Cola Stain Marble Fire Surround
by Karen
ANSWER: Coloring dyes used in soft drinks will certainly stain marble and the acidity of the drink will also "etch" or dull a polished marble surface. To remove the stain, you'll need to apply a poultice. A poultice is a paste made of a particular chemical and an absorbent powder like baby powder, talc, baking soda or even paper towels can be used. The type of substance that stained the marble determines which chemical to make the paste with, but the same powder can be used for any type stain. You'll find complete step-by-step instructions and correct chemicals for cleaning marble stains of all kinds in the Removing Granite & Marble Stains e-book. How To Make A Poultice In a stainless bowl mix the chemical with the powder into a paste the consistency of peanut butter. Using a wood or plastic spatula, apply the poultice to the stain so its 1/2 inch thick with a 1 inch border around the stain. Cover the poultice with clear plastic wrap from your kitchen and seal it all around with masking tape. Let it sit 24-48 hours, then remove the plastic, but don't disturb the poultice. The required chemical attacks the dye and as the poultice dries, it sucks up the stain. So, let it dry for another day or so and scrape the poultice off the marble with your wooden/plastic spatula. If you are lucky, the stain will be completely gone! Otherwise just repeat the process until the stain is removed. If you notice a dull spot where the stain was... a slight discoloration... the cola has etched the marble. You'll need to buy this ETCH REMOVER / Marble Polishing Paste to bring back the shine. If its really bad you'll need to hire a professional to re-polish the area. It sounds like the marble fire surround was just recently stained, so you have an excellent chance of completely removing the stain. The longer is sits though, the harder it is to get it all out. So get to it! And please report back your results by using the "comments" link below. Good Luck, Ryan
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