The short answer
Before Diwali, clean marble with a pH-neutral stone cleaner and a soft mop, never with acid, vinegar, lemon, bleach or scouring powder. Dust first so grit does not scratch. Granite takes mild soap; outdoor Kota can be scrubbed with water. Check whether the floor needs resealing, and put trays under diyas and rangoli.
Key takeaways
- Use a pH-neutral cleaner on marble; never acid, vinegar, lemon, bleach or scouring powder.
- Dust first, mop gently, then dry the floor.
- Test the seal with water, and put diyas and rangoli on trays.
Advice for you
Tell us who you are and we will show you what matters most in this guide.
I am building or renovating my home
Hand this list to whoever is helping with the festival cleaning, and hide the acid cleaners for the week. Most festival damage comes from the wrong bottle.
Book a visit to see full slabsI am an architect or interior designer
Include a short care card in your handover pack before the festival season; clients and their staff will use it.
Request samples for a clientI am a contractor or builder
If a client asks for pre-festival polishing, plan enough drying time before sealing.
Work out quantitiesI live outside Bengaluru
The same care applies wherever you are. If you need a stone restorer, ask us for advice.
Choose slabs on a video callWhat should you use on each stone?
| Stone | Use | Never use |
|---|---|---|
| Marble and onyx | pH-neutral stone cleaner, soft mop, microfibre cloth | Acid, vinegar, lemon, bleach, phenyl, scouring powder |
| Granite | Mild soap or pH-neutral cleaner | Abrasive pads; strong acids on the polish |
| Travertine | pH-neutral cleaner; soft brush on filled pores | Acid, vinegar |
| Kota, Tandur, sandstone (outdoor) | Water, soft-bristle brush, mild cleaner | Acid washes, which etch limestone |
Step by step: deep-cleaning a marble floor
- Move furniture and dry-dust or vacuum first. Grit dragged by a wet mop scratches the polish.
- Mix a pH-neutral stone cleaner in water as directed.
- Mop with a soft, clean mop, rinsing it often.
- Wipe with clean water and dry the floor, so no film or water marks remain.
- Clean grout lines with a soft brush, not a wire brush.
- Wipe skirting, steps and sills the same way.
Does the floor need resealing?
Drip a little water on a few spots, especially in busy areas, and wait a few minutes. If the stone darkens quickly, it is absorbing water and will absorb diya oil and colours too. It needs resealing before the festival. Light marbles such as Statuario and Botticino Classico show this most.
Dull patches and old marks
Dull spots on polished marble are usually etching from acids, not dirt, and cleaning will not remove them. They need re-polishing. If your living room has lost its shine, book a polisher well before the festival week, because the floor needs time to dry before sealing.
Protecting stone during the festival
- Put diyas and candles on metal or brass trays, not straight on marble.
- Lay rangoli on a sheet, board or tray on light marble; dry colours can stain if wetted.
- Keep a roll of kitchen paper ready for oil and wax drips; blot, do not rub.
- Use mats at the entrance for the extra footfall.
- Outdoors, keep crackers away from Kota Blue and Black Galaxy steps; burns can mark the surface.
Granite counters and Kota outdoors
Granite kitchen counters such as Absolute Black clean with mild soap and a dry wipe to avoid water marks. Outdoor Kota and sandstone such as Dholpur Beige Sandstone can be scrubbed with a soft brush and water. Avoid the acid washes sometimes used on outdoor floors; they etch limestone.
Read marble care: stains, sealing and cleaning for everyday care.
