Marble Vanity Toothpaste Stains
by Mia Matton
QUESTION:What can I do to get out spots/stains I believe were caused by toothpaste splatters and/or toothpaste left on the countertop for a couple of days? It is a new house for us and the old owners called the countertop Creme de Marble, it is a very light cream color. Thank you! Mia MattonANSWER:Mia, first you have to determine what kind of "stains" you have. And it's probably "Crema Marfil," which is actually a limestone, but marble is a form of limestone and maintenance is the same.Are these true stains where something has absorbed into the countertop creating a darker spot or... Are these lighter colored spots that may also be dull? I'm guessing that these are the lighter colored spots since you think they are from toothpaste and look kind of whitish. They maybe from toothpaste, but I'm betting they are not actual stains. What you probably have is "etching." Marble can be damaged by acidic and/or alkaline products. Some toothpaste is acidic as are many bath and personal products like shave cream, perfume, etc. Also, most common household cleaning products will damage marble. So, you should only use products safe for cleaning marble & granite. Good news is that etch marks can be fixed with a good compound like SCP- Marble Polishing Paste. Easy to use. Just rub on the spot and it will restore the color and shine. However, if the surface is "honed" or not shiny to begin with, the paste won't work. It's only for polished/shiny surfaces. If it is honed (non-reflective matte finish), you'll need to follow the instructions in the Removing Etch Marks Manual. If these are true stains... something absorbed, then you'll find complete step-by-step instructions for removing all types of stains in the Removing Stains Manual. Or you can get Cleaning Marble Secrets Guide, which includes the above two manuals, plus it will also tell you everything you need to know about marble maintenance, protecting, cleaning, solving problems, products, etc. What to do first? If the surface is polished and shiny, look at an angle... are the spots dull? If so, get the paste. If the limestone is honed, not shiny or polished, then get the "Cleaning Marble Secrets" and go from there... it'll answer all your questions and provide the solution. 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.  I highly recommend Stone Care Pro Products to maintain all your marble, stone and granite countertops and floors in optimal condition. I've used other good products (Stone Tech, Miracle, MB) but found Stone Care Pro is the most reliable and effective and cheaper too! |
