I have a marble / granite kitchen counter which - as you can see in the included photo - has somehow absorbed moisture

Shawn H
by Shawn H
or become "darker" in part of the area around the rim of the kitchen sink. I've never encountered this before. The countertop (where stained) does not feel any different to the touch as compared to the rest of the counter. Does anyone know how I might be able to remove this discoloration? Thanks in advance for your advice....
stain in the countertop
  2 answers
  • James A James A on Jul 15, 2011
    Check the seal on your water dispenser. Looks like the leak is coming from there. Might want to use plumber's putty to assure it is water tight. Also, check faucet and soap dispenser for leaks and assure they are watertight. Once the leak is corrected, let it dry and see what the granite looks like. Your first step is to make a poultice of powdered whiting and hydrogen peroxide. You can find whiting in any of your paint stores or home improvement stores. Wet the area in which the stain is at. Doing this will allow it to better allow the stain to be removed. Mix the poultice as directed by the manufacturer. You want to create a thick paste. Apply to the stained area. Overlap the stained area by about an inch. Cover with plastic wrap. Seal the edges with tape. Poke a couple of holes into the top of the plastic so that the poultice will dry faster. Allow to dry. Wait about two days before removing. Remove from the stain. Rinse with distilled water. Dry with a clean, dry terry cloth. You may need to repeat this process several times before all of the stain will be removed.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jul 15, 2011
    looks a little like giallo veneziano...it appears to be wet...so fixing the leaks like James said is where you want to start...sealing the granite would be the second step. Some sealers are also classed as "enhancers" which can give a richer "wet look" to the more absorbent stones. I have also seen this to some degree by "contamination" that leaks up from behind. In one case it was in a granite tile shower the shower valve was "sealed" with plumbers putty instead of caulk.