How to Care for a Marble Murti
Safe everyday cleaning, care after abhishek, and how to avoid stains, soot and etching.
Read the guideCare
Caring for your marble murti
A quick reference for everyday care. For the full explanation, read our detailed guide to caring for a marble murti.
Short answer
How do I clean a marble murti?
Dust with a soft, dry cloth. When needed, wipe with a cloth dampened in plain water, or a little pH-neutral soap, then rinse and dry. Never use lemon, vinegar, bleach or abrasive cleaners, which damage marble.
Do
- Dust regularly with a soft, dry cloth or a soft brush for carved details.
- Rinse with clean water after abhishek with milk, curd, honey or turmeric, then dry with a soft cloth.
- Wipe off kumkum, sindoor, sandalwood paste and oil promptly.
- Keep lamps and incense a short distance away so soot does not settle on the stone.
- Place the murti on a stable, level surface.
Avoid
- Lemon, vinegar, bleach and most bathroom or kitchen cleaners.
- Scouring pads, stiff brushes and abrasive powders.
- Leaving milk, ghee, oil or coloured powders on the marble for long periods.
- Scrubbing painted or gold details: wipe them gently and keep them dry.
- Lifting the murti by its arms, crown or other projecting details.
Stains, yellowing, outdoor murtis and repairs are covered in the full marble murti care guide.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I bathe my marble murti during abhishek?
Yes. Marble tolerates water well. Rinse off milk, curd, honey and turmeric with clean water soon afterwards and dry the murti with a soft cloth to avoid stains.
What if my murti gets chipped?
Keep any broken pieces. Small chips can often be repaired by a stone restorer. Contact us with photographs and we can advise.
Guides
Helpful guides
White Marble Murti Guide
Why white marble varies, how to reduce yellowing, and judging colour from photographs.
Read the guideMarble vs Other Murti Materials
How marble compares with metal, wood, resin and other stone, and how to spot marble-dust resin.
Read the guide
Enquire
Tell us about the murti you have in mind
Share the deity, size and where it will be placed. We will reply with suitable pieces or a quotation for a custom murti.
Prefer to talk it through? Book a free video call on Zoom or Google Meet.