Marble has always been one of the highly valued and preferred worktop materials among homeowners due to its softness, distinctive veining, and super luxurious aesthetics. This natural stone is perfect to add style and elegance to any given interior while withstanding daily wear and tear, as well as harsh climatic conditions.
However, marble has a porous surface that’s susceptible to scratches and stains. Even if your marble worktops in London are professionally finished and sealed, its surface can soak liquids that leave stubborn stains on this gorgeous countertop. Therefore, you need to maintain your marble worktops well to preserve its magnificent look for a long time.
Ways to Remove Stains from Exquisite Marble Countertops
Here are different treatments that you need to follow for removing different kinds of stains from colored and white marble worktops:
Removal of Oil-Based Stains
The oil-based stains are caused by certain products such as grease, milk, cooking oil, cosmetics, creams, etc. These products may easily seep into the porous surface of white marble worktops and leave ugly stains on its surface.
For removing such stubborn stains, first, you need to clean the area using a liquid cleanser mixed with a few drops of acetone and ammonia. After that apply a layer of poultice (see below how to make marble poultice), leave it on the affected area for two days and then rinse the area with warm water. You may repeat the procedure if required.
Removal of Organic Stains
Organic stains from wine, tea, coffee, or other stain-causing foods often leave pink or brownish marks on the marble surface. To remove such stains, you need to mix 12% hydrogen peroxide with a few drops of ammonia. Apply the mixture to the stained portion to remove the stains. But don’t use this method on colored marble worktops, as it may lighten its color.
Removal of Soap Scum
Even soap scum can easily build-up on marble worktop’s pores, leaving stubborn stains on the surface. Fortunately, it is easier to eliminate soap scum from marble worktops the UK. All you need to do is add half a cup of ammonia to a gallon of water. Use this mixture to clean the soap scum marks. But avoid using too much ammonia, as it can dull your marble surface.
Removal of Ink and Paint Stains
It is best to use lacquer thinner for removing ink and paint stains from the marble surface. For more persistent stains, you need to apply marble poultice and rinse the surface after a few days.
Removal of Etch Marks
Acidic juices like vinegar, fruit juice, tomato ketchup, etc. may leave etch marks on your gorgeous marble surfaces. To remove such stains, you need to wet the marble surface with water and spread some polishing powder on the stained area. Use a damp cloth for rubbing the polishing powder on the worktop surface. Keep rubbing the area until the mark disappears and leave your worktop shiny again.
If etching has occurred in a large area, consult professionals to re-polish or refinish your damaged colored or white marble worktop.
How to Make Marble Poultice?
A marble poultice helps eliminate stains from marble worktops. For making marble poultice, you have to mix a poultice material with hydrogen peroxide, water, mineral spirits, acetone, or ammonia.
If you are using powdered poultice material, you must mix it with a chemical or cleaning agent to make a thick paste.
If you’re using a paper poultice, soak it in a chemical and drain the excess liquid.
Apply the poultice on the affected area, let it stay for a couple of days, and rinse it off with warm water. If the stains are still visible, you may repeat the process until the marks disappear.
Additional Tips to Remove Stains from Marble Surface
- You must take good care of your Carrara marble worktop so that stains do not form in the first place. Also, reseal your marble worktops annually to twice in a year to form a barrier between spilled liquids and pores within the marble’s surface.
- Don’t let alcoholic or citrus products sit on a marble surface for a long time. Immediately wipe the marble surface in case of spillage.
- Never use ammonia directly on the marble surface for cleaning, as it can dull the color of grey marble or any other colored marble surface.
- Always test marble poultice (or other cleaning agents) on a small inconspicuous portion first to ensure it is safe to use on the marble surface.
- When trying to remove deep-seated stains, it’s best to consult professionals to restore the authenticity of soft marble surfaces.
Conclusion
Being a homeowner with a marble worktop in your kitchen, you must be aware of the inherent porosity of this natural stone. Due to this, marble is vulnerable to stains. However, you can easily get rid of stubborn stains using the mentioned methods or consult professionals to restore the natural beauty of marble worktops in London.
