@Verbo - thank you so much - do you have a pH neutral stone cleaner you like please. I saw this one advertised but just want to check it would be OK .. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Zep-Neutral-Ph-Floor-Cleaner-128-fl-oz-Pour-Bottle-Liquid-Floor-Cleaner/3621314?cm_mmc=shp--c--prd--lwn--ggl--LIA_LWN_127_Cleaning--3621314--local--0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnP-ZBhDiARIsAH3FSRcGoM_vpQ6vcTZG-Np9M1w_RzSyTwL_uJE37J636R_xiBGD_xZnjZoaAsH8EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

No steamer. As Verbo says, non-acidic, PH neutral cleaners only. We recommend MB Stone & More as well as Laticrete Stone Tech Daily Cleaner. However, do not "over-use" the cleaners as you want to avoid the build up over time. Wipe up spills or blot soil with damp microfiber cloth. Use the cleaners on whole surface no more than once/wk. Do use soft microfiber cloths/mops (no brushes or abrasive anything). And if this is a bathroom floor: Majestic Non-Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner will be a good friend. Those harsh toilet bowl cleaners wreak havok on natural stone floors. Enjoy your new space.

Be careful cleaning the sinks, the toilet, shower doors...anything acidic, just even one drop, will do damage. That includes human urine, sorry, I don't mean to imply anything, but it happens.

Glass cleaner on a mirror etched a client's marble bathroom. The good news is that your beautiful floor is busy enough to hide a few imperfections.

One of the practices that our clients incorporate, is to remove all acidic products from the area. An advantage of the MB Stone & More product I referenced above is that it can be used to cean glass, metal fixtures, countertops, etc. Add the Majestic non-acidic toilet bowl cleaner and that's it. No need for other chemicals in the room.

@Dragonfly Tile & Stone Works, Inc. thank you so much. Quick question, this is my bathroom floor (calacatta marble) so what do you mean when you say "Majestic Non-Acidic Toilet Bowl Cleaner will be a good friend." - what exactly am I doing with it (LOL) I assume just cleaning the toilet but why would you say that "those harsh toilet bowl cleaners wreak havok on natural stone floors." .... I mean, do people splash the toilet bowl cleaner on the floor so much that it etches?

piaa, it only takes a drop. They add up over time, even though likely only show when the light hits it just right. My soaking tub had a polished marble surround. I'm careful, and that bath was used by two adults only. I etched it with the tiniest bit of overspray cleaning the glass door to the adjacent shower one day. I could feel it every time I cleaned that bathroom going forward, luckily it didn't really stand out - and guests never used that bathroom.

@piaa Yes, the toilet brush can result in a drip or more on the floor as it's used. And some of our clients have cleaning services that can at times be a little less careful (or don't understand the proper cleaning products/procedures for various materials). That transfers to many surfaces...ebony finish pianos for example. Point is, know your products and your surfaces.

Thank you everyone for your help - ordering these now

@Dragonfly Tile & Stone Works, Inc. one more quick question - how often should I seal the marble floors (and bathroom counter) They were sealed about 8 months ago with Dry Treat. The marble bathroom counter was sealed at the fabricator but I have no idea what they used so would it be OK to use Dry Treat over the top ?

Thank you so much again for taking the time to answer - everyone is very much appreciated.

@piaa in spite of the popular opinion in these online groups, you don't need to reseal that unless you end up at some point having it professionally restored. Too much sealant isn't a good thing. Just maintain it wisely. I wouldn't reseal your countertop either. Stone is meant to breathe.

Thank you so much @Dragonfly Tile & Stone Works, Inc.

@Dragonfly Tile & Stone Works, Inc. Not to hijack a thread but since you discussed sealing, could I ask a specific question regarding sealing my marble tile floors. Mine are Calacatta and I used a grout color that blended in - a lightish gray.

It has been about four years since I moved back in and to my "elderly" eyes it still looks fine. My designer has suggested having the grout professionally cleaned at this point and presumably the marble cleaned and then sealed again. FWIW I opted for honed marble because I wanted a softer look in the bathroom.

My designer has very exacting eyes which I don't share - for better or worse. Should I just leave well enough alone at this point?

Hi Helen. If it was previously sealed, it shouldn't be too hard to clean. But beware of the products they use. Make sure it's a qualified professional cleaning it and they do not use a harsh cleaner. Ask what products and process. Ask the right questions. Many companies that advertise grout cleaning services are NOT qualified to work with marble. You can always send us an email once you have the information and we are happy to advise. dragonlfytile@wi.rr.com

@Dragonfly Tile & Stone Works, Inc. Thanks - the marble floor gets very little wear. The last time shoes were worn on the floor was when the plumber came to fix a toilet :-).

I was more curious as to whether I needed to do 'preventative maintenance" if it still looked okay to my non-discerning vision when viewed while I was standing up 🤫

I also have the same Calacatta marble tiles on the shower floor - should they be proactively resealed after a certain amount of time. The shower drains extremely well and I have a Panasonic automatic fan which runs for awhile after a shower. I am also in Los Angeles which is not particularly humid and the door to the master bathroom is almost always open so it isn't a particularly humid environment.

But still curious as to best maintenance procedures.

@Helen, Leave it alone if there has been minimal use and it's in good shape. Don't create a problem where none exists. I'm not suggesting that this is true of your designer, but sometimes there is a need to offer some advice, whether warranted or not. Most "designers" are not experts in tile and stone but offer good intentioned suggestions from a place of minimal indepth knowledge. It's a designer after all, not a tile professional. Leave well enough alone.

I need some help too please 🙏🏻

I was given bad advice from a professional tile restorer that I should use vinegar and warm water to clean my bathroom floors/ grout. I have a new construction home and the tiler did not cover the floors after he finished so every contractor walked on the bathroom floors dragging mud and paint… needless to say the grout was no longer bright white. I have been trying to get professionally cleaned but no one wants to touch marble. So I used the vinegar and a plastic scrub brush and of course the polished marble is now matte. I ended up doing the entire floor because the matte area I did first was in the middle of the floor and it was very obvious. I don’t mind the look of the less shiny floor but I’m worried it’s now going to stain very easily. I bought a steamer to try to do the grout but then I read no steamer on marble either! What do I do? Do I reseal the marble? Also all of the staining did not come out of the grout. Is it possible to re-grout the floors to kind of start over? Any advice is much much appreciated.

@kward02, just to be clear, you were NOT given advice by a "Professional Tile Restorer" if they suggested you use vinegar on natural stone. Unfortunately there are companies/people out there (some are chains) that advertise practices that are simply wrong. Like suggesting they can repair a failing shower with new grout:( . Don't know if you are in a metropolitan area but many professional stone restoration companies exist that can come in and buff and restore that marble like new. We have one near us that we have worked in tandem with for decades. We will do basic maintenance every few years for our clients (check grout/caulk, etc) but if there is resurfacing required, North Shore Marble Maintenance can come in and restore. I'd be looking for that company. Absolutely unacceptable that your contractor did not cover the floor before other trades used the space. EVERY floor gets covered after completion, even if it's not natural stone. The task to get it restored to new and the cost associated should be on the contractor.

You need a marble restoration expert at this point. Not a grout cleaner or a tiler with an 8" diamond setup. A true professional marble restoration pro will utilize a 3K polisher with a 5 diamond pad setup and go thru several grits over many passes. In that process the top layer of the grout will also get ground and reveal the original color

Bummer is its a dying art and very hard to find a true marble restoration pro unless youre in a major city . However some commercial companies that deal with large scale floor polishing may have a skilled employee and the correct equipment.

I agree it should have been protected and the GC should pay the bill however id be leary of allowing them to source the restoration pro.

Best of luck