Sanding Down Cultured Marble

Clean gel-coated surfaces to remove any soap scum, household dirt or mineral deposits. Use a liquid detergent such as dish soap for common cleaning. You can remove stains, hair spray, tar and paint with acetone or denatured alcohol and a wooden scraper. Apply a non-abrasive paste wax or liquid wax to help restore the shine to dulled surfaces. Never use abrasive tools, such as steel wool or sandpaper, or cleansers, such as scouring powder, on a gel-coated cultured marble surface, according to the International Cast Polymer Alliance.

Remove household dirt, soap scum and mineral deposits from solid surface cultured marble with a damp cloth and non-abrasive cleaner, such as dish soap. Check the finish. If the solid surface has a matte finish, you might be able to use abrasive cleansers, but check the manufacturer's recommendations before using any abrasive cleanser. You might be able to buff out minor cigarette scorch marks and nicotine stains with an abrasive cleanser and a plastic scrubber. Do not use a metal scrubber or steel wool pads.

Remove minor scratches from matte finish, solid surface cultured marble by sanding lightly with 350-grit sandpaper, according to the International Cast Polymer Alliance. Remove burn and scorch marks by sanding lightly with 180-grit sandpaper, followed by 220-grit sandpaper. Restore the matte finish by rubbing the surface with a wet plastic or fabric scouring pad in a circular motion, according to the Carolina Marble Products website.