Marble fireplaces are beautiful to look at and are quite durable but the marble can start to lose its luster or stain over time. Marble is a soft stone and is vulnerable to stains, therefore it must be properly maintained and cleaned periodically. The marble fireplace in the picture is two hundred years old that was obtained from and old apartment building in Frances. It was stored for twenty years before it was reassembled and restored.

There are two types of marble used in home fire places, honed and polished. Honed is generally the type of marble used as flooring while polished marble is most likely what most fireplaces and fireplace trim is made from. Polished marble scratches much easier than honed marble and needs to be treated gently. To restore the look of your fireplace you must choose the cleaning materials carefully.

· Tools and Materials Needed

· Soft cloth or sponge

· Warm water

· Soft cloth

· Mild liquid detergent (no acids or anything abrasive)

· Good quality paste wax or marble polish

· Electric buffer (optional0

· Stain removing paste

· Wooden or plastic spatula

· Tin oxide or aluminum oxide powder

Restoring the Marble:

1. Clean: Wipe down the surface thoroughly using a sponge and warm water. Mix the mild detergent in with the warm water. Scrub the marble using small overlapping circles. Start from the bottom and work upwards to avoid streaking.

2. Rinse and Dry: Rinse down the surface with clear water and dry with an absorbent cloth.

3. Apply Wax: Use a soft cloth to apply the wax over the marble in moderation. Let it dry for about 15 minutes then buffing it until it is shiny with a fresh cloth or an electric buffer. Use a furniture paste wax, beeswax or a marble wax.

4. Removing Stains: Remove stains with a homemade paste. There are many different types of stains. Make a paste for each stain using the material below :

· For dirt stains mix a paste made of whiting with household bleach or 10 percent hydrogen peroxide solution.

· For smoke stains mix a paste made of baking soda and liquid laundry bleach.

· For rust stains rub with burlap or mix whiting with any rust removing compound.

· For oil, grease or fat stains mix whiting with acetone or mineral spirits.

5. Apply the stain remover paste over the stain. Let dry for approximately 24 hours and scrape the paste off with a damp wooden or plastic spatula. Rinse with clear water. If there is still a stain, repeat the process. If you’ve gotten rid of the stain, wipe it clean with a cloth and wax the marble.

6. Restoring the Sheen: To restore the sheen rub the marble down with tin oxide or aluminum oxide powder by dampening the marble before sprinkling the powder onto the marble. Rub in overlapping circles using a cloth or electric buffer. Wipe the surface down with a wet cloth, dry it, and apply wax.

That is how to restore marble fireplaces. Properly maintaining a marble fireplace will insure that it looks beautiful for decades to come.

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