, very little information is available on what to avoid concerning marble countertop maintenance. This article highlights the major don'ts in maintaining marble kitchen benchtops.
Don't Cut Acidic Foods on the Countertop
Marble is composed of recrystallised carbonate minerals, the most common of which is calcium carbonate or limestone. When limestone mixes with an acid, you end up with a chemical reaction, and that is the last thing you want to happen on your kitchen countertop. As such, you should avoid cutting acidic foods such as tomatoes and lemons directly on marble benchtops. If you do that, the marble will react with the acid and cause etching marks, which can be challenging to clean. If you must prepare acidic food on your benchtop, ensure that you use a cutting board.
Don't Leave Spills Unattended
As mentioned earlier, marble is durable, and its smoothness is unrivalled. However, its porosity doesn't fare very well, especially if you are using an unsealed marble benchtop. If you spill liquids on the surface and clean up immediately, then your marble countertop will not be ruined. However, the problem comes when you leave spills unattended for extended periods of time. For example, if you are hosting a party in the evening and drinks spill on the countertop and you leave it overnight, you will wake up to stubborn stains. This is because the marble slowly absorbs liquids that are left to stand longer than is necessary. Therefore, ensure that there is always a rag around to take care of spills immediately so that you don't have to deal with the stains later.
Don't Sit on the Edges
In modern homes with open kitchen plans, it is common for family members to treat kitchen countertops like seating platforms. While marble is a durable material, only thick marble benchtops can sustain heavy weights. However, not every home has such thick marble countertops. Therefore, you must avoid sitting on the edges to avoid the risk of damage. This is because the edges can easily snap and break, and there is no way to repair this problem without replacing the entire countertop.
Contact a kitchen benchtop supplier to learn more about your options.