Marble Magic – The Secret to Cleaning Stains on Marble Countertops

Marble countertops are very popular in Clearwater cottage style kitchens. Whether you choose prefer the bright white with gray and silver veins of Carrera marble or the golden ribbons of Calcutta Gold, they all look beautiful in a light and bright Clearwater cottage style kitchen.

 

The Warnings about Marble

Marble is a natural stone that is softer than granite or quartz, making it more easily scratched or chipped. The small pours and spaces within the crystal structure of marble that give it such a soft, almost three dimensional luster, also allow liquid to penetrate the stone. Liquids such as wine, coffee and tomato juice, leave stains.

Preventing Stains in Clearwater Marble Countertops

Wiping up spills on marble countertops immediately and rinsing with plenty of water will help prevent stains from seeping in. Applying natural stone sealer will make it harder for liquids to penetrate and make it easier to clean the spill. Sealant needs to be regularly reapplied according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Unfortunately, even after sealing and with the best intentions, it can be very difficult to keep up with or even recognized all the small spills of food that can stain your marble countertop.

Removing Stains from Your Marble  Countertops

If you do end up with a stain, all is not lost. There are special products and many homegrown recipes that can help remove stains from your marble. The technique of applying poultices goes back centuries. The same way that ancient healers used poultices to draw out venom from snake bites or infection from wounds, you can be use a poultice to remove stains from your marble countertops. The exact method varies somewhat depending on what has caused the stain but the basic idea is simple: treat the area with something that will dissolve the stain and then apply a poultice that will draw the dissolved stain out of the stone. Also check out this DIY kitchen cleaning tips.

Different Games for Different Stains

There are four major types of stains that can affect your marble and a different combination of dissolving agent and poultice is applied for each type. The poultice material can be made of cotton balls, paper towels, shredded cardboard paper mache paste, flour or even baby powder.

Metal Stains

Stains such as rust can be drawn out by treating with a mixture of sodium citrate and glycerin or oxalic acid. Soak or mix the solution with your poultice material and apply the poultice over the stain. If you have a stubborn stain, tape plastic over the poultice so that it dries more slowly and has more time to draw out the stain.

Inorganic Stains

Ink stains on light marble can be treated with bleach or hydrogen peroxide. If the marble is dark use lacquer thinner or acetone to dissolve the stain and allow your poultice material to draw it out.

Oil Stains

For stains from cooking oil and tar, first try to clean the stain using scouring powder with bleach or a household detergent. If the stain remains use a poultice that includes baking soda.

Organic Stains 

For coffee, wine, juice and other stains from food pour hydrogen peroxide (35% solution) directly on the stain. Once it has stopped bubbling apply a poultice with hydrogen peroxide to the area in order to draw the stain out.

Making an Informed Choice

Many people will try to dissuade you from choosing marble for your kitchen countertops. While it can be more work to clean and maintain your countertops, knowing what to expect can help you make your own decision with confidence. If you would like to add beautiful marble countertops to your kitchen contact us today.