How to Clean and Polish a Marble Fireplace (Using Faber Products)

A lot of Irish homes have a marble fireplace, and most of them get cleaned with whatever spray is under the sink. That's usually where the dull patches and cloudy marks come from. Marble is soft and reacts with acid, so the wrong cleaner can mark it in seconds.

We only use Faber products on natural stone. Here's how to look after a marble fireplace with them, and when it's time to call us.

What never to use on marble

• Vinegar, lemon or anything "natural" and acidic
• Bathroom, kitchen or limescale sprays
• Bleach and general-purpose cleaners
• Scouring pads, cream cleansers or abrasive powders

Acid dissolves the surface of the marble and leaves a dull, whitish mark called an etch. No cleaner will wipe an etch away, because the stone itself has changed.

How to clean a marble fireplace

1. Let it go cold and dust it with a soft dry cloth or brush, so grit doesn't scratch the surface.
2. Use a Faber pH-neutral stone cleaner, mixed at the dose on the label. More product doesn't clean better. It leaves a film.
3. Wipe with a soft microfibre cloth, wrung out well. Work from the top down.
4. Wipe again with clean water and dry it with a fresh cloth so no streaks are left.

The hearth takes the most soot, ash and heat. Clean it little and often rather than scrubbing it hard once a year.

How to bring back the shine

If the marble is clean but has lost its gloss, the shine has to come from the stone itself, not from a wax or coating on top. Faber's polishing cream is what we use to bring the surface back up. Always follow the instructions on the product, and test a small hidden spot first.

Etch marks, scratches and worn areas are different. The damaged top layer has to be honed off first with Faber honing cream, then polished back. On a fireplace with carved detail this is slow, careful work, and it's easy to leave the finish patchy. That's the point where most people bring us in.

Protect it with a Faber sealer

Once the marble is clean and polished, a breathable Faber sealer soaks into the stone and gives you time to wipe up spills, soot and grease before they stain. It won't stop etching from acids, but it makes everyday cleaning a lot easier. Sealing is optional, and we'll tell you honestly whether your fireplace needs it.

Not every fireplace is marble: a real slate job

This slate fireplace was very porous, and the stains could not be fully removed. We didn't polish it. The customer wanted it darkened anyway, so after cleaning we applied Faber Deep Enhancer. The colour is now even and dark, and she was very happy with it.

When to call a professional

• Cloudy or white marks that won't wipe off
• A dull or patchy finish across the surround or hearth
• Smoke, soot or oil staining soaked into the stone

We clean, hone and polish marble fireplaces, hearths and surrounds across Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath using Faber products. See our marble cleaning and polishing service in Dublin, or read how we polish and seal marble with Faber.