How To Restore A Scratched Marble Benchtop?

Marble makes stunning benchtops. It is impressively durable and requires little maintenance and usually lasts for a long time because it is fairly tough and can mostly endure regular wear and tear. 

However, compared to granite, marble can be easily scratched if you are not careful. This is because it is made of a slightly softer stone so scratching is unavoidable. 

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Your benchtop sees activities that may or may not be related to food or cooking.

Your marble benchtop takes a fair bit of punishment on a daily basis.

From cooking meals, preparing snacks, kids doing their homework, and many other things we love to do in the kitchen. 

It shouldn’t come as a surprise if your marble benchtop gets scratched every now and then.

However, don’t fret, as there are various ways to polish marble.

Please read below for some highly effective tips on polishing your marble and restoring its wonderful shine.

What You Need:

• Fine Sand Paper or Grade #000 steel wool or Gel Gloss
• Soft Cloth or Soft Wiping Paper
• Marble Polish
• Warm Water
• Mild Dish Soap

Follow These Easy Steps To Polish Marble

1. Wipe the marble benchtop clean. Pinpoint the scratched areas. Make sure the benchtop is clean and you have removed everything on the surface before you start removing the scratches.
2. Mix the mild dish soap with warm water. Make sure you use very mild dish soap. Marble is porous and can easily crack when exposed to water and strong chemicals.
3. Wet the soft cloth or wiping paper in the warm water and dish soap mixture. Wring it until the cloth is just damp (not soaked). Use only soft cloth or extra soft wiping paper to avoid causing more scratches.
4. Gently rub the area with the cloth. Rub in a circular motion and check on the scratches regularly to see if it is working. 
5. Rinse the surface and dry with a dry soft cloth. Do this in a circular motion. Remember to be gentle during the whole process. You want to remove the scratches not add more.
6. Sometimes, this will do the trick if you have only minor scratches. If there are scratches left, continue with the steps above.
7. Use either the fine sandpaper or the steel wool to sand or buff the scratched surface. When using sandpaper, make sure you are using soft grits, otherwise, you will be making more scratches than what was already there. Consult your local handyman or hardware store for the type of sandpaper to use.
8. When using gell gloss, follow the packaging instructions on how to use. 
9. After sanding or buffing, rinse the area with water. Do not soak the area with water, just rinse.
10. Wipe with a clean, dry, soft cloth. Always keep your marble top clean and dry.
11. Apply marble polish to restore the shine. Marble polish will protect your marble top from spills and minor damage.

This process works most of the time. It is a tried and tested method that is proven to work.

However, in case you are not able to remove the scratches, it is best to seek professional help and hire a restoration expert.

There is no fool-proof method to protect your marble benchtops.

Even with regular cleaning, maintenance, and proper care, scratching and regular wear and tear are unavoidable. 

There are steps you can take to minimise the scratching and prolong the life of the marble. Here are some tips to help you:

• Polish the marble regularly. Polishing the marble can help avoid cracks, chips, scratches, and stains. That extra coat of polish can provide an additional protective layer.
• Perform regular maintenance. Wipe up spills straight away, clean up dirt and remove stains immediately. 
• Avoid doing unnecessary activities on top of the marble, like using sharp objects, using your laptop on it and avoid cutting and hammering on top of the marble benchtop.
• Hire professionals to do your maintenance to keep your marble strong, clean and durable.

Important Tip When Cleaning Marble

Use mild cleaning agents for cleaning and maintenance. Ask your restoration expert for tips on maintaining that stunning finish.

Scratches on marble can be easily be remedied. Doing it yourself is fine but we do not recommend it.

If you do not have expert knowledge when it comes to marble maintenance, you may cause more than scratches.

Marble can easily break if you are not careful. Paying professionals to remove the scratches is cheaper than paying for replacement marble if you chip or crack it. 

Regular maintenance can save you time and money in the long run. Do not wait for major scratches and damages.

Call SLIQUE and schedule a visit. We clean, repair, polish and maintain all types of marble surfaces right across Sydney. 

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