Remove Marble Water Stains

by Kathy Vasilopulos
(New Lenox, IL)

QUESTION:

What is the best method to remove the rings or stains on marble?

ANSWER:

There is only one method... re-polishing the surface... either by you if the damage is light or a professional if more severe.

"Water stains" are not actually from water. They often occur from glasses and bottles set on a marble, travertine or limestone counter top and look like rings left from condensation on the glass, thus... "water stain, ring, spot."

What has actually happened is that whatever was in the glass/bottle was acidic such as alcohol, juice, coffee or soda. Don't ask me how what's in the glass ends up on the marble, but it does... a very common occurrence.

Marble is made of calcium carbonate, which reacts with acids. The acid corrodes or eats into the marble damaging the surface polish leaving a lighter dull spot in the shape of the offending acidic substance. It's called "etching" and it's more like a burn... it is not a stain.

So.... the surface must be repaired / restored by re-polishing the damaged surface back into a shine.

A good marble polishing cream will do the job for small isolated spots. You may be able to find the right stuff at your hardware store, however many marble "polishes" are just topical dressings meant to spruce up your countertop and not to repair etch marks.

Or.... you can order ETCH REMOVER / Marble Polishing Paste

Let me know how it goes via the comment link on the bottom of this page.

Good Luck,
Ryan