The short answer: marble is a porous stone that is sensitive to acids. Clean it with a soft cloth, lukewarm water and a pH-neutral soap, and always dry it. Wipe up lemon, vinegar, wine and coffee straight away, because acids attack the surface. As a guide, it is best to seal it once or twice a year. Old stains are better left to a professional.
Why marble stains
Marble is calcium carbonate with a network of tiny pores. Whatever falls on it can seep in, and anything acidic reacts with the stone: it leaves a matt mark, an etch, which is not a dirt stain but a change to the surface. That is why the rule is to dry quickly and to use nothing acidic or abrasive to clean it.
A sealer closes some of those pores and gives you time to react. It does not make the stone waterproof: it only buys minutes. As a guide, it is renewed once or twice a year depending on how the piece is used. We compare it with ceramic in our guide to ceramic or marble for a table top.
Everyday cleaning
1. Remove dust with a dry microfibre cloth.
2. Wipe with a damp cloth with lukewarm water and a few drops of neutral soap.
3. Rinse with another cloth with clean water and dry straight away. Water left on the stone leaves rings.
Avoid bleach, vinegar, lemon-based cleaners, limescale removers and scouring pads. For very dirty marble, repeat the process with lukewarm water and neutral soap two or three times before considering anything else, and let the soap sit for a few minutes without scrubbing hard. If it is white marble with stains, do not try home mixtures on the whole piece: test first in a hidden corner.
Stains by type: what to do and what not to do
| Stain | What to do | What not to do |
|---|---|---|
| Acid (lemon, vinegar, wine, fizzy drinks) | Blot with paper without rubbing, rinse with water and dry straight away. If a matt mark remains, it is an etch: consult a professional | Leave it to sit, use vinegar or limescale remover, rub with a scouring pad |
| Grease (oil, cream, cosmetics) | Blot the excess and apply a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water over the stain, covered with cling film for a few hours. Remove with lukewarm water and dry | Spread it with a damp cloth or use strong solvents |
| Water (rings from glasses, drops) | Dry with a soft cloth. Use coasters and dry after each clean | Leave a damp cloth on the stone or dry with hot air |
| General dirt | Lukewarm water with neutral soap, microfibre and drying | Abrasives, hard brushes, products with bleach |
Travertine, a case apart
Travertine is a limestone with open pores, visible to the naked eye. What in marble is a fine network is here made up of hollows, and they hold dust and grease easily. It calls for the same precautions with acids, a soft-bristled brush to lift dirt out of the pores, careful drying and a sealer. The product page for the Verona Coffee Table speaks of its travertine “with its pores”, and the Roma Wall Light combines travertine and alabaster; for alabaster, we have a guide to alabaster lamp care.
Marble pieces in the shop
Each piece has a different use, and the vigilance it asks for depends on it.
- Altea Dining Table: a 120 cm round dining table with a natural marble top. It receives the most acids and grease: dry straight away and seal.
- Veta Coffee Table and Oria: marble tops in the living room. Coasters, and a tray for glasses.
- Arles Sideboard: light marble top; do not rest bottles of oil or dressings on it without a small mat.
- Bellora Lamp: white veined marble base. Clean dry or with a barely damp cloth.
- Viola Lumière wall lights: Calacatta Viola marble with built-in LED light. Soft cloth, and keep water out of the electrical part.
If you would prefer a dining table that is more forgiving, the guide to tables that do not stain compares materials.
Limits
Not all marble behaves the same. A polished finish shines more and shows etches sooner; a honed, matt one hides etches but absorbs liquids sooner. The advice here is general: always check with the manufacturer or our studio about the specific product. Old stains, deep etches and rings that do not come out with water and neutral soap are work for a professional polisher. A home product tried blindly can leave a worse mark than the original stain.
Next step
See the stone pieces in Furniture and Lighting, or write to our interior design studio if you are unsure which material suits the way you use your home.
Frequently asked questions
How do you clean marble without damaging it?
With a soft cloth, lukewarm water and pH-neutral soap, then drying. No vinegar, lemon, bleach or scouring pads.
How do you clean stained white marble?
Identify the stain: acid, grease or water. Grease is treated with a bicarbonate paste; acid leaves an etch and needs a professional. Test in a corner first.
How do you clean very dirty marble?
Repeat the cleaning with lukewarm water and neutral soap two or three times, without scrubbing hard, and dry. If it does not come out, consult the manufacturer.
How often should marble be sealed?
As a guide, once or twice a year, depending on use. A sealer gives you time to dry a spill, but does not make the stone waterproof.
Related questions
By Zaida Muñoz, interior designer at Zach & Decor · Updated on 16/10/2026