Over the next four weeks we will be sharing common solutions to problems almost all of us who have marble, granite, travertine or limestone, are looking to solve ie.
Have you wondered how to:
- remove stains from countertops;
- keep your marble and granite clean and streak free;
- clean your own grout easily;
- keep your marble shower clean and free of soap build up;
A common concern from our clients is how to remove stains from a countertop. There first step is to identify what type of stain is affecting your countertop.
Usually when we get a request to remove a stain, it is actually an etch mark – something acidic has broken down the calcium at the surface of the marble causing it to appear dull. In general these are not easily removed, and are not the “stains” we are referring to in the blog today.
The stains we are referring to come from wine, soft drinks, coffee, and/or oil. We will call these “contaminants.” These contaminants often do not break down the surface texture, or level of shine, but simply alter the colour or hue of the marble.
So, how do you remove these stains yourself?
The easiest thing you can do with household products is to make a mild poultice. The most simple poultice is made with drywall compound or baking soda and water.
A poultice is a liquid cleaner or chemical mixed with a white absorbent material to form a paste about the consistency of peanut butter. The poultice is spread over the stained area to a thickness of about 1/4 to 1/2 inch with a wood or plastic spatula, covered with plastic and left to work for 24 to 48 hours. The liquid cleaner or chemical will draw out the stain into the absorbent material. Poultice procedures may have to be repeated to thoroughly remove a stain.
For detailed descriptions of poultice ingredients, click here for one of the best sources we have found.
Also, refer back to a post we produced with many other tips back in June 2016.
Hopefully this post will be useful to you. Feel free to leave any comments or suggestions of your own in the comments section.