Stain Removal

Spills: the first minute

Blot the spill with a paper towel right away. Don’t wipe; wiping spreads it. Flush the area with plain water and mild soap, rinse several times, and dry with a soft cloth. Repeat as needed.

Play detective

Removing a stain starts with naming it. Where is it: near a plant, a cooking area, a makeup mirror? What color and shape is it? Surface stains often lift with the right household cleaner. Deep or stubborn ones may need a poultice or a professional.

Stain types and first moves

Oil-based

Grease, tar, cooking oil, milk, cosmetics. Oil darkens the stone and must be dissolved so it can rinse out. Clean gently with a soft liquid cleanser with bleach, household detergent, ammonia, mineral spirits, or acetone.

Organic

Coffee, tea, fruit, food, tobacco, urine, leaves, bird droppings. These leave a pinkish-brown mark that often fades once the source is gone. Outdoors, sun and rain bleach it out. Indoors, clean with 12% hydrogen peroxide plus a few drops of ammonia.

Metal

Iron and rust stains run orange to brown and trace the shape of the object that made them: nails, cans, flower pots, metal furniture. Copper and bronze read green or muddy brown. Metal stains need a poultice, and deep rust may be permanent.

Biological

Algae, mildew, lichens, moss, fungi. Clean with a dilute solution (half a cup per gallon of water) of ammonia, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide. Never mix bleach and ammonia; the gas is toxic and can kill.

Ink

Marker and pen marks: use bleach or hydrogen peroxide on light stone only, and lacquer thinner or acetone on dark stone only.

Paint

Scrape small spots carefully with a razor blade or use lacquer thinner. Heavy coverage calls for a commercial heavy-liquid paint stripper, which can etch the surface and force a re-polish. Use wood or plastic scrapers, never acid or flame tools. Wear rubber gloves and eye protection, ventilate the room, and flush the area with clean water when done. Latex and acrylic paints usually don’t stain; oil-based paints, linseed oil, putty, caulk, and sealants can. Treat those as oil-based stains.

Water spots and rings

Buff with dry 0000 steel wool.

Fire and smoke damage

Smoke-stained fireplaces usually need a thorough cleaning. Commercial smoke removers save time and elbow grease.

Etch marks

Acids left sitting on stone eat into the finish. Once the stain is out, wet the surface and sprinkle on marble polishing powder, then rub with a damp cloth or a buffing pad on a low-speed drill until the mark disappears and the shine returns. Marks that won’t buff out need a professional stone restorer.

Efflorescence

That white powder is mineral salt carried up by water evaporating through the stone. Dust mop or vacuum it; you may need to repeat as the stone dries. Don’t wash it, water just restarts the cycle. If it keeps coming back, have your installer find the moisture source.

Scratches and nicks

Light scratches buff out with dry 0000 steel wool. Deeper damage should be repaired and re-polished by a professional.

Information provided by the Marble Institute of America.