I can't wait to see some answers on this, I'm having marble countertops installed in a few weeks. What dishwashing detergents are considered mild enough for everyday clean-up? I'm clueless......

My calacutta counters were just installed on friday so i haven't used them or cleaned them yet. My fabricator told me to just used warm water when wiping up but to use Stone Tech Revitalizer Cleaner and Protector when cleaning them. He also told me to seal the counters one more time before we use them and then about every 6 mos to a year depending on the need... when the water stops beading on the surface or when the marble appears wet after a spill or wiping. He also said it's okay to use a little bleach on any stains that might get in there so I would think it's okay to use a little bleach around the faucet to get out the yellowing that you mentioned. You might want to check out www.stonetechpro.com.

I heard Christopher Peacock (kitchen designer) on an interview recommend soft scrub with bleach to clean marble.

I'd be interest too, especially in cleaners that are people friendly. I checked out the Stone Tech Web site, and it says, for the cleaner: "Keep children and pets out of the area during application and drying." Hmmmm.

Is everyday dish soap acidic in any way? That's my main worry: finding a cleaner that is not acidic and will just work. And find something that housekeepers (I badly need one to help) can use without me having to worry about damage to the counters.

First of all, and you probably already know this, find a dish soap that won't etch. No citric acid, no lemon scent, obviously, but I'd test them out. I found a neutral pH all-natural one and tested it on a scrap before I put it in my soap dispenser.

I was worried about it but so far so good. And my soap dispenser is set too far back from the sink, so those of us in the family who are not as careful as I am often leave drips of soap on the marble for long periods of time. No etching issues there so far.

All I have been using to clean my honed carrara counters is that soap and water. I did try method's "daily granite" (says its also for marble) but I didn't feel it was cleaning as well as the soap.

I also haven't had any staining issues yet (knock on wood) despite us being pretty messy and sometimes not wiping spills up for 24 hours. Etching, though, whoa. Even in the first months, when we were SUPER SUPER diligent -even in the first 24 hours even!- we got etching. Mysterious spots... could not IMAGINE what caused them.... they're now pretty much everywhere. It actually seems to be getting less noticeable now that there are so many of them :)

staceyneil, care to share the brand of neutral PH all natural soap you found? thx.

Sure! My dish soap is Seventh Generation (the "Free and Clear" flavor). It hasn't hurt the marble at all, and cleans well..

For me, soap on marble is like trying to wash a rock with soap and water.

Some dish and hand soap will etch marble -- the only 2 spots I have are from that.

I had a pastry marble before and all counters now. I don't use soap -- just wiped it down with very hot water and a miracle cloth. This is the same thing restaurants do on pastry marble.

I would not soft scrub or bleach as I expect that would compromise the sealer and I wouldn't want those chemicals as part of my patina or any of my food afterwards.

Some of this depends on how the counters are used I suppose. I put down flexi mats for my food prep.

go to www.vermontquarries.com. They list a simple yet effective way to clean their white Danby marble which will work on any white marble...as long as it is honed. It is under documents "Comet Treatment".

Best of luck.