Personally if I had the access to the marble I would take it! Traditional concerns regarding bleach spill etc are not that relevant these day s. If you keep these items like laundry powders and cleaning chemicals off the bench and in the cupboard they shouldn't cause you much trouble. I keep all mine in a caddy that keeps them off surfaces and easy to move around the house and store in the cupboard. How many of us hand colour or hand bleach anything anymore. Most laundry troughs these days are too small to make these jobs even possible. Or if you are a craft lover do these things in the outdoors or garage. Hand washing is usually with very gentle detergents on smaller items and usually done with care. If the laundry is a chore make your work area a pleasure to be in!

Marble is a beautiful natural material and has many marvellous qualities but it requires much love and attention. Much like leather shoes, the marble will 'wear in' and will develop a patina over time, but with the right care, it will live a long and lustrous life. To protect your marble from staining, you must regularly apply a recommended sealant product. At our office, we prefer to use a 'penetrative' sealant to minimise the glossy look. Also, it is a good idea to hone your marble, not polish it, so that when the evidence of wear and tear emerges, it is not as obvious. It also helps if the marble has lots of veining or contrast - all to reduce visibility of stains. Etching is the main issue with marble. To avoid obvious etching, the marble must be kept clean. If a substance sits on the marble for too long, it will likely etch the surface. This includes water. So if you leave a wet glass of water on the marble for a long period of time, it will probably create a ring-shaped etching. I had a Cararra marble kitchen bench in my own home and absolutely loved it! I used a penetrative sealant but it still developed some etching over time. However, because I had selected a marble that was light in colour and had lots of veining, the etching could only be seen in glancing light - nobody ever noticed! Plus, I understood the nature of the natural material so I was comfortable and accepting of the evidence of wear and tear. Please don't let this deter you from using marble, it is truly a beautiful natural material and if you understand its nature, you will love it unconditionally!

Hi Malessi, I've been reading your posts because I have the exact same dilemma and questions! Your marble kitchen looks AMAZING by the way. Is it homed? No doubt you've sealed it... But I also want to know about the Clearstone product, and if you have used it?? I hear mixed reports. I'm thinking of having marble bench tops in my bathrooms. Of course it would look stunning.... but I'm a bit fanatical about keeping it stain/etch free... and I just know I'd hate the etching and dull look, should that occur over time. I would love to know how you are finding your bathroom stone? The upkeep.... and anything else you can share. Thanks Anth :)

Not my cup of tea, as I like homes to reflect more of the era they were built. The renos to update it, though all very up to date, have also robbed it of its original character. However I do not have to live there and as long as the home owners love it, that is the main thing!