I use a Bissell steam mop to clean my honed travertine and my porcelain tile. If you're going to use chemicals, stone needs a neutral (pH balanced) cleaner. You can find dedicated stone cleaners at Lowes and Home Depot. Monica

I'm glad you asked this question because I'm planning to redo our master bathroom and like you I want to do it thoughtfully to avoid problems of upkeep. I definitely will second that suggestion - no bar soap, only liquid - both hand and shower gels. I too would love a clawfoot tub but not in this bathroom. My tub area is a defined area sandwiched between three walls - no way to get access easily around the tub to clean from different angles. Beautiful but not practical. I can't wait to rip out that horrible whirlpool brand whirlpool tub which not only is a disgusting mess to clean the jets, but also turned yellow instead of remaining white. I haven't had any problems with my glass doors/wall in my shower and I suspect it's because the shower is large enough that the water normally doesn't hit the glass during a shower - I only have to deal with some mild steam condensation which is easy to wipe down. I often wonder about those with bathrooms where the shower has no door - what do you do about the steam - that steam carries fine particles of soap and shower debris and deposits them on the walls - at least if you have some closure on the shower itself, most of that gets deposited inside the shower which is a pain to clean - but much easier to clean a small shower area than all the walls of the bathroom? I love the look of the vessel sinks plunked down on top of the vanity top, but I think they are more difficult to keep clean than an undermount sink - I have no experience, just my guess. I hope maybe others with experience can comment. I will be looked to minimize sharp angles - so I'll opt for an oval rounded sink etc. I'm also looking to minimize nooks and crannies in places where I wipe often - so simple straight lines on faucets is a plus.

First, rinse it off, and then warm some water until hot in a bucket. Mix in 1/4 cup of dishwashing detergent. Use a soft bristle brush and dip it into the cleaning solution. Make small circles with the brush onto the surface you need to clean. Detergent can be replaced with white distilled vinegar as a more natural and eco-friendly solution. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. None of the soapy residues should be there anymore. Don't forget to dry the surface with a dry, soft cloth. Although it doesn't seem like, it is an important step. Another option is to call and hire a cleaning service. Just make sure to tell them upfront that you need them to focus on cleaning this surface among other things.

you'll want to test your water pH. Marble is typically between 7pH and 10pH. Lower pH will etch your stone. Higher pH water generally is a result of water hardness-i.e. calcium- which means you will get build up. A whole house filter can help and also using neutral pH cleaners regularly as described above by others. Again, neutral pH is always relative to the type of stone. DO NOT skip on applying sealer every year and I'd even recommend twice a year. Eventually you will need to polish at some point, but removing etching costs a lot more when polishing than just doing a top polish to bring back the shine, so take care of the stone. Feel free to call AAAStonePro.com, IG:@AAAStonePro, if you have anymore questions or when you do need a polish further down the road. I'm always free just to educate other on the proper care methods and treatments.