Cola Stain Marble Fire Surround

by Karen
(Hampshire uk)

QUESTION: A friend of mine had a cup of coke spilled on her marble fire surround and is not sure what to use to clean it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, 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.

A Coke stain is an organic, food stain. For organic stains the chemical you'll need is 12% Hydrogen Peroxide. Buy it at a beauty supply or medical supply store. The drug store version is too weak at only 3%.

How To Make A Poultice

In a stainless bowl mix the hydrogen peroxide 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 hydrogen peroxide 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 some marble polishing powder 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