Marble: Marble has traditionally been a status symbol throughout the ages due to its beauty and price point. But all that beauty comes with a price, so buyers beware! Although marble is gorgeous and is definitely a conversation starter, it’s super high maintenance. The first thing to know about marble is that there are NO SPILLS ALLOWED, and if you do spill, you’d better hope it’s not something sticky or colored. Marble is extremely soft and porous, so it will scratch, etch, and stain easily… even water will leave marks that could be permanent! So if you absolutely have to have marble, be ready to constantly be on stain/coaster patrol and maybe even put a protective layer of glass on your counter to prevent anything happening to your stone. Marble will definitely discolor if you put a hot pan on it without a pad underneath, so watch out! To clean, use a mild soap and water, no harsh cleaners (bleach, scrubbing bubbles, etc.) and especially nothing with hydrofluoric acid!