Cleaning Marble BBQ Sauce Stain

by Cory
(Amber, PA)

QUESTION:

I spilled a bit of BBQ sauce on my black marble table top. I wiped it immediately, used hot water and Dawn(dish soap), but now I have a white spot that throws off the whole look of the shiny black marble. When I wipe it off again, it disappears, but quickly returns. Any suggestions?

ANSWER:

Cory, the BBQ sauce has "etched" your black marble table top. Etching is physical damage that occurs when marble or any other calcite based stone comes in contact with an acidic substance. It happens instantly.

The BBQ sauce has corroded or eaten into the marble essentially removing the polished surface layer of the stone. The lighter white spot is the key. A "stain" is always darker and caused by something being absorbed into the marble. Etching is more like a burn.

The good news is that you wiped it up quickly, so the damage is likely very minimal and repairable without calling in a pro.

You'll need marble polishing powder to restore the shine and color. I recommend MB-11 Marble Polishing Powder. (under "countertop care") There are other powders on the market that range from good to worthless for etching. MB-11 is the best.

If MB-11 doesn't do the trick then you'll need to call a stone restoration professional, but I think you'll be successful.

Let me and everyone else with the same problem know how it goes via the comment link below.

Good Luck,
Ryan


We highly recommend MB Stone Care Products as the finest products available for maintaining all your marble, granite and stone countertops and floors in optimal condition.