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How to clean marble and quartz countertops without damage

Marble etches when it meets acid. Quartz can scorch under a hot pan. Here is what to clean each one with, what to keep off them and when marble needs sealing.

By Northern Virginia Housekeeping · 6 min read · Updated

From across the kitchen, marble and quartz can look almost the same. Up close, they need very different care. Marble is a natural stone that reacts with acids. Quartz is an engineered surface that resists most stains but does not like high heat or harsh chemicals. Caring for either one each day is simple. The common mistakes are simple too: the wrong bottle or a hot pan. Here is what to use on each, what to keep off them, and when to call a professional.

First, know which one you have

If you are not sure, ask whoever installed your counters, or look through your remodel paperwork. A few clues help too:

  • Marble has soft, uneven veining that runs through the stone. Older marble often shows small dull spots or rings near the sink, the coffee maker and the bar area.
  • Quartz usually has a very even pattern, even when it is made to look like marble. It looks and feels the same from one end of the counter to the other.
  • Quartzite is not quartz. It is a natural stone and usually needs sealing. Some stones sold as quartzite turn out to be softer stones that can etch. Until your fabricator tells you otherwise, care for it the same way you care for marble.

Do not forget the bathrooms. Vanity tops, shower walls, tub decks and floors are often marble, even in homes with quartz in the kitchen. Bathrooms are where marble gets hurt most often, because so many bathroom cleaners contain acid.

Why marble etches

Marble is mostly calcium carbonate. When an acid touches it, the acid reacts with the stone and eats away a very thin layer of the polished surface. What is left is a dull, slightly rough spot called an etch. It looks like a water mark, but it will not wipe off. It is damage to the stone, not something sitting on top of it.

Common causes of etching:

  • Lemon, lime and other citrus juice
  • Vinegar, including "natural" cleaners made with it
  • Wine, coffee, tomato sauce and soda
  • Most bathroom, tub and tile, and lime scale cleaners
  • Some all-purpose sprays and disinfecting wipes (check the label for citric acid or other acids)

A stain is a different problem. A stain is color that soaks into the stone, like cooking oil or coffee. Sealing helps with stains. It does nothing to stop etching.

How to clean marble every day

  1. Wipe up crumbs and spills with a soft, damp microfiber cloth.
  2. Clean with a pH-neutral cleaner made for stone, or a few drops of mild dish soap in warm water.
  3. Rinse with a cloth dampened in clean water. Too much soap leaves a film and streaks.
  4. Dry with a second soft cloth. This keeps water spots off polished stone.

Keep these off marble:

  • Vinegar, lemon and any cleaner that contains acid
  • Scouring powders and creams
  • Abrasive pads and steel wool
  • Melamine sponges on polished stone (they work like very fine sandpaper)

Use coasters under glasses, especially for wine, juice and cocktails. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes, and a tray under oils and vinegars you keep by the stove.

Sealing marble: what it does and does not do

Marble is often sealed when it is installed. A stone sealer soaks into the stone instead of coating it, and it slows down how fast the stone absorbs liquids. That buys you time to clean up oil, wine or coffee before it leaves a stain.

What sealing does not do:

  • It does not stop etching. Acids still dull sealed marble.
  • It does not make stone stain proof. It makes it more stain resistant.
  • It does not last forever. It wears down with use and cleaning.

How often to reseal depends on the stone, the sealer and how hard the counter is used. Your fabricator or the sealer's maker can tell you how often to reseal, and how to check whether your stone is due.

Fixing etch marks and stains

On honed (matte) marble, etches are harder to see, because the whole surface is already matte. On polished marble, they stand out.

Small, light etches can sometimes be improved with a polishing product made for marble. Test it in a hidden spot first, and follow the label closely. Deep etches, a counter that has gone dull all over, or a stain that will not lift are jobs for a stone restoration company. They can hone and repolish the surface, and reseal it when they are done.

How to clean quartz every day

Quartz counters are made mostly of ground quartz bound together with resin. The surface is non-porous, and makers such as Cambria and Caesarstone say it does not need sealing. The resin is the part that does not like high heat or harsh chemicals.

  1. Wipe with a soft cloth and warm water with a little mild dish soap, or a non-abrasive cleaner.
  2. For dried food, gum or paint, scrape gently with a plastic putty knife. Never use a metal blade.
  3. Rinse and dry for a streak-free finish.

What damages quartz

Quartz makers warn about these in their care guides:

  • High heat. Quartz is heat resistant, not heat proof. A hot pan set straight on the counter can scorch it, discolor it or crack it. Sudden temperature changes are the hardest on it, especially near the edges.
  • Appliances that run hot for hours. Slow cookers and electric griddles warm one spot for a long time. Set them on a cutting board or trivet.
  • Harsh chemicals. Oven and grill cleaners, paint strippers, solvents and other strong chemicals can damage the resin. If one gets on the counter, rinse it off with water right away.
  • Abrasives. Scouring powder and rough pads can dull the finish over time.
  • Knives. Cut on a board. Quartz is hard enough to dull your knives.

A quick guide by surface

  • Marble, limestone and travertine: pH-neutral stone cleaner or mild soap. No acids and no abrasives. Seal as your fabricator suggests.
  • Granite: less sensitive to acids than marble, but a pH-neutral cleaner is still the safe choice, and it is gentler on the sealer.
  • Quartz: mild soap or a non-abrasive cleaner. No sealing needed. Trivets every time, and no harsh chemicals.
  • Quartzite: natural stone. Clean it like marble, and seal it as your fabricator suggests.

When in doubt, check the care guide from the company that made your counter. Quartz brands and stone fabricators publish their own lists of approved and banned products.

One wrong product can do more harm to stone in a minute than years of normal use. Keep a pH-neutral cleaner under the sink, keep a trivet by the stove and keep vinegar away from the marble. Your counters will stay in good shape for years.

When a cleaning team is in your home

Tell your team which surfaces are stone, and which stone each one is. A short note is enough: "Kitchen island is marble. Perimeter counters are quartz. Primary bath vanity is marble." Point out any etches or chips that are already there, so everyone knows what the stone looked like before the visit.

A deep clean reaches the spots a quick wipe skips: the edges around sinks, the bases of faucets, the backsplash and the tops of vanities. On recurring cleaning, we agree your stone-care notes and share them with the assigned cleaners, including any replacement discussed with you before the visit. Our supplies page lists what your team will bring, and if your fabricator recommends a product, leave it out with a note and your team will use it. Sealing, polishing and etch repair are jobs for a stone restoration company, not a house cleaner.

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