Cup Rings on Marble Kitchen Counter

QUESTION:

I have rings from cups on my marble kitchen counter. The color is pink/mauve marble.

ANSWER:

What is happening is called "etching." Acidic drinks and foods will corrode marble causing "cup-rings," dull spots or ghost spots.

These are not stains and sealing has nothing to do with etching.

The only way to prevent this is to minimize contact with acidic substances using coasters, cutting boards, trivets, etc. Of course, this is difficult in a kitchen and the primary reason why marble is typically not recommended for use as a kitchen countertop.

Wiping up spills quickly will also help minimize it, but etching occurs instantly. It will leave only faint marks if wiped up quick, but will get dull and rough if an acidic substance is left on the counter for a while (varies with different marbles).


If the marble is polished (shiny) then you'll need MB-11 Marble Polishing Powder to remove them.

This is a specialized product not to be confused with marble "polishes" that you may find at your grocery or box store. Those are for simply for buffing your shine.

If your marble is honed, then you'll need to follow the instructions found in the Removing Etch Marks guide.

If you have multiple etch marks all over or they are severe (very rough and discolored), you may need to hire a marble restoration professional to re-finish the surface.

And for general cleaning be sure to use ONLY products formulated specifically for cleaning marble. Typical household/kitchen cleaners will also cause etching.

Good Luck,
Ryan

P.S. Get all the facts, answers, explanations and simple solutions with step-by-step instructions for any problem or question with our Granite & Marble Maintenance Manuals.

I highly recommend MB Stone Care Products to maintain all your marble, stone and granite countertops and floors in optimal condition. I've used other good products (Stone Tech, Miracle) but found MB Stone Care is the most reliable and effective.