Marble fireplaces are a little fleck special. They've been used for hundreds of years to provide a focal point of a room, and they're only every bit pop now as they've ever been.

Marble is a very durable material, but it's porous and can exist susceptible to staining, particularly from acidic materials. As such, it'southward of import that information technology's regularly cleaned, and if you spill something on information technology, then information technology needs cleaning straight away.

This guide will tell you how to make clean a marble burn surround and fireplace to go along information technology looking as good as new. NOTE: This is for natural marble only – we also sell micro marble fireplaces which are a whole other beast and have their own separate guidelines.

The Natural Rock Establish take the following advice on how to clean a marble fireplace depending on what's been spilled on information technology:

Oil-based

Cause

Grease, tar, cooking oil, milk, cosmetics

What it looks like

Darkening of the stone

How to make clean

If it'southward an oil-based stain, it must be chemically dissolved. Don't worry: if you do it quick plenty and don't permit information technology rest and then it shouldn't damage the marble.

Clean the rock gently with a soft, liquid cleanser with bleach, household detergent, ammonia, mineral spirits or acetone.

Organic

Cause

Annihilation natural – coffee, tea, food, tobacco

What it looks like

Can cause a pinky-brown stain but tin depend on what information technology was that was spilled.

How to clean

Use 12% hydrogen peroxide (the strength for hair dye) and a little ammonia.

H2o

Crusade

Spilled water, leaving spectacles on the surface

What it looks like

Regular water spots or rings

How to clean

Apply dry 0000 steel wool

Ink

Crusade

Marking pens, biro, felt pens

What it looks like

Pretty much how you'd imagine ink to wait

How to make clean information technology

As marble is usually light coloured, use bleach or hydrogen peroxide, only merely use a trivial at a time to brand sure it doesn't strip the color. For darker stones you lot'd employ acetone or lacquer thinner.

Paint

Cause

Paint spilled when decorating

What it looks like

Depends on the colour and how much you've spilled!

How to clean it

If it's only a pocket-size corporeality of paint, y'all may exist able to use lacquer thinner or even scrape it off with a blade. If it's a lot of paint, and so you'll demand to utilise a commercial paint stripper, which incorporate lye or caustic soda – Practise NOT employ acids or flames to get the paint off.

Follow the manufacturer directions or get a professional cleaner in to practice it for you. Oil-based paints may leave an oily stain afterward cleaning – refer to the 'oil' section of this guide.

Burn & Fume Damage

Cause

Flames and smoke from the fire or elsewhere if y'all've suffered a burn at home

What it looks like

Black or dark grey burn marks

How to clean it

You should either go far a professional cleaner or apply 'smoke removers' to help restore your marble fireplace to its former glory.

Metal

Crusade

Rust, iron, copper, etc. Can come up from nails, screws, cans, fireside tools, etc.

What it looks like

  • Iron and rust stains – orangey-dark-brown
  • Copper and bronze – green or dirty brownish

How to clean information technology

Stains from metal must be removed using a poultice – a liquid cleaner or chemical mixed with a white absorptive material to form a paste. This will draw out the stain over the course of 24-48 hours. You can buy poultice or you can brand your own depending on what stains y'all're trying to remove. Encounter beneath on how to make your own poultice for stains.

Some metal stains, if left for a long fourth dimension, are permanent and tin can't be removed.

Biologicial

Cause

Mould, mildew, fungi

What it looks like

Can be powdery, green or brown. Obviously yous know what fungi looks like.

How to clean it

Use diluted ammonia, bleach or hydrogen peroxide (½ loving cup in a gallon of h2o). DO Non mix bleach and ammonia because it will create a lethal toxic gas!!!!

Person cleaning marble fireplace

Tips for cleaning a marble fireplace or surround

Here are some more general tips for getting those pesky stains off your lovely marble fireplace or surround…

  • Apply a soft microfibre cloth to remove surface dust and dirt.
  • Apply warm (not hot) water.
  • Lightly rub the stain with the material, increasing in pressure if the stain is stubborn.
  • Regularly rinse the cloth out to go on it make clean.
  • Use distilled water where possible as any impurities in the water can stain the marble.
  • Dry out with a soft textile or towel – practice not let information technology air dry as this can crusade water marks.
  • Avert using white vinegar or limescale removers every bit they contain acids, or baking soda which is abrasive and could affect the finish of the marble.
  • Carefully read the directions on any cleaning products y'all use and start with minor amounts to test.
  • You can use a marble wax to bring the stone'south shine out.

How to make your own poultice for stains

You'll demand to buy an absorbent base for your poultice which can contain materials such every bit talc, chalk, kaolin, and diatomaceous globe. Here'southward how to make poultice for stains:

Oil-based stains

  • Poultice with baking soda and water; OR
  • One of the powdered poultice materials mixed with mineral spirits

Copper stains

  • Poultice with ane of the powdered materials and ammonia. This can be a specially tough stain to remove so may demand to several applications or even aid from a professional person.

Organic stains

  • Poultice with i of the powdered materials and hydrogen peroxide or acetone

Iron stains

  • Poultice with diatomaceous earth and rust remover. Once again, yous may need a professional for this if it won't come off.

How to apply poultice to stains

The consistency of your poultice should be roughly nearly that of peanut butter, and when you're ready to apply it to the stain, follow these directions:

  • Dampen the affected area with clean water (distilled if possible).
  • Spread the poultice evenly over the stain and so it's about ½ inch thick, overlapping a piddling around the sides.
  • Comprehend the poultice with plastic sheeting of some kind (a piece of plastic bag would do information technology) and tape down.
  • Let the poultic dry and practise information technology's magic – this will take around 24-48 hours. After around 24 hours, take the plastic off.
  • Remove the poultice, which volition have fatigued out the stain, and clean the marble with clean (again distilled if possible) water.
  • Vitrify dry out with a soft cloth.
  • If the stains are particularly stubborn and ingrained, then it may accept several applications earlier it'southward completely gone.

Browse our range of marble fireplaces and marble burn down surrounds today, or contact us if y'all take whatever questions well-nigh cleaning and maintaining them.