Most people who buy a natural stone table are told either nothing about care or simply “just wipe it”. Both are wrong. Natural stone is a living material: looked after properly it lasts a lifetime, neglected it marks within the first year.
Start here: stone is porous
Marble, travertine and onyx are all porous. There are micro-voids in the surface that the eye cannot see, and liquid enters them. That creates two separate problems, and most people confuse them.
Staining is liquid entering the pores and leaving colour. Olive oil, coffee and red wine mark this way. The right product will lift it.
Etching is different: an acid chemically dissolves the surface of the stone. Lemon, vinegar, tomato sauce, cola. The dull mark that appears is not dirt — the surface itself has changed. Wiping will not help; it needs polishing.
Sealing: the single most important thing
A sealant is a clear protector that fills the pores. It is the first line of defence against staining. It does not prevent etching — acid still affects the surface — but it slows liquid from entering, which gives you time to wipe.
How often? Between once a year and once every two years, depending on use. There is a simple test: put a few drops of water on the surface. If the water beads, the sealant is working. If it spreads and darkens the stone, the sealant has had its day.
Everyday care
- Soft cloth and warm water. Most of the time this is enough.
- pH-neutral cleaner. There are products made for stone. General kitchen cleaners are usually acidic or alkaline and strip the sealant over time.
- Wipe spills immediately. Blot, do not rub — rubbing spreads the liquid.
- Use coasters. Especially for wine, citrus drinks and hot cups.
What not to use
- Home mixtures with lemon, vinegar or bicarbonate
- Bleach and ammonia-based products
- Scouring powder, the metal side of a sponge
- Limescale removers — they contain acid
Why travertine is different
Travertine forms with holes in it. Those holes are filled at the factory with resin or grout; filled travertine gives a level surface. Over time some fills can come out — this is not a fault, it is the nature of the material. It is repaired with the same filler.
Unfilled travertine is also chosen, but it is impractical for a dining table: the holes hold crumbs and liquid.
A note on onyx
Onyx is translucent — lit from behind, it passes light. Visually it is the most striking option and also the softest. Used as a dining table it should be kept away from heavy use, given coasters, and sealed on a regular schedule.
If a stain appears
For oil there are poultice pastes made for stone. The paste is spread over the mark and covered with film; as it dries it draws the oil upward. Several applications may be needed.
Poultice will not help with etching; the surface has to be repolished. If the marking is widespread, this is a job for a stone polisher.
If that sounds like a burden
Requiring care is not a flaw in natural stone; it is its nature. But if you are looking for a kitchen table in heavy daily use and would rather not take that on, compact porcelain will suit you better: with no pores it needs no sealing and acids do not affect it.
Come to the showroom and we will talk through which stone suits which room.