Stain Removal Tips

(Reproduced with permission from the Marble Institute of America)

Blot any spills with a paper towel immediately. Don't wipe the area, it will spread the spill. Flush the area with plain water and mild soap and rinse several times. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth. Repeat as necessary. If the stain persists, there are some other things you can try.

Identifying the type of stain on the stone surface is the key to removing it. If you don't know what caused the stain, try to determine what caused it. Where is the stain located? Is it near a plant, food service area, an area where cosmetics are used? What color is it? What is the shape or pattern? What goes on in the area around the stain? Try these solutions as a first step toward removing different types of stains.

Oil-based - (grease, tar, cooking oil, milk, cosmetics) An oil-based stain will darken the stone and normally must be chemically dissolved so the source of the stain can be flushed or rinsed away. Clean gently with a soft, liquid cleanser with bleach OR a household detergent OR ammonia OR mineral spirits OR acetone. Never mix chemicals together as they can create potentially lethal gasses.

• Ink - (magic marker, pen, ink) Clean with bleach OR hydrogen peroxide (on light colored stone only!) OR lacquer thinner OR acetone (dark stones only!)

• Metal - (iron, rust, copper, bronze) Iron or rust stains are orange to brown in color and follow the shape of the staining object, such as nails, bolts, screws, cans, flower pots, metal furniture. Copper and bronze stains appear as green or muddy brown and result from the action of moisture on nearby or embedded bronze, copper or brass items. Metal stains must be removed with a poultice. This should be done by a professional, as most poultices will etch the surface and require re-polishing. Deep, rusty stains are extremely difficult to remove and the stone may be permanently stained.

• Organic - (coffee, tea, fruit, tobacco, paper, food, urine, leaves, bark) May cause pinkish-brown stain and may disappear after the source of the stain has been removed. Outdoors, with the stain source removed, normal sun and rain action will generally bleach out the stains. Indoors, clean with 12% hydrogen peroxide (hair bleaching strength) and a few drops of ammonia.

• Biological - (algae, mildew, lichens, moss, fungi) Clean with diluted (1/2 cup in a gallon of water) ammonia OR bleach OR hydrogen peroxide. Never mix bleach and ammonia! This combination will produce a toxic, lethal gas.

• Water Spots and Rings - These are surface accumulations of hard water on granite. You can buff them with 0000 steel wool (available at most hardware stores). Marble and limestone may etch with steel wool. Test and inconspicuous area first.

If you have tried some of these techniques without success or if you have deep scratches in the surface, please contact us to see what other things can be done.