Marble Fire Surround Nicotine Stains

by Aileen
(Scotland)

QUESTION:

I have just bought a white/grey Victorian marble fire surround. It has quite a few large nicotine stains on the top of it as well as a few chips on the edge of the mantle. How should I go about repairing these?

ANSWER:

You'll need a professional to repair the chips, especially on the edges. You might as well have the pro tackle the nicotine stains too, although you could probably do a little work on these stains yourself if not too extensive.

Remove Nicotine Stains

Purchase 12% hydrogen peroxide at your local beauty supply.

Soak the stains with the hydrogen peroxide and just let it sit for awhile then use a soft bristle brush to try and remove the stains. This may not remove it all, so...

You'll also need to purchase some steel wool pads. Get 00, 000 and super fine 0000 grade steel wool and work the stains starting with the 00 grade. Once the stain is gone use the 000 and 0000 grades to smooth out and re-polish the areas.

But again, I'd recommend calling in a pro since this will likely be a centerpiece of your room and you'll want it to look great. Restoring/repairing anything but minimal damage to marble requires knowledge and experience... generally not a DIY job.

Good Luck,
Ryan