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Stain Removal: Removing Stains From Stone Tile And Concrete

At this stage, it is important only to blot; wiping a spill may spread it over a larger area, making a larger mess. This chemical absorbent-material combination is what we call a poultice. Refer to the table below for some of the more common poultice materials. Refer to the chart below and determine which chemical to use for the stain. Mix until a thick peanut-butter paste consistency is obtained. If it has not, allow it to sit uncovered until thoroughly dry. If the stain refuses to disappear completely, it is time to give up, replace the tile or call a stone specialist. If you are going to be cutting meats and vegetables marble is a poor choice. Granite can be protected against staining if you seal it with a good quality stone sealer. The fading is nothing more than the dyes and oils being removed. Take a clean white rag and apply a some acetone to the surface of the granite. Apply this mixture to the iron stain, cover with plastic and let it sit for 24 hours. Avoid using chemicals of any kind until you know which chemical cleaner to use. Marble, granite and certain ceramic tile are porous materials. The only way a stain can be removed is to literally pull it out of the stone or ceramic with both a chemical and material that will absorb the stain. Poultices are commonly powder or cloth materials that can be mixed with a chemical and placed on top of the stain. Consult a stone restoration specialist or your stone supplier if in doubt. Apply the paste to the stained area, overlapping the stain by at least ¼”. Remove the plastic cover and check to see if the paste has dried. Once it is dry, remove the paste by scraping and rinse the area. If it still remains, but is somewhat lighter, re-poultice until it is gone. Stain removal can be very difficult, and care must be taken when using a poultice. Granite is very scratch resistant and will take cutting, however granite can be very porous and if you are doing a lot of cooking with hot oil, granite can stain easily. Most kitchen stone kitchen countertops are granite and overall is a good choice. There is one acid that will severely etch, pit and dull a polished granite surface. If any residue or black color is observed on the top, do not accept it, it has been dyed. After 24 hours remove the poultice and reapply if necessary. He is an internationally recognized stone and tile consultant and the author of over 27 books and numerous articles on stone and tile.

How To Clean and Remove Permanent Marker From Marble by homeguides.sfgate.com

Removing the stain can generally be accomplished without professional help, but it may take several tries to get rid of every last trace of the ink. Allow the alcohol to soak into the marble for several minutes. Pour several tablespoons of baking soda or talc into a shallow bowl. Add a little hydrogen peroxide, stirring and adding more until the mixture has a paste-like consistency that does not run. If the stain is on a dark marble, use acetone instead of peroxide. Smooth a piece of plastic wrap over the paste, securing it with bits of masking tape. Ink from a permanent marker may soak into the marble a bit, making an obvious mark, especially on a light-colored marble. Pour rubbing alcohol over the stain — enough to completely cover and soak the marker ink. Alcohol is most effective on permanent marker if the stain is relatively fresh. Pour a small amount of distilled water over the stain to saturate the area, which helps lift the ink away. An exact measurement does not matter; use as much as you need to cover all the marker stains at least 1/4-inch thick. This mixture forms a poultice that draws the stain out of the marble and into the peroxide mixture instead. Scoop the poultice paste out over the stain or stains, spreading it into a 1/4-inch thick layer. Buff the area dry with a soft white cloth — white ensures no dyes will transfer from the fabric to the marble.

How To Remove Stains From Marble by proconstructionguide.com

Natural marble is beautiful, but it’s vulnerable to staining. If you don’t know what caused the stain, you’ll have to do some investigating. Clean the stain gently with a soft, non-abrasive cleaner with bleach, ammonia, mineral spirits or acetone. Metal stains must be removed with a poultice, and deep-seated rust stains may be impossible to remove. A poultice consists of a liquid cleaner mixed with a white absorbent material to form a paste with a peanut butter consistency. You can create poultices for small stains using cotton balls, paper towels or gauze pads and liquid cleaner. For darker marble, use lacquer thinner or acetone to clean the ink stain. Heavy paint stains may require a commercial liquid paint stripper; however, use with caution as these strippers are caustic and can etch the marble, which will require re-polishing to remove. Rub with a damp cloth or buff with a low-speed power drill and buffing pad. If the damage is deeper, it may have to be professionally repaired and re-polished. For regular deeper cleaning, use a dedicated mop and marble cleaner. Every 3-6 months, apply a marble sealer made of polymer resin to cleaned marble surfaces. Clean the area with a mild soap and water solution, and rinse several times. If you are dealing with a stain that has dried, it is important to know what type of stain you are dealing with, as oil-based stains require different cleaning methods than ink or paint. Is it near a plant, food service area or where cosmetics are used? Organic stains often appear pinkish-brown and may disappear after the source of the stain has been removed. Clean with a solution of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide and a few drops of ammonia. The stain should be drawn out of the marble and soak into the absorbent material. Approximately 1 pound of poultice material will cover 1 square foot. To remove the etching, first wet the surface with clean water and then sprinkle some marble polishing powder over the area.