Remove vinegar stains from marble surfaces like countertops and floors. Wellfleet Press, The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. ***** If you are trying to remove an old stain, create a dense paste of more baking soda and less water. We’re also sharing the steps with photos below. Let the poultice sit overnight. When etches are minor (visible but you do not feel a rough spot) a simple paste made of baking soda can correct the damage: Mix a small amount of baking soda with cool water to make a paste with the consistency of tooth paste. How to Clean With Baking Soda. If you want a higher shine on your cleaned floor, you can make a paste from 50/50 water and baking soda and spread it gently over the marble. Because of these factors, you should use it only infrequently rather than every day. Marble is basically compressed limestone. Marble is basically compressed limestone. Next, spray it with water. Mix up another batch of the poultice and let it sit for longer (maybe 2 or 3 nights) OR add hydrogen peroxide into your poultice for extra bleaching power. Is baking soda safe for marble? Maintaining your marble floor This DIY poultice is a hard-working stain remover that sits on the marble overnight. DIY // Homemade Marble Stain Remover (aka a poultice) Ingredients. First of all, if you’ve spilled lemon juice on marble counter or floor, wipe it immediately with water. Mix the baking soda in the bowl with the solvent (Tip: about 1 pound of solid absorbent material is needed for every square foot of stain) When finished the Marble Poultice should be the consistency of peanut butter or cake icing. Remove marble water stains with a baking soda poultice, hydrogen peroxide, and a soft cloth, and avoid using harsh chemicals such as bleach. Painter's tape. baking soda. A marble countertop in the bathroom or the kitchen can get stained with usage, but it's actually pretty easy to remove that with a homemade DIY poultice, says the Marble Institute of America (MIA). While there are commercial marble stain removers—often called poultices—you can also make your own by slowly mixing one tablespoon of ammonia into a … You have a lot invested in your marble surfaces, so a guaranteed-safe commercial product is worth the small extra expense. Keep stirring and adding water until you get the right consistency. Do not scrub the paste away, or you could scratch the marble. Marble etching occurs upon contact with acidic foods and drinks like coffee, soda, wine, alcohol and when harsh products like bleach, vinegar, ammonia and most common brand-name cleaners are used for cleaning marble. Well, many DIY websites advocate using Baking Soda, as an inexpensive way to clean and polish marble countertops. Spread a thick layer of the paste directly on top of the stain. Combine enough water with baking soda to create a paste with a sour cream consistency. Wait for at least 24 hours and then clean it. How to Remove Water Rings from Marble How to Remove Water Rings from Marble. Marble is a soft stone made of calcium carbonate. We only recommend products we believe in and want to share and all opinions are our own. Here’s what that process looked like…. Spoon the mixture onto the stain. You guys know we love honed marble countertops, but unfortunately they do get stains from time to time. Cover the area with a bowl or a sheet of plastic wrap and leave it for about 24 hours, then rinse it away with cool water. Any acidic cleaners will etch, dull and stain the surface, including vinegar, citrus cleaners, and lime/calcium cleaners. 2 weeks after we got them, my husband spilled lime juice! Water Ring & Etch Remove is a unique, fast acting polishing powder specially formulated to remove water rings, light scratches and etch marks. This product is AMAZING. Polished marble will have a very nice high gloss. Warning: Never use a scrubber or scrub brush on marble. Baking soda is sometimes suggested as a good homemade cleaner for marble countertops. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Then rinse with water and dry with a soft towel. Step 2 Stir water or 12-percent hydrogen peroxide into the powder until it forms a thick paste. The poultice mixture should have a smooth and thick consistency, like frosting. Baking soda is alkaline, so you should only use it with caution. water . You do not want to scrub because that can damage the surface. Let the solution do the work. Etching is a corrosive chemical reaction that essentially eats at the marble. This means we may earn a small commission on the sales of products we link to, at no cost to you. Baking soda is a light abrasive and a natural disinfectant. But cleaning them requires more care than other surfaces. How to Make a Poultice to Remove a Stain From Marble By Mel Frank Things You'll Need. I was so upset and did tons and TONS of research on how to remove the etching. Mix the baking soda in the bowl with the solvent (Tip: about 1 pound of solid absorbent material is needed for every square foot of stain) When finished the Marble Poultice should be the consistency of peanut butter or cake icing. Gently rub the baking soda into the marble with a soft, damp cloth. Now slather it completely with a paste made from baking soda and water (to the consistency of sour cream). Let’s walk through the hydrogen peroxide option…. Hot water works best. If your stain is still there, you have two options. Using super fine 0000 Steel Wool, gently buff the etch in a circular motion. If the etch remains, a simple paste made of baking soda can sometimes correct the damage: Mix a small amount of baking soda with cool water to make a paste with the consistency of tooth paste. If the stain remains, moisten the area with diluted (10%) ammonia.³ Ammonia is also a basic solution, which can neutralize the acid. Household Hints: Amazing Uses for Salt, Lemon, Vinegar and Baking Soda. Scrape it off of the countertop (we used a pie scraper for this step) and then wash the area with soap and water. One of the most elegant additions to kitchens is to install either a marble countertop or marble flooring. For most small clean-up jobs, though, you can use plain water and a sponge or soft cloth. Remember that really persistent stain I mentioned above? It is also a mild abrasive, so you need to use it gently rather than applying elbow grease to your cleaning tasks. The Grit and Polish earns revenue through affiliate links in order to grow our small business. Marble is vulnerable to acids, alkalis, and abrasive cleaners. Here’s how to clean marble countertops. Some people find success in removing marble countertop etchings with a homemade baking soda and water concoction. Understanding what caused the dull spots in the first place is important. Rodino, Heather. The very first time I used it, I was really worried because it seem to make the etching worse. Never leave baking soda or a baking soda solution in contact with your marble for more than a few seconds. We’d love to hear if this DIY stain remover works for you! Marble is a calcite based stone that is "soft" in nature. You can keep your marble scar-free and lovely if you care for it properly. Is using Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) good for cleaning marble countertops? Allow it to dry, then remove the residue with more water and a soft cloth. These ‘ remedies’ are dubious at best, and can actually harm sensitive marble surfaces. After that wipe off the baking soda paste. Unfortunately the stains we found earlier in the month didn’t come up so we moved on to a poultice. If the stain is old, make a thick paste of baking soda with water and spread the paste onto the stain.² Allow the baking soda to sit for several minutes, then wipe away the paste and repeat if needed. Meaning it should not be left to sit on the surface or it could begin to etch the finish. If you would like to polish the marble surfaces, try to use shammy cloth. Baking Soda . Allow the baking soda mixture to sit on the stain for at least … Your marble might also look wet for 24 hours or so. Baking soda is an excellent solution for many cleaning needs due to its affordability. Garrett put together a short video showing how to make and use the poultice. Sprinkle a little baking soda onto the surface of the marble. I purchased the Stone Care Pro: ETCH REMOVER / Marble Polishing Paste because we just had marble counters installed. If there is a stain, though we haven’t yet had one in here, I make a natural marble poultice from mixing baking soda and water to create a paste, smear the paste over the stain and cover it with cling wrap to keep the poultice in place. Homeowner Basics: How to Solder Copper Pipes, One Year of Age on Our Unlacquered Brass Hardware, My Grandmother's German Sour Cream Twists, The Poplar Cottage Kitchen Layout & Appliances. If it is needed you can repeat the procedure until the stain … Plastic wrap . If your’s isn’t there yet, add a little bit more water and stir. Make a natural poultice to remove stains. Instead use a dry towel or chamois cloth to remove residual water or cleaners from your marble floor. For light colored marbles, hydrogen peroxide is a practical alternative for cleaning. Make a second poultice, this time swapping the water for hydrogen peroxide (which has bleaching properties). Well this recipe completely removed it! Let’s get into it…. Soft towels. If you are sure you that you’re dealing with a lemon juice etching on marble, then your best bet is to buy a specific etch remover from a reliable supplier (your marble seller will be able to advise). You'll find many recommendations online to make a poultice … And better yet, it’s made with basic household ingredients that you probably already have at home. Scrape it off in the morning, wash your countertops, and hopefully you won’t see any signs of that old stain. Then place the paste over the stain, allowing it to function for a few minutes. However, marble is not the easiest stone to take care of. One thing to note is that this poultice can remove the sealer on your marble along with the stain, so you may need to reapply sealer to the area where your poultice sat. Then, rub it with baking soda. Apply the baking soda mixture over the etched area and cover it completely with a sheet of plastic wrap. Before doing a poultice, we wash the countertop with soap and water. Wash it off after 12-24 hours and the stain should be gone. That’s it! … hydrogen peroxide (for stubborn stains) steps *If your stain is on a prominent spot on your countertop, try this method on an inconspicuous spotfizrst to make sure you like the results (like the underside or a hidden corner). It is easily stained, dulled, and scratched. UNIQUE POLISHING COMPOUND FOR MAINTAINING: • Marble • Travertine • Terrazzo • Limestone • Other Natural Stone SPECIAL FEATURES: • Easy-to-Use • Cost Effective • Fast & Effective • Non-Oxalic Acid . You can apply the same method by replacing the baking soda and water mixture with hydrogen peroxide. *If your stain is on a prominent spot on your countertop, try this method on an inconspicuous spotfizrst to make sure you like the results (like the underside or a hidden corner). 3. Dampen: Next you need to dampen the surface of your marble above the vinegar stain with some pure water. Baking soda also serves as an effective sanitizer, stain remover, and deodorizer. Leave covered for at least 24 hours, the baking soda will dry and pull up much of the stain. With a pH of around 9 baking soda is safe for use on marble for short exposure time. The beauty of this type of addition is unsurpassed by any other covering that is available. Mix 1 heaping tablespoon baking soda and about 1 teaspoon water (to start, you’ll probably add more) and stir. If you do get a stain on your marble, add a little water to some baking soda until it forms a paste. You need to take care not to scratch it or expose it to acid (such as vinegar) or strong alkaline agents like ammonia and detergents. Garrett put together a short video showing how to make and use the poultice. I found a couple stains earlier this month and I thought it would be a great opportunity to share Garrett’s super simple, homemade poultice recipe with you guys. Baking soda. Then rinse with water and dry with a soft towel. Erin Huffstetler is a writer with experience writing about easy ways to save money at home. Sprinkle a little baking soda onto the surface of the marble. Since it does not contain any harsh chemicals, baking soda is less likely to scratch your marble or stone countertop or other surfaces. ***** If you are trying to remove an old stain, create a dense paste of more baking soda and less water. You can use it, but you need to follow the right procedure to use it safely. A light abrasive is still abrasive. Place the poultice on the stain again and leave it overnight to cure. Cover with plastic wrap. When dry, it is mildly alkaline at pH 8.4. Since water is virtually free, this is the least expensive and least risky homemade marble cleaner, and you can do this frequently. 2 Prevention is key with marble countertops. Learn how to remove water spots on marble countertops and other natural stone surfaces. You want to be sure to rinse with water to neutralize the pH and to dry thoroughly, so the solution is not in contact with the marble surface for any longer than necessary.. In the morning the poultice will be dry and flakey. However, you need to take care to use it gently on marble surfaces. Any acidic cleaners will etch, dull and stain the surface, including vinegar, citrus cleaners, and lime/calcium cleaners. But let’s look deeper into the chemistry of Sodium Bicarbonate. #cleaningmarble #waterstains #marblestains #marble #staincleaner Here’s a close up of one of the stains - this one was stubborn and required the use of hydrogen peroxide ( we’ll explain that in a second). You do not want to scrub because that can damage the surface. How do I remove etch and dull spots on marble countertops? Go slow with this step - remember you can always add more liquid but you can’t take it away. Some of the latest trends online is to “Polish Marble with Chalk” or Polish Marble with Baking Soda”. Baking Soda Poultice: First blot the spot to lift as much of the substance as possible. Mop up spills as soon as they happen so they don’t have time to etch the surface. If your budget can tolerate it, buying a commercial, neutral pH marble cleaner probably is an excellent investment to clean these beautiful stone countertops most safely, one that doesn't risk scratching or etching from a homemade cleaner. Do not apply too much pressure. Add a few drops of ammonia, followed by a tablespoon or so of baking soda or talc, adding a little at a time until the consistency is like creamy peanut butter when stirred with a spoon. Baking Soda & Water: Now you need to apply the baking soda and water paste over your vinegar spill. Here’s Why: Chalk is actually mineral Talc. Thick Paste: In order to remove vinegar etching from marble, you just need to make a thick paste by using water and baking soda. Read our, How to Clean and Care for Marble Countertops, 8 Homemade Cleaners Made With Baking Soda, How to Remove Rust and Food Stains From Stainless Steel, How to Clean a Clogged Drain With Baking Soda, How to Clean Soap Scum off Every Bathroom Surface, How to Remove Rust Stains From Toilets, Tubs, and Sinks, Cleaning Solutions to Use Around Your Home. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Household Hints: Amazing Uses for Salt, Lemon, Vinegar and Baking Soda, Less likely to etch marble than harsher chemicals such as vinegar, ammonia, dishwashing liquid, or detergents. Thank you for supporting bloggers and creators! Using 0000 Steel Wool, gently buff the etch in a circular motion. Don’t use vinegar, Windex or bleach on marble. You treasure your gorgeous marble countertops in your kitchen or bathroom. 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