Marble is a beautiful countertop choice. These slabs need maintenance but there is no denying the fact that marble countertops are one of the most popular options. However, one common problem with marble is that it can lose its shine over time. So, here is everything you need to know about restoring it.

Why Do Marble Countertops Fade?

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of how to make marble go from faded to fabulous again, you have to figure out what you’re doing wrong that is causing your shiny marble to lose its shine. Well, here are some of the reasons why it can happen.

They Are Not Sealed

First things first, if your marble countertops are not sealed, then you can’t expect them to shine. You have to know that marble isn’t naturally lustrous. It comes in a variety of finishes, so you have to know what type of marble to go for. If you want to go for a polished finish, then you must take care of it so that it doesn’t lose said shine.

So, since marble is a natural stone and it can be porous, this is why you need to seal the countertops if you don’t want moisture or liquid to seep into the countertops and cause the stains and faded look to become more prominent. Sealed countertops are better looking and they look very shiny for a long time. If you don’t like yearly sealing, you should choose quartz surfaces.

You Don’t Clean Them

This one goes without saying, but if you’re cleaning your marble countertops, then they are going to lose their shine over time. You can’t expect the countertops to look fine, polished, and shiny if you don’t clean them every day. This isn’t how things work.

This is why you have to make it a habit to clean the countertops every single day. You don’t need to do a lot. You just need to use a wet washcloth and clean the surfaces with a soapy water solution at the end of the day.

Stains Can Lead To Fading

If your marble countertops are decorated with stains, then this is something that can also lead to them losing their shine. This is something that a lot of people don’t understand, but you need to keep this fact in mind.

Stains happen because the sealant is wearing off and this is the sign that you need to reseal the countertops again. This is why you need to be mindful of the stains and wipe them off as soon as possible. This is going to prevent the countertops from looking dirty and unkempt.

You’re Leaving The Countertops Wet

Cleaning the countertops isn’t enough. You will usually use a wet washcloth for cleaning the countertops, but that doesn’t mean that this is the final step.

The very wet washcloth can lead to weird splotches on the surface of the marble countertops and you need to ensure that you’re going over the wet countertops with a dry rag as well. You don’t want to let water sit on these countertops for longer. So, this is something to keep in mind.

No Maintenance

Marble is a high maintenance countertop material. It comes as no surprise, but what is surprising is the fact that people forget that marble needs maintenance. The “m” in marble stands for maintenance. It’s as simple as that.

If you take care of your countertops, then you will see the results for yourself. If you don’t, then, well, things are not going to go the way you want. So, make sure that you’re maintaining marble countertops, otherwise, it is just a waste of time.

How To Make Marble Countertops Shine Again?

Now that you’ve got all of the reasons why marble fades out of the way, here are some ways by which you can make marble shine again.

Call A Professional

If you haven’t done any sort of DIY work before on countertops then this is not the time to start now. You want to ensure that you’re giving the countertops to someone who knows the problems like the back of their hands. So, if your marble countertops are very faded and they just don’t look as lustrous and great anymore, then you need to call a granite company Raleigh NC to get your countertops fixed.

They will polish the countertops in an amazing way and they will come back looking brand new again, which is exactly what you want, at the end of the day. They also offer replacement services as well if your marble slabs are damaged.

Use Polishing Powder

The next thing you can do to bring back the shine of marble countertops is to use polishing powder. Polishing powder looks like a whitish powder and it is used to restore faded marble countertops. The powder used is aluminum oxide and it is something that is rubbed on the surface of marble countertops to ensure that it is shiny and amazing. The quick, step-by-step process is detailed as follows:

1. First, you’ll want to clear the countertops. When you’re polishing marble countertops or any countertops for that matter, you don’t want anything to be on the surface. So, clear everything off and then move to the next step.
2. The next step is to clean the countertops. You don’t want to start the polishing process before cleaning the countertops. You need to remove the debris, dirt, and accumulated dried-up food crumbs on the surface so that the polishing can be done effectively.
3. Next, you’ll want to sprinkle the polishing powder in a thin layer and then use a cloth to rub it back and forth. You will see how the countertops will immediately shine.
4. After removing the powder, the last step is the sealing of the marble. This is done by using a sealant, so spray or apply a thin layer of it all over the countertops and let it dry. If you think it needs more then go ahead and apply a second coat. Voila! Your countertops are fixed.

Polishing Kits

If you want, you can also get your hands on polishing kits. They’re like a DIY kit that you can use on your countertops to polish them by yourself. If you don’t want to give your countertops to a professional, because they’re expensive, then you can go for these kits, if you’re confident.

Keep in mind though that these kits are not for beginners. So, only use them if you’re confident that you can do a good job. These polishing kits come with everything. The polish, a set of tools to use, and an instruction booklet, so you are covered from all sides.

Just make sure to go through the user manual and even watch videos on how to effectively polish your marble countertops and it’s time to get to work. These polishing kits are very promising and they are amazing when it comes to use and results.

Conclusion

Marble is a great material, so you can’t let it not shine. These tips are going to be super useful especially if your marble countertops are a little worse for wear. However, if you marble surface is too old or too faded, consider countertop replacement Durham NC.