Cleaning Marble Rust Stains Off Shower
by Marilyn Dahms
Marble shower rust stain
QUESTION:We bought a house with a marble shower that has rust stains from well water. What is the best way to clean them and can they be cleaned?? MarilynANSWER:These are most likely rust stains, but I don't think it's from the well water.If the stains were from the water, then the shower would show staining throughout and it does not. What has probably occurred here has to do with the nature of many white marbles. White marble, particularly Carrara often contains iron deposits. If/when the marble is saturated with water these iron deposits hidden inside the stone will oxidize and as the water moves through the stone to the surface it carries the rust with it staining the marble. This is not uncommon and seen mostly in floors after a flood or in areas the are constantly exposed to water like a shower. Looking at the picture you see a heavy stain on the small strip next to the shower door runner. If this stain was caused from the water, then the rust stain would extend down the entire side like a drip. But instead it stops at the seam, which is another indication this stain is due to internal oxidation of iron deposits and not from well water. This typically will not occur if the grout seams are intact. A little water may absorb into the marble during a shower, but it will quickly evaporate and unless an iron deposit is directly below the surface you won't see any rusty dicoloration. However, when there are voids or cracks in the grout or caulk, then water can get beneath the tile where it will not evaporate quickly and can absorb into the stone. It travels through the stone to the surface oxidizing the iron along the way. So, first thing to do is inspect all grout seams and fix any voids or cracks. Then you can work on removing the stains. Marble stains cannot be removed by typical cleaning methods since the stain is below the surface. Also, the method required depends on what stained the marble. However, you'll find complete step-by-step instructions for cleaning marble stains of all sorts in the Removing Granite & Marble Stains e-book. Unfortunately, rust stains tend to be the most difficult to remove. Rust stains can be removed, but you'll likely have to repeat the process several times. Very old or very deep stains can be permanent, but even those can be greatly improved in most cases. 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. |
