how to clean cultured marble

The cultured marble vanity top in my bathroom appears dull and lifeless. What can I do to revive and restore the shine? -Thelma

Cultured marble is made of a mixture of polyester resin, limestone dust, fillers, and pigments with a clear gel coat finish on top. While you can't remove deep scratches that go all the way through the gel coat, it is possible to restore the surface and shine using extremely fine sandpaper and polishing compounds.

Automotive compounds are mildly abrasive materials that are used to smooth and remove blemishes from cultured marble, fiberglass, paint, or clear finishes. They're available at auto supply stores as rubbing (red, more abrasive) and polishing (white, less abrasive) compounds.

Automotive compounds can be applied to the surface by hand with a soft, cotton cloth, or by using felt or wool pads on a power buffer, which requires much less physical effort.

If the cultured marble surface is just a bit dull, try buffing it first with polishing compound, following the instructions on the can. If polishing compound doesn't do the trick, buff with rubbing compound, followed by polishing compound to remove any scratches left by the rubbing compound.

If the cultured marble surface still isn't smooth and shiny, try wet sanding with 1,000-grit wet/dry sandpaper (also available at auto supply stores), followed by buffing with rubbing and polishing compounds to remove any scratches from the sandpaper.

Wipe off any residue from the compound with a clean, soft cloth, then wash and dry the top with water.

Cleaning and polishing products that are specifically designed for cultured marble, such as Gel-Gloss Marble Polish, are also available.

Good luck with your project,

Danny

Further Information

Cultured Marble for Your Bathroom (video)
How to Install a Cultured Marble Shower Stall (video)
Selecting a Bathroom Vanity for Your Home (video)