Removing Bleach Spots on Marble

by Wendy
(Greenville, SC)

QUESTION:

Help! I have dark brown marble-top occasional tables in my living room. I used a bleach-based cleaner on them. I sprayed them all then got sidetracked - the cleaner sat for a few minutes - so it left spots that I can't get them out.

I've used other cleaners and bought a stainless steel/marble aerosol cleaner from Home Depot but that hasn't helped either. How do I remove the spots and make the tabletops shine again? My sofa table has looked really dull for I don't know how long. Thanks in advance.

ANSWER:

The bleach has "etched" the marble causing the dull, light spots on your marble table top.

Marble is made of calcium carbonate, which reacts with acidic and alkaline substances. The reaction happens in seconds and corrodes or eats away the marble essentially destroying the polished layer on the surface.

Etch marks are not stains. Nothing has been absorbed into the marble and there is nothing to "clean." Etching is physical damage to the marble.

The shiny polish on marble is created by friction and abrasion much like sanding wood. Thus, to restore the shine the marble will need to be re-polished.

Use MB-11 Marble Polishing Powder to remove the spots and restore the shine.

This product is the best on the market and should do the trick for you. If it does not work, then you have severe damage and you'll need to hire a marble restoration professional to hone down and re-polish your marble table-tops.

Future Cleaning

For future cleaning use products formulated specifically for marble. There are a couple/few companies that make good stone care products. I like the MB Stone products the best and generally they are the least expensive.

I do not and would not trust products bought at your local box or grocery store that claim they are safe for marble. Very few in the stone industry use those products.

All the best marble and stone care products are available at local dealers or online. I have yet to see one that I would use or recommend in a regular store.

Good Luck,
Ryan

I highly recommend MB Stone Care Products to maintain all your marble, stone and granite countertops and floors in optimal condition. I've used other good products (Stone Tech, Miracle) but found MB Stone Care is the most reliable and effective.