How to Sand Marble Countertops

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Things You'll Need

  • Large container or bowl

  • Gentle dish soap

  • 3 clean sponges

  • 2 microfiber cloths

  • 120-grit sandpaper pad

  • Hand-held sander

  • 320-grit sandpaper pad

  • Chamois

  • Penetrating stone sealer

  • Terrycloth

Sand a marble countertop with simple products and methods.

Marble countertops add a touch of sophistication and style to the room. As with other types of countertops, marble will begin to lose its high shine and luster due to everyday use. If you have dull marble countertops or marble countertops containing small surface scratches, sanding the stone to remove imperfections and restore shine is a good option. Sanding marble is a time-consuming and laborious process, but with the proper tools and techniques, it can bring that dull and unsightly marble countertop back to brand-new condition.

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Step 1

Fill a large container or bowl with warm water. Add two drops of gentle dish soap into the warm water. Make sure the dish soap you use does not contain any abrasives or citrus ingredients, as these may further scratch and damage the marble countertop.

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Step 2

Dip a clean sponge into the warm, soapy water and wipe it over the surface of the countertop to remove dust, dirt and small food particulates unseen by the naked eye.

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Step 3

Rinse the marble countertop with a clean sponge dampened with clean water to remove any residues left behind by the dish soap.

Step 4

Dry the marble countertop with a clean, microfiber cloth. The microfiber cloth will not leave behind any small pieces of paper or fabric, as would a paper towel or cotton cloth.

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Step 5

Affix a 120-grit sandpaper pad to a hand-held sander. Work the sander over the granite countertop until the entire surface area is lightly sanded, intermittently stopping and misting the work area with water. Make sure to use light and even pressure when sanding the marble countertop.

Step 6

Switch the 120-grit sandpaper pad out for a 320-grit sandpaper pad. Repeat sanding the marble countertop in the same way as the previous step, misting the surface with water to minimize abrasion marks.

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Step 7

Dampen a clean sponge with water and rinse the sanding dust off the marble countertop, repeating as many times as it takes to remove any remaining dust.

Step 8

Dry the marble countertop with a dry, clean cloth.

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Step 9

Buff the surface of the marble with a chamois to bring a high shine to the countertop. Use small, circular motions when using the chamois.

Step 10

Spray a penetrating stone sealer on the marble countertops until the surface is wet. Allow the sealer to sit on the surface of the marble for up to five minutes. Saturate the surface of the marble countertop a second time, and wait 30 minutes.

Step 11

Wipe the sealer off the marble with a terrycloth. Leave the marble countertop undisturbed for 48 hours for best results.

Tip

Always follow the included instructions when using a penetrating stone sealer.

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