Can Vinegar Damage Your Marble Floor Tiles?

Marble is a beautiful and sophisticated stone that metamorphosises with heat and pressure. During these processes, it combines with a few natural elements which produce intricate veins. If you have marble floors in your home, do you know the best way to perform marble tile cleaning?

Even though vinegar is a common all-around cleaning solution that many people use in their homes, vinegar should never be used on marble. 

The Harmful Combination Of Marble And Vinegar

Some people make the mistake of confusing granite and marble, where they treat both surfaces in the same way. However, marble is a delicate and soft stone when you compare it to other natural stones such as granite. Marble stains and wears more easily and quickly than granite, which is why they should not be treated in the same way. 

Vinegar may be a natural cleaning agent that is safe for use on just about any surface. But the acidic quality of vinegar can etch marble floor tiles and surfaces. This is why you will hear many floor experts saying that vinegar should never be used to clean or wash marble floors. 

Other than marble floors, vinegar should also not be used on:

• Mirrors
• Granite or stone kitchen countertops
• Steam irons
• Dishwashers
• Electronic screens
• Washing machines
• Stone or wood flooring
• Knives

How Does Vinegar Affect Marble?

Marble contains calcium carbonate, better known as a base, while vinegar is an acidic substance. When they come into contact with each other, they will react. Here is a breakdown of how vinegar could affect your marble floors. 

• Visually

Vinegar has the potential to change the appearance and colour of marble floors through etching. It can even erode the floor’s finish and stain the stone under it. If this happens, the only way to repair the damage involves removing the first layer of the marble floor. 

• Chemically

Marble also contains limestone which will produce an adverse chemical reaction if the surface is exposed to vinegar. Limestone is basic while vinegar is acidic. When a marble surface reacts with vinegar, it will raise the low pH to a much higher number. This often causes a reaction that results in bubbles or foam. 

The results caused by this effect will erode your marble tiles or flooring, which means the overall aging and breakdown process is increased to a significant extent. This is why it is highly recommended to make sure your marble floors are never exposed to vinegar to maintain their appearance and feel. 

How Should You Be Cleaning Your Marble Floors

For everyday cleaning, use warm water and a soft, damp cloth to wipe your floors. After this, use a soft dry cloth to quickly dry the surfaces. For an occasional deeper clean, you can use warm water and gentle pH-neutral dish soap. You can also use acetone for darker marbles or hydrogen peroxide for a light marble. Other cleaning methods include combining water with clear ammonia and using the solution to thoroughly clean a marble floor. 

Summary

Similar to vinegar, try not to use or spill anything acidic on your marble floors. This includes soft drinks, orange juice, tomato juice, lemon, wine, etc. You should also not expose your marble floors to heat, and rather use ceramic or stone containers to prevent rust stains. 

For all your marble floor cleaning and polishing needs in Sydney, please call SLIQUE today on 02 9648 0395, or you can leave an inquiry on our contact page.