How to care for your marble tabletop

Marble is one of the most characterful and distinctive materials; every piece is unique and can bring extra intrigue to a piece of furniture. It’s a popular choice for tabletops and at Tom Faulkner we offer an outstanding selection of beautiful marbles for use on all our coffee tables, side tables, console tables, and dining tables.

The dense structure of marble makes it very durable and allows the surface to be polished to gleaming effect. Although, if not properly cared for, all marble runs the risk of being stained, etched, scratched, or broken. Be careful to look after your marble well and it will outlast all other surfaces in your home.

Regular cleaning

To keep your marble tabletop clean, dust it with a soft, dry cloth every week. Should you need to wet the surface to remove more stubborn blemishes, like fingerprints, use only water – and try to make it distilled or purified water. Be sure to opt for a clean, colourless sponge or cloth to avoid any colour transfer or smearing. Dry the tabletop directly afterwards with a clean, soft cloth or chamois leather.

When it comes to caring for marble, stay away from domestic cleaning products like detergents, furniture polish, bleach, multi-purpose sprays, or soaps. They will all leave chemicals or a residue on the surface that discolour and dull the surface of the marble over time. Keep in mind, you should never use abrasive cleaning products as these will damage the marble by etching it or wearing away the surface.

Mop up any spills immediately

The degree of a marble’s porosity varies depending on how polished it is. Highly polished marbles tend to be less porous than those with a matte finish. However, all marble is porous to a degree and can be stained and damaged in the case of spills.

Strong acidic and strong alkali substances, such as wine, coffee, lemon juice, vinegar, carbonated soft drinks, or toiletries can stain or etch the surface. Always mop spills up immediately – even if it’s just water – and wipe them away with a clean, damp cloth.

To avoid driving dirt into the marble when cleaning up a stain, refresh your cloths regularly and wipe up any drips or residue right away.

Prevention

Preemptive prevention is the best way to keep your marble tabletop looking its best. To avoid ring marks, scratches or heat damage, place coasters under glasses and cups, especially when they’re filled with wine, coffee, fruit juice, or soft drinks. Be sure to slip mats underneath plates and serving dishes as well.

For side tables and console tables displaying art, vases of flowers, ornaments, lamps, or other hard objects, use protective felt pads on the bottom of your items to protect the marble surface from being scratched.

Loading

Unlike other tabletop materials like wood, marble is not flexible and won’t respond well to heavy loading. Never sit or stand on your marble tabletop and avoid placing particularly heavy items on it, especially at the extremities of a marble dining table that has a central pedestal base. If saddled with a considerable load, marble can break or crack along its natural lines and veins – which is never a happy occasion.

We’ve curated our selection of marbles to be complimented by the metal finishes of our furniture. The colours and patterns in the Tom Faulkner range are specially suited to each design. Although, we make each and every piece to order and many of our designs are fully customisable. So, we welcome you to have a look at our range of materials and finishes here and feel free to contact us with any questions.