Candle Wax Stain on Black Galaxy Granite

QUESTION:

How do you clean stains from spilled candle wax on my Black Galaxy granite countertop?


My husband wiped the candle wax off immediately but it left three ghost like stains on the countertop. It seems the oil from the wax got absorbed into the granite.

My kitchen is less than a year old and this is the second bad experience I've had since I got the granite countertops installed.

First, I left a glass with lemonade on my counter, after a half hour I went to get my glass and it left a ring stain on my counter.

I called the fabricator but he doesn't want to come to my house because he claims this never happened before and he wouldn't know what to do.

Please give me advice, I am thinking of small claims court at this point as he's not making an effort to try and help me out. I don't know if my granite is sealed or not. I want to ask but I may not be getting a true answer. Thank you.

ANSWER:

First, here's a little background FYI for... Black Galaxy granite is very stain resistant. Most liquids/substances will evaporate before they'd ever stain.

However, a candle left to sit could eventually cause a stain. You said the wax was wiped up right away, so your issue is likely not a stain, but more to do with what's explained below.

If you do have a candle wax stain then follow the detailed instructions provided in the Removing Granite & Marble Stains e-book.

Now, Black Galaxy typically cannot be sealed, because no sealer will absorb either. And it doesn't "etch" either like marble. It is one of the very best surfaces for a kitchen because it is so bullet proof and cleaning is a snap.

So, it isn't the stone itself that is the problem. One of three things (or possibly a combo) is on the surface causing what sounds to be "etching" and not staining.

Possible problems:

1. The granite has been resined
2. A sealer was erroneously applied
3. The granite has been "doctored"

"Resining" is a perfectly acceptable practice to fill small natural voids or pits prior to polishing, but it sometimes can cause problems with sealers, etc.

Applying a sealer to a stone that cannot absorb it will often result in a streaky/hazy film left on top.... a real pain for cleaning granite countertops.

If the sealer was wiped off the granite adequately, you may not get the streaks, but enough sealer will be left on the surface that it can react with acids. Some sealers are sensitive to acids.

That's the "ghosting" you've seen. It's a mark of corrosion called "etching." It's not a stain.

"Doctored" granite is a problem with black granites. A black paint or polish is applied to cheaper gray granites to make them more black and more expensive.

This is usually a problem with absolute black and not so much with Black Galaxy. Doctored granite will etch just like marble.

A fourth possibility is that you don't have Black Galaxy, but a dog stone that contains calcite (a mineral reactive with acids and possibly prone to staining, but I doubt this is it.

Here's what you need to do:

Buy some methylene chloride. This is a potent and noxious solvent. It won't harm your stone, but it's good for a deep cleaning of granite countertops since it will take off whatever is on the surface. But it will take the finish off cabinets and walls and anything else, so use it carefully and with good ventilation.

On a small area over either the lemonade glass-ring or the candle stain, pour out a little methylene chloride. Let is soak for a bit, then agitate/scrub the area with a soft-bristle brush. Wipe completely dry.

If the color changes you have doctored granite. That is fraud and you have a legal issue.

If no color change, is the candle spot/glass-ring gone? If so, then there was probably sealer on the surface that is causing these reactions.

You may want to use the methylene on this spot a couple times. Then spill some lemon juice on the same spot. Let it sit for a few minutes and wipe up.

Any spot or ghosting? There shouldn't be.

Spill lemon juice on another spot that wasn't cleaned.

Any ghosting?

If yes, then you have your answer. There is something on the granite that needs to come off.

If the methylene chloride reveals a bright shiny black galaxy that doesn't etch, then repeat the process of cleaning the granite countertops in this way over the whole surface.

If the color changes, then I'd consider small claims.

Hope this helps.