Yellowing Marble

QUESTION:

What to use to clean marble that has turned yellow?

ANSWER:

Well.... I need a little more info to give you a definitive answer because marble does not just get "yellow" without something being done to it.

Is it a marble counter top, floor, shower? Is it yellow all over or just in spots? Kitchen or bathroom?

Here's the possibilities:

1. You've spilled an oily product on it. Doesn't seem like this is it from the generality of your question.

2. Water is getting trapped under the white marble, absorbing into the marble and rusting little iron deposits that are often in white marble and the rust is leaching through to the surface causing yellow stains. Again... not betting too heavily on this one.

3. Someone falsely told you to wax white marble to protect it and now the wax is yellowing the surface. Should wax only dark marble.

4. You don't have marble... you have "cultured" marble, which is not marble.

Cultured marble is man-made with ground up marble dust pressed into forms with integrated sinks and shelves, etc. and coated with protective and decorative layers to simulate marble. If a countertop, you'll notice the coating stops under the edge and inside the cabinets the underside will be plain gray. Cultured marble commonly yellows with age and use.

From what I know about it, there is no cure. Small burns and stains can sometimes be repaired, but general yellowing is a breakdown of the coating. You'll need to replace it.

If after reading this, you determine that you definitely do have real marble, then send another question with lots of details and maybe a picture....the remedy will vary depending on how it got that way.

Good Luck,
Ryan