Is there any hope for my marble countertops?

Sherri
by Sherri
We bought the house 5 years ago and this counter was new. You can see where my cutting board sits on a towel, it's now the only surface that isn't horribly stained. What can I do? I tried a commercial stain remover for marble and it just darkened the entire countertop so now it looks worse than ever.
  10 answers
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Mar 19, 2015
    @Phoenix Stone Solutions do you think you can help @Sherri. I don't have any expertise in this area but have noticed a couple of posts from you.
  • Carole Carole on Mar 19, 2015
    I think there is a type of sand paper or sandpaper like liquid you can apply to the marble to clean it. Ask in your local hardware store or Google it if you don't get the answer you need on here. My carpenter neighbour had a piece of marble sitting on the ground outside his garage and I would have used it for a table top for a Singer sewing machine except it was a little too small. He said you can cut marble and I believe you sand to tidy it up - any rough bits, so I am sure you could try sanding this stain out with the right product. It would take a layer off and hopefully the stain too.
  • Connie K Connie K on Mar 19, 2015
    I would call some local business, one who sells and installs marble since they deal with it all the time. You might also contact an experienced antique restorer. Contact a few of the better antique dealers. They can usually give you names of restorers they use.
  • Hi Sherri. I am the showroom manager for a stone importer/wholesaler. Are you sure this is marble and not granite? I'm not trying to question you in a negative way, but it looks more like a granite to me. The veining and speckles don't look like marble. I would suggest contacting a granite/stone fabricator/installer to see if they have a way of "fixing" this for you. You might try going to the Marble Institute of America's website for some answers as well. Generally marble etches and the finish becomes very dull and the staining is very noticeable in certain areas (such as where a wine glass left a ring). Can you provide more photos? I sure hope we can figure this out for you!
    • See 1 previous
    • @Sherri Wow, Sherri! I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this. I wish I had an easy answer for you. See if there are any companies in your area that do repairs to natural stone, they maybe able to clean and seal if for you. Good luck!
  • Lola Lola on Mar 20, 2015
    try a small area with hydrogen peroxide, you can mix it with baking soda to make a paste and leave on for a few minutes, keep a close eye on it. If it works do the whole area and then make sure you seal it.
  • Lola Lola on Mar 20, 2015
    That's why I suggested that it be tried on a small area first and watch it so as to determine the amount of time it needs to stay on. You can try it on the underside of the countertop.
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Mar 22, 2015
    I have told people not to choose marble unless they were going to seal it. It does need sealed. Don't use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange for cleaning marble. Use a poltice paste to get rid of stains and then seal... http://tipnut.com/marble-granite-stains/ Make sure after you clean do not forget to seal with a ganite and marble sealer.
  • Melinda Lockwood Melinda Lockwood on Mar 23, 2015
    It does look more like granite to me. I would try the poultice on an inconspicuous area first to see if it will work. Or, go to a local home store and talk to the folks in the kitchen department. Dealers should be able to point you in the right direction.
  • Aleeah Theiss Aleeah Theiss on Mar 28, 2015
    Sherri, what ever you do don't use medical grade hydrogen peroxide. Please use food safe, then dilute it to only 3%. This is a toxic solution that, while it may not kill you, it will make you very sick. Better to not take chances. I am a professional cleaner. Your stone needs to be polished by professionals. Marble & granite & other natural stones need to be sealed on a regular basis, as they are very porous. This was the issue. Please contact companies that do this work, try homeadviser.com. Also follow their cues as to what sealers to maintain your newly refurbished counter tops. Also know if you use your counter tops frequently (IE: you live in your kitchen) 1-3 mos between sealing should do the job. Just do not go 6 mos - 1 year or you will be in the same pickle barrel as you find yourself in now. The vendors will tell you this so as to have constant work, but you can trust them else-wise. Good luck & god bless.
  • Terra Gazelle Terra Gazelle on Mar 30, 2015
    I bought a granite sink to put in when we start the kitchen remodel..I was wondering if I should seal it before it goes in? Its a beautiful sink..a super single, and I think it would be easier to seal before installing.