Dull Spots on Bathroom Marble Vanity
by Judy Bell
QUESTION:I have a new marble vanity top in the bathroom and it has developed large "dull" spots and looks terrible!What product should I use to polish it out and what product should I use to care for the marble countertop once it's looking better? Also, what is honing? ANSWER:The dull spots are "etch marks" caused by chemical corrosion from either acidic foods, drinks, personal products or from using harsh cleaners (which most common and brand-name household cleaners are).Etch marks are not stains (where something absorbs into the marble countertop). Etching is physical damage to the stone, which must be restored to eliminate the blemishes. The appropriate repair depends on the type of surface finish. There are many types of stone and marble countertop surface finishes, but a "polished" (glossy, shiny) or "honed" (matte) finish are the most popular. For a polished finish use the ETCH REMOVER / Marble polishing paste to restore the color and shine. For a honed finish you can't use this product, but you can fix the etch marks following the instructions in the Removing Etch Marks e-book. Or call in a marble cleaning and maintenance professional to re-polish, or re-hone the surface. And that is the meaning of "honing". It's the process of finishing marble or any stone to a "honed" finish. This will be expensive of course, but is typically only necessary when etching is severe (rough to the touch), which is pretty rare. Most often the above product or e-book methods will fix it right up. Good Luck, Ryan |
