Stains and Dull Spots on Black Marble
by Bonnie
QUESTION:Two years ago, I purchased a stand-alone bathroom sink with a beautiful BLACK marble top. Now, it looks terrible. It is dull and covered with white spots and water stains. I used marble cleaner/stain remover and polish on it, but no luck. Help!ANSWER:Cleaning marble and marble maintenance is not hard, but you have to know the correct way to do it.Unfortunately there are many products that are labeled "for marble" or "marble polish" but many of these are not very good, some even damage marble and most "polishes" are just topical dressings and not for repair. It's a bit confusing and frustrating I know, but that's why we've created this website.... to help you sort through all the nonsense to learn what to do and what to use. The dullness and white spots are etching from chemical damage. These are not "stains".... nothing has absorbed into the marble. Rather some of the marble has actually been destroyed and removed. Marble is reactive to acidic compounds (which includes some bath products) and harsh cleaners (which is nearly every common household cleaner). So, you can use only products safe for cleaning marble or you'll ruin the shiny polish and make the marble dull. Also, you should not store bath products on the marble countertop. Use a tray or shelf to avoid etching. The good news is that you can repair etching on polished marble using Marble Polish / Etch Remover. If however, the etching is severe and the surface rough to the touch, then your only option may be to call a marble maintenance and restoration professional. The paste is excellent for mild to moderate etching, but once damage is too severe you need a pro. Luckily most etching is not severe, so you should be able to restore the color and shine with the paste. If it turns out you also have stains (darker spots) then you'll find complete step-by-step instructions in the Removing Granite & Marble Stains 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. |
