Anastasio Home objects are made from natural marble, travertine, and cast metal, and they are built to be lived with daily. Caring for them is simple once you know how each material behaves. The short version: wipe stone with a soft, damp cloth, and use it freely — the marks it earns are part of living with natural stone. Let unlacquered brass patina or polish it back as you prefer. And do almost nothing to aluminum. The detail follows.
Caring for marble and travertine
Marble and travertine are both calcium carbonate, which means they share the same two traits: they are porous, so they can absorb stains, and they are reactive to acids, so they can etch. Neither is a defect. Both are easy to manage, and both are part of how a natural stone records the life it is given.
Everyday cleaning
Wipe the stone with a soft, damp cloth. For anything more, use a pH-neutral cleaner made for natural stone. Avoid acidic cleaners (anything containing vinegar, lemon, or citrus), bleach, and abrasive pads or powders — these dull and damage the surface. Blot spills as they happen, especially if you would rather the stone stay closer to how it arrived.
Sealing
Because marble and travertine are porous, a penetrating stone sealer reduces how readily they absorb liquids and stains. A sealer soaks into the stone and is invisible; it does not coat or change the surface. Reapply periodically — how often depends on use, and a piece that sees food and drink benefits from more frequent sealing than a decorative one. Sealing slows staining; it does not make stone acid-proof, which is part of the point: these are natural surfaces, not laminate.
Stone with food and drink
Use the stone. Many of our pieces are made for the table — barware, catchalls, serving bowls, coasters — and stone is a generous surface to serve and gather on. Acidic foods and drinks, like citrus, wine, vinegar, coffee, and tomato, can stain or etch bare stone over time. We are proponents of letting that happen. A ring left by a glass, a soft etch from a wedge of lemon, a deepening of tone where a piece is used most — these are the marks of a real object in a real home, and they are part of the character of natural stone. If you prefer to keep a piece closer to new, seal it, use coasters, and blot spills; if you would rather let it age into its use, simply enjoy it. Either way, hand-clean afterward, and treat stone as a serving surface rather than a cutting board, since knives will scratch it.
Etching, explained
Etching is a chemical reaction, not a stain. When an acid meets the calcium carbonate in marble or travertine, it dissolves a microscopic layer of the surface, leaving a softer, more matte mark. Polished marble shows it most; a honed or matte finish hides it almost entirely. To minimize it, keep acids off bare stone and seal the piece. To live with it, let it become part of the patina — on a well-used piece it reads as depth, not damage. A high polish can always be refinished by a stone professional if you ever want to reset it.
Caring for unlacquered brass, white brass, and bronze
You have two equally correct choices. To let the patina develop, simply live with the piece; occasional cleaning with mild soap and water is all it needs, and a thin film of beeswax or mineral oil offers light protection. To keep it bright, polish it periodically with a gentle brass or metal cleaner, which removes tarnish and restores shine. Our metal objects are made for decorative use only — not for food or drink. Keep them dry.
Caring for cast aluminum
A few habits that protect everything
- Lift, don't drag, heavier stone pieces; place them down rather than sliding them.
- Use coasters and trays when you want to keep a stone surface closer to new.
- Blot spills you would rather not keep; let the ones you don't mind become part of the piece.
- Hand-clean only — no dishwasher, no soaking, no harsh chemicals.
- Keep metal dry, and remember it is decorative; store stone away from prolonged standing water.
The materials behind the care
If you want to understand why stone etches, why brass patinas, and which stone is which, the materials guide covers the marble, travertine, brass, and aluminum we work in, including the full library of stones with swatches. You can also shop by material, or explore trays and catchalls, bowls, and coasters.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean marble and stone objects?
Wipe with a soft, damp cloth, and use a pH-neutral stone cleaner when needed. Avoid acidic cleaners, bleach, and abrasive pads, and blot spills you would rather not keep.
Do I need to seal the stone?
Marble and travertine are porous, so a penetrating stone sealer is recommended to reduce staining. Reapply periodically — more often for pieces used with food and drink. Sealing slows stains but does not make stone acid-proof.
Can I use the stone pieces with food and drinks?
Yes. Stone is a generous surface to serve and gather on. Acidic foods and drinks — citrus, wine, vinegar, coffee, tomato — can stain or etch bare stone over time, and we are proponents of letting that happen: the marks are part of living with natural stone. If you prefer to keep a piece closer to new, seal it, use coasters, and blot spills. Hand-clean afterward, and don't put any piece in the dishwasher.
What is etching, and should I worry about it?
Etching is a soft, matte mark left when acid dissolves a microscopic layer of the stone's surface. It is chemical, not a stain, and it is normal for natural stone. Minimize it by keeping acids off bare stone and sealing the piece, or let it become part of the patina — on a well-used piece it reads as depth, not damage.
How do I care for unlacquered brass, and can I use metal pieces for food?
Our metal objects are made for decorative use only, not for food or drink. Brass is a living finish that develops a patina from gold to honey to antique brown; let it age with occasional soap-and-water cleaning, or polish it back to brightness with a gentle brass cleaner. Keep it dry.
How do I care for cast aluminum?
Very little is needed. Aluminum forms its own protective oxide layer and holds its finish, so a wipe with a soft cloth is enough. No polishing or sealing required, and like all of our metal it is for decorative use only.
Are the pieces dishwasher safe?
No. Hand-clean all stone and metal pieces. The dishwasher's heat, water, and detergents can damage stone and strip the natural patina from metal.