Pine-sol is a popular household cleaner that’s been around for decades. It has dozens of uses, but can it be used on marble?
Pine-sol is NOT the right cleaner for floors with marble surfaces because it is acidic and can cause marble or natural stone surfaces to discolor, etch, and remove the sealant that was put on by a professional during their installation and can be costly to ruin it.
To learn more on the reasons why you do not want to use pine-sol on your marble, what pine-sol is best for, the best alternatives to pine-sol for your marble, and how to clean tough stains without using pine-sol, keep reading this article.
1. Pine-Sol Is Acidic
Pine-sol contains acids that can react to the marble and cause it to deteriorate. The pH scale is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline something is; acidity ranges from 0-14, with 14 being the most alkaline.
A low number indicates more acid (like pine sol) while high numbers indicate less acidity (like ammonia). On this scale, Pine-Sol has an extremely low pH between 3-4, which will corrode your marble over time if you use it on the surface of the stone.
The worse part with this is that the pH is constant, so it won’t change over time. The only way to fix this would be to use a neutralizing agent like baking soda and wash the marble thoroughly with water after you apply them. This is in order to raise the pH level on your stone back up again.
This can take several hours for some marble types depending on how much of an effect there was from using pine sol at first, which makes it impractical as well.
Key Take Away: Pine-sol contains acid that will corrode your marble if used long enough! The good news is that this is reversible by applying a neutralizer then washing off; but the bad news is that it takes hours for the process to complete, making it not very practical anyways.
2. The Abrasive Ingredients In Pine-Sol Will Scratch Your Marble
Pine-sol also contains some pretty abrasive ingredients. This means that if you mistakenly use this on your marble countertops or flooring, then chances are good that it’s going to scratch your surface.
This can make the new fresh look of your marble surface disappear and make it start to look old.
Again, the good news is that this is reversible by applying a neutralizer then washing off; but the bad news is that it takes hours for the process to complete, making it not very practical anyways.
So if you’re looking for an easy way to clean your marble surfaces because they are starting to show some wear or stains from cooking, using pine-sol isn’t going to be effective in getting them back into their original state or any other surface with different types of stone as well.
3. Pine-Sol will Dull The Finish On Marble
Marble, like all other natural stones, is usually finished with polish as protection against everyday wear and tear. This finish can easily be dulled or removed if you’re not careful when using any type of harsh chemical cleaners like pine-sol on the surface.
And you do not want the finish on your marble to be compromised as it is the protection for a surface that can be easily damaged. It could lead to permanent damages in most cases.
This can also be an issue with other natural stones as well such as granite or limestone, for example. These types of surfaces are porous and if the polish is gone, they will lose their luster much more quickly than surfaces that do not provide this protection.
This is what pine-sol will do to your marble surface! The polish on marble will wear off quickly, and you’ll notice stains as well if it’s not shining brightly like before.
This could create an environment for mold to grow in damp areas where your cleaner wasn’t able to reach such as cracks or crevices which are hard to clean by hand without any type of solution!
4. Pine-Sol Can Permanently Etch Your Marble
In addition, Pine-sol will permanently etch into the stone’s surface if it remains too long without being wiped away with water or a neutralizing solution like baking soda.
If you have used or been around any type of natural stone then I’m sure you might have heard that “no matter what you do, never etch your marble”.
This is actually true because when your marble surfaces etch or are scratched, the pores in the stone open up and start making it more susceptible to stains which is not only bad for your marble but also can ruin the entire installation.
A good way to keep this problem from happening if you use pine-sol for other things around your house is to wipe away the spill off of your floors or countertops as soon as possible with a damp cloth or towel.
If you have wooden flooring, for example, another precaution you might want to take is buying something like these Bona Hardwood Floors Cleaner Wipes that will help prevent etching if you have hardwood flooring instead.
5. Pine-Sol Can Discolor Your Marble Surface
Pine-sol can weaken the sealant on a marble surface, which makes it more susceptible to stains. This is a concern if you have an expensive natural stone and don’t want to damage it with the chemicals in pine sol.
The best thing to do, if you’re not sure how well pine-sol will adhere to your marble floor or countertop, is to avoid it completely. Marble is a highly porous material and as a result, it is a very delicate stone.
You may want to look for an alternative instead of risking expensive marble surfaces with chemicals that can damage them.
So What Is Pine-sol Best For?
Pine-Sol cleaners can be used on many types of surfaces, including floors, sinks, counters, stoves, and bathtubs. Not only is pine-sol great for cleaning those surfaces but it is great for removing odors from the areas as well.
So if you’re looking for a general cleaner that can handle nonporous surfaces and also get rid of smells and odor pretty quickly, pine-sol is perfect.
But if you want something specifically for marble or other more delicate stone materials, there are better alternatives out there.
There are some important rules to follow when using Pine-Sol for your best results. First, use 60 milliliters (1/4 cup) per 8 liters (1 gallon) of water then rinse immediately after spilling it on wood or marble. More details below!
Best Alternative To Pine-sol
At this point of this article, I know you might be asking yourself so what then do you use? Well sit back and relax as I walk you through some of the things you can use instead of the pine-sol.
Chances are you were considering using pine-sol because it is an effective cleaner and deodorizer for many other surfaces. So that is exactly what I’m going to recommend to you.
Poultice
A poultice which can be found at Amazon is one of the most perfect recipes for removing stains and smells from marble surfaces, and trust me it is easier than how fancy the word may sound. The only catch is you do the following things immediately as soon as you notice a spill, stain, or smell.
What You’ll Need:
- Flour
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Plastic wrap
- Stiring stick
- Microfiber cloth
- Putty Knife
- Mild Dish Soap
Procedure:
Step 1
- Use warm water and mild dish soap to clean the surface of the marble to remove and dirt from the surface of the marble.
- Make so to use a damp cloth to wipe all the soap residue from the marble surface.
- After doing this and you notice some stains, continue to the following steps; otherwise wipe the surface of the marble and leave it to air-dry.
Step 2
- While the marble surface is still wet, prepare the poultice.
- Pour a small amount of peroxide into a small amount of flour.
- Stir consistently until you get a nice creamy consistentcy or paste form.
Step 3
- Now apply the poultice only on the stained areas of the marble.
- Make sure you do not get it on other surfaces that has no stains as this could etch the marble.
- Apply the poultice about 1/4 inch thick and pile it up the stained area utile the whole stain is completely covered.
Step 4
- Once all the stains are covered, cover the poultice application on the marble with the plastic wrap.
- Now use low contact painters’tape to secure the edges of the plastic wrap so that the plastic wrap stays put.
- It is important not to use any other type of tape as the adhesive in most tapes can damage marble and natural stone surfaces.
- Once the plastic wrap is well secured, poke a few holes in it so that the poultice is able to dry.
Step 5
- Leave the poultice application to dry thoroughly. As the poultice dries, it will draw out any stains in the marble.
- Meaning the drying process is very important for this method to work. Allow the poultice to dry for about 24-48 hours.
Step 6
- After the poultice dries, scrap off the dry poultice with a putty knife. Be as gently as possible and take all the time you need to do this carefully.
Step 7
- Use a damp cloth to clean off any remaining residue from the surface of the marble.
Step 8
- Leave the marble to air-dry.
- If you still see some stains on the marble, repeat the process until you’re satisfied with the outcome.
