Marble Fireplace by Aurora Stone

Essential Tips to Help you Care for your Marble Fireplace

One of the best ways to add an eye-popping, jaw-dropping feature to your home is to create a marble fireplace. When it comes to natural stone materials like marble Perth residents, know that they can enjoy various benefits. However, if you do not maintain it properly, it may start to look lifeless and dull over time. 

A common belief is that dust is the only real enemy of marble surfaces. However, if you look closely at your fireplace, you will notice some black soot spots appearing on the surface. Perhaps, you are the sort of person who likes to sip a cup of hot cocoa in front of a crackling fire? If you tend to place your mug on your fireplace, you may find a few stains as well. 

It is only natural to feel a little nervous about cleaning your marble fireplace. After all, things could go wrong if you use the incorrect cleaning solutions. You could end up damaging or altering the appearance of this material. Luckily, you can worry no more because we’ve got you covered. In this post, we will teach you how to care for your natural stone fireplace properly.

Before Anything Else

Keep in mind that things can get a little messy when you clean a working fireplace. So, remember to place some sheeting down to deal with the escaping ash efficiently. It will also reduce the billowing of the ash when you add coffee grounds to it.

Oil-Based

If you’ve noticed dark areas on the stone, then you’re likely dealing with tar, grease, milk, or cosmetics. These are oil-based stains that you must chemically dissolve. Do not worry about damaging the marble; all you need to do is quickly do it. After dissolving the stain, use a non-acidic liquid cleanser to clean the stone gently. 

Organic

If you’re dealing with organic stains from food, coffee, tea, or tobacco, use hydrogen peroxide. Don’t forget to clean the affected area gently and quickly.

Paint

In most cases, you can easily scrape off dried paint, using a metal spatula or blade. You can also use lacquer thinner to dissolve the paint. On the other hand, you might need to use a commercial paint stripper if you’re dealing with a lot of paint. Remember to use a product that contains caustic soda or lye. Avoid using acids to remove the paint. You can have a professional cleaner do it for you. However, if the paint stains are minor, you can follow the manufacturer’s directions. 

It is worth noting that oil-based paints may leave oily stains after you clean them. You can remove them, using the instructions we previously shared.

Smoke Damage

Smoke can leave dark grey or black burn marks on the marble fireplace. Dealing with this type of stain can be tricky. Therefore, we suggest that you get professional cleaners or ‘smoke removers’ to restore the condition of your fireplace.

Metal

Iron or rust stains will look orangey-brown whilst bronze and copper can look green or muddy brown on the fireplace. You can use a poultice to remove stains coming from metal. We’ve discussed how to create one in our post about adequately caring for marble benchtops. What this white absorbent paste does is draws out the stain from the surface over 24 to 48 hours. It is easy to find poultice in your local hardware stores. However, it is also easy to make one. So, if you wish, you can opt to create your poultice for metal stains.

Mould, Fungi, and Mildew

When dealing with mildew, fungi or mould, you’ll need hydrogen peroxide. Mix half a cup of this chemical with a gallon of water. 

Some Pointers to Remember When Cleaning Your Marble Fireplace

There are several products in your home that you can use as all-purpose cleaners. These products usually clean just about everything efficiently. However, you should know that a lot of these cleaners may not be suitable for marble fireplaces. Here are some items you should avoid when cleaning the surface of your fireplace:

  • White vinegar – It contains acid which can etch the marble.
  • Baking soda – It is an abrasive cleaning material that can damage the finish of the marble.
  • Limescale removers – They contain a lot of acids.

The task of cleaning marble fireplaces is simple and straightforward. It can indeed be tricky to learn about what works and what doesn’t. However, once you get the knack of it, the process can become a lot easier.

If you want to discover more tips on caring for marble surfaces, do not hesitate to contact Aurora Stone. Meanwhile, if you’re thinking of getting a marble fireplace for your home, we can help make the entire process easier for you. We can send one of our professional crew members to take measurements for free. Contact us now to schedule your appointment!

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