Dull Spots On Marble Kitchen Tile
by Ashley
QUESTION:We have marble tile floors in our kitchen, we have a dog dish in there and the water has left a white dull spot on the marble. What are these white spots and what should i do about them? Thank you so much AshleyANSWER:The dull spots are "etch marks" caused by contact with something acidic or highly alkaline. It's essentially corrosion of the marble where the acid eats away and destroys the marble it contacts.Marble most commonly has a honed or polished finish and when the acid destroys this surface layer it exposes the more raw and dull marble underneath. These dull spots are more noticeable with a polished surface because of the greater contrast or difference in appearance between the spot and the rest of the marble. Honed surfaces tend to hide the spots better, but they still occur just like on a polished surface. The longer the exposure the more severe the damage. Many foods and drinks are acidic and nearly all common and brand-name cleaning products are too alkaline and will damage marble. Now pure water typically will not etch... at least not immediately like other products, however, many municipal water supplies can be slightly acidic... enough that with regular exposure over time the water can etch the marble. Not to worry though you can use the Marble Polish / Etch Remover on polished marble to restore the color and shine. Works very well and is easy to use. It's fairly rare, but if the marble has been etched severely enough (usually due to repeated exposure) that it is rough to the touch you may have to hire a marble maintenance professional to restore the area. The Etch Remover is an excellent DIY product, but once stone is damaged beyond a certain point only a skilled professional can restore it. But even then, you may want to try the paste first since it is far cheaper and you may get satisfactory results even with severe damage. If you have honed marble tile floors then you'll have to use a different method. The above product is for use on polished (shiny) marble only. If honed, you'll have to follow the instructions provided in the Removing Etch Marks ebook. 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. |
