Black Streaks on Onyx Shower Panels
by Deb Lucas
QUESTION:Our beautiful white marble looking onyx shower panels of 10 years are starting to show black streaks near the bottom 1/3 of each panel that regularly gets water residue. I've tried using non-abrasive cleaners including diluted vinegar, to no avail. Is there any other cleaners that will remove residues without affecting the gloss finish?ANSWER:My first thought here is that the onyx has some fissures in it and water is getting in followed by mold/mildew.I'd quit using the shower and let it dry out for a week or two and see what happens. If you notice the streaks get lighter and turn more gray, then it's probably mildew. At that point I'd use BLAST Mildew Remover, which is safe for cleaning marble and onyx polished or otherwise. Vinegar will etch marble/onyx in too high a concentration or if used repeatedly... so not recommended. You'll probably have to use the BLAST repeatedly and really saturate the affected areas so it can work into the fissures. Once you eradicate the mildew, you need to repair the grout and/or caulk between the floor and wall to ensure water is not getting into the stone that way. Only after you solve all the above would I start using the shower again. If after letting the shower dry out, the black steaks are as dark and noticeable as ever, then I'm afraid I don't have a good answer for you without a close visual inspection. So, if you unfortunately find yourself in this position I'd call in a marble maintenance pro to take a look. Or take a good picture and upload it with another question via the same form for this one and I'll take another stab at it. Good Luck, Ryan P.S. Get all the facts, answers, explanations and simple solutions with step-by-step instructions for any issue, problem or question with our Granite & Marble Maintenance Manuals. |
