Can you clean marble floors with vinegar? Know the reasons behind not using vinegar for marble floors and what to use instead in this article!
Marble floors and countertops are considered a fine architectural element for any house. These luxurious floors reflect light which makes the room look very spacious and gives an upbeat look to the whole area. The durability makes them even more appealing to spend money on. Even though this upscale material is easy to care for, it is necessary to identify which household cleaner works on marbles and which could lead to loss of luster. Let’s look into the possibility of whether can you clean marble floors with vinegar or not.
Can You Clean Marble Floors with Vinegar?
Vinegar is one of the most common ingredients used for cleaning but it is not recommended for use on marble floors. It is made of acetic acid which gives it powerful acidic properties enough to get rid of stains, grease, deposits, etc. But this acidic nature can react with marbles causing them to lose shine and leaving dull marks known as ‘etch marks‘ all over the floor. Marble is very susceptible to reaction with acid. The porous nature of marble can cause acid in vinegar to seep in which can even cause scratches.
One should always use highly diluted PH-neutral cleaners for marble floors. Find below some homemade cleaning solutions for taking care of those elegant marble floors.
DIY Homemade Cleaning Solutions for Marbles
Using Mild Dish Soap (Regular Cleaning)
Ingredients
- Water
- Mild dish soap
- Bowl/Bucket
- Soft mop
How to make
Fill half a bucket with water (1/4 or ½ gallons). Mix a few drops of a mild detergent soap thoroughly with the water. Mop your floor for cleaning any dirt stains. Make sure the detergent soap is soft and does not have anti-bacterial or abrasive properties.
Using Baking Soda (for Stains)
Ingredients
- Baking Soda
- Water
- Microfiber towel
How to make
Mix about 3 tablespoons of baking soda in one liter of water. Dip the microfiber towel in the mixture and gently scrub the stain. Make sure you wipe the area with clean water as baking soda residue can be harmful to the floors. Baking soda is a mildly abrasive substance and should be used in limited quantities. It should also not be in contact with the marble floor for longer than a minute else it can cause dullness.
Using Ammonia (Regular Cleaning)
Ingredients:
- Ammonia
- Water
- Bucket
- Microfiber mop
- Duster
- Cloth
How to make:
Mix ½ a cup of ammonia in a bucket full of hot water. This will create a highly diluted mixture. Dust off any loose dirt and debris and then mop the floor with this mixture. Follow it by moping with clean water and then finally dry with a cloth. Try following this whole procedure at least 2-3 times a week.
General Tips for Taking Care of Marble Floors
- Make sure not to use any acidic cleaner or anything which has high abrasive properties.
- Frequently mop the dust off the marble floors with a soft cloth and not a regular duster that has pointed bristles.
- Do not let any spills stay longer. Clean immediately by blotting it rather than wiping.
- Use mats or rugs on places where the floor is frequently used such as around the couches. Place a mat on the floor entrance to get rid of abrasive dust brought in by shoes.
- Always dry the marble floors with a cloth after mopping.
