The Polite House: How to Handle Entertaining Around Marble Countertops
Worried about citrus drinks damaging your precious marble counters during a gathering? Here are 2 ways to party on
Lizzie Post
December 16, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Lizzie Post is co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast http://www.infiniteguest.org/awesome-etiquette/, and an author and spokesperson for the Emily Post Institute. She is a co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette 18th edition, Emily Post’s Great Get-Togethers, The Etiquette Advantage in Business, and Emily Post’s Wedding Etiquette 6th edition http://emilypost.com/books/.
Houzz Contributor. Lizzie Post is co-host of the Awesome Etiquette podcast ,... More
Dear Lizzie,
I just read your tip on encouraging guests to use coasters. I have a similar question. We recently remodeled our kitchen and added beautiful marble countertops. The problem is that marble is very sensitive. Acid, especially citrus, will permanently etch it with no time to wipe up splatters and drips.
People love sitting around the marble-topped island. I’ve been avoiding offering lemons or limes. If I serve iced tea, I place a pitcher on our bar cart in the dining room with a dish of lemons and sugar, and hope they will squeeze in there. We always hand out napkins with drinks and wine to avoid staining. But napkins don’t protect from squeezing lemons and limes. I hate to make people feel that they have to follow a set of rules if they visit. Any recommendation would be appreciated!
I just read your tip on encouraging guests to use coasters. I have a similar question. We recently remodeled our kitchen and added beautiful marble countertops. The problem is that marble is very sensitive. Acid, especially citrus, will permanently etch it with no time to wipe up splatters and drips.
People love sitting around the marble-topped island. I’ve been avoiding offering lemons or limes. If I serve iced tea, I place a pitcher on our bar cart in the dining room with a dish of lemons and sugar, and hope they will squeeze in there. We always hand out napkins with drinks and wine to avoid staining. But napkins don’t protect from squeezing lemons and limes. I hate to make people feel that they have to follow a set of rules if they visit. Any recommendation would be appreciated!
I can imagine how this is quite a problem. Citrus is such a staple garnish for (and addition to) alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. It also elevates a standard glass of water to something just a little more special for a party. Let’s face it: Citrus is an entertaining go-to.
I see two options. Solution A is to keep doing what you’re doing. Serve citrus, but take every precautionary measure you can to prevent the citrus from making contact with the marble. Maybe you could use some type of a decorative runner along the area of the marble counter where your guests gather, or you could put a placemat under any bowls of cut lemons or limes. I would hate to suggest that you always encourage guests to gather elsewhere since this area seems to be popular with them as well as a source of pride and a part of your home that you really enjoy too.
I see two options. Solution A is to keep doing what you’re doing. Serve citrus, but take every precautionary measure you can to prevent the citrus from making contact with the marble. Maybe you could use some type of a decorative runner along the area of the marble counter where your guests gather, or you could put a placemat under any bowls of cut lemons or limes. I would hate to suggest that you always encourage guests to gather elsewhere since this area seems to be popular with them as well as a source of pride and a part of your home that you really enjoy too.
Setting up the bar in another area is a great idea, and having coasters and napkins available are also good solutions. But as much as a host can do to plan, the end result is that by serving citrus, you simply run the risk of it affecting the marble.
Personally, as a host, I don’t want to feel as though I have to always keep an eye out for a particular part of my house or certain belongings while I entertain. I want to enjoy the party or gathering too. This is why the one time I break out the good china each year, I have a friend who co-hosts, and she and I take care to be the only ones handling it.
Personally, as a host, I don’t want to feel as though I have to always keep an eye out for a particular part of my house or certain belongings while I entertain. I want to enjoy the party or gathering too. This is why the one time I break out the good china each year, I have a friend who co-hosts, and she and I take care to be the only ones handling it.
We serve everyone, clear the plates and do all the dishes. When guests offer to help or even start to clear plates, I kindly say, “Oh please, Jake, sit, sit, sit. Tonight I want to provide full service to my guests. Please let Carol and me do all the clearing. You are our guest tonight in every sense of the word.”
It requires extra care and vigilance, but I’m willing to take it on once a year. I also recognize that during the actual meal, there is a chance that someone will somehow break or scratch a plate. It’s less likely than if everyone were serving themselves in a buffet line and helping to clear the table, but the risk is still there simply because I chose to use the china.
It requires extra care and vigilance, but I’m willing to take it on once a year. I also recognize that during the actual meal, there is a chance that someone will somehow break or scratch a plate. It’s less likely than if everyone were serving themselves in a buffet line and helping to clear the table, but the risk is still there simply because I chose to use the china.
Solution B is very simple. At first, it may not seem satisfying, but stick with me on this one, and I think it’ll be a great option for you. Solution B: Don’t serve citrus.
As a host, you are exactly right: You don’t want to create so many rules for your guests that they feel as though they are walking on eggshells during a visit to your home. If you’ve identified that the way you want to care for your marble is to never allow citrus to touch it and to minimize any chance of that even happening, then it’s going to be best not to serve items requiring citrus.
I would suggest raspberries or cucumbers for freshening up water. Blackberries, strawberries and peaches go very nicely with sparkling wines like prosecco and champagne, though you should of course take caution with any fruit juices coming into contact with marble.
As a host, you are exactly right: You don’t want to create so many rules for your guests that they feel as though they are walking on eggshells during a visit to your home. If you’ve identified that the way you want to care for your marble is to never allow citrus to touch it and to minimize any chance of that even happening, then it’s going to be best not to serve items requiring citrus.
I would suggest raspberries or cucumbers for freshening up water. Blackberries, strawberries and peaches go very nicely with sparkling wines like prosecco and champagne, though you should of course take caution with any fruit juices coming into contact with marble.
You might choose to be a host who always serves one or two signature cocktails instead of a traditional bar with all the trimmings, which is perfectly appropriate to do and allows you much more control. Wine and beer are also great solutions. Except for a lime in a Corona-type beer, you’re not likely to get requests for citrus wedges. For nonalcoholic beverages like iced tea, again, peaches, raspberries, strawberries and mint leaves are fabulous options.
My hope is that Solution B offers you avenues and options for entertaining that allow both you and your guests to fully relax and enjoy the get-together.
Your turn: How have you handled entertaining around your marble countertops?
What’s your question? To submit a question on etiquette around the house for Lizzie Post, send an email with the subject line “The Polite House” to edit@houzz.com.
More
How to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile
See more from The Polite House
My hope is that Solution B offers you avenues and options for entertaining that allow both you and your guests to fully relax and enjoy the get-together.
Your turn: How have you handled entertaining around your marble countertops?
What’s your question? To submit a question on etiquette around the house for Lizzie Post, send an email with the subject line “The Polite House” to edit@houzz.com.
More
How to Clean Marble Countertops and Tile
See more from The Polite House
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I plan on getting carrara marble and have decided it will probably have it coated with Clearstone sealer. I has a 10 yr warranty against stains AND ETCHING. Its the only think on the market that can do that.
I have marble in the kitchen and I am not a slave to it. It is well sealed and fairly well protected from acidic spills that don't sit on it forever. Every few years we have it professionally cleaned and resealed. Easy, peasy. I have decided that I was not going to be an uptight host fussing and fretting over stuff and making my guests feel like children. Life is too short. We have beautiful things and have not shied away from white sofas and light rugs nor have we ever asked guests to take their shoes off at the front door. It's just how we roll. But we are respectful of how other hosts choose to handle their guests and always abide by their rules.
This all sounds pretty absurd. Kitchens are meant to be used and lived in. Going through all that trouble sounds painful. You should either be ok with patina, ring marks etc and not dwell on how to remove them or if you are too worried about keeping the marble clean and museum-esque, then it's better to just get a different material as it will be too frustrating having to constantly watch your counters. That's pretty sad not giving out limes at a party because you're too worried about a countertop. Avoid all the agony and get Quartz. Personally, I'd avoid a marble-looking Quartz as they look terrible; go for super white or something and be done with it. And sealing marble doesn't do a whole lot. The best sealer isn't going to save you from getting ring marks etc. Honed marble visually is more appealing to me as I prefer a more subtle (less glitzy) look, but to each his own. I think general patina looks fine, but rink marks look terrible.
There isn't a Sealer that's going to save your marble. Wishful thinking. I'd like to squeeze some lemons and leave a red wine bottle on your sealed counters. In the morning you will be disappointed in your product. Etching cannot be prevented by a sealer, sorry. You can take a green 3M pad and gently scrub areas that have stained, but will destroy your polish, and if it's honed it will look weird as light reflects off of the surface.