“Acids are the enemy of any stone but especially marble, which is a softer stone and more porous,” DosSantos says. “Acids react with the calcium carbonate and eat away at the stone. Wine, orange juice, and coffee can all etch the stone.
If you wait to clean up a spill, it can seep in the stone and cause a permanent stain, or even worse, etching of the stone. Etching is caused by acidic liquids, like lemon juice, vinegar, wine, and tomato juice. Those substances eat away at the marble surface and leave a permanent, dull surface.
However, despite it's strength and durability, marble is very porous and susceptible to stains. Even when professionally polished and sealed, this beautiful natural stone easily soaks up liquids that can leave ugly stains on the delicate surface.
Before you start crying over a spilled cup, the good news is that coffee stains are not permanent—if you know how to remove them and act promptly.
Certain types of fibers, such as wool, cotton, silk, and some nylons are particularly susceptible to permanent staining from coffee, tea, wine, etc. Be aware of hot liquids, especially. Of course, bleach and household chemicals (see below) can cause permanent staining as well.
Dried coffee stains on clothing often require a soak in a cleaning solution to completely lift out the spot. A solution of distilled white vinegar, liquid detergent, and water can effectively loosen coffee stains after a few minutes.
Mix a few drops of ammonia with 1 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak a white blotter with the solution and place it over the stain. Cover it with a piece of glass or other heavy object.
As one of the most difficult to remove marble stains, rust stains are copper to brown in color and occur when metal objects oxidize. The most common culprit of rust stains is metallic objects left to sit on the marble surface for long periods of time.
Marble etching is physical damage to the stone, generally caused by the marble coming into contact with certain substances containing acids including coffee, citrus, wine, tomatoes, alcohol and juice.
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Because marble is a relatively soft, porous stone, it can stain easily and acids like lemon juice can etch it. So if you're going to invest in a gorgeous marble countertop, you'll need to learn how to clean marble the right way and commit to a quick clean every single day.
Applying a layer of poultice, or a thick powder including a mixing agent called whiting and a low to medium concentration of hydrogen peroxide, will actually lift the stain from the marble.
Although you can generally place hot items on a marble countertop without worrying about any major damage, it's best to play it safe. In reality, placing pots and pans directly on marble is more likely to cause scratching than cracking, discoloration or yellowing.
Since marble is a natural stone, it is heat resistant up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While extended contact with high temperatures can still cause some damage, a well maintained countertop should not be affected by an occasional hot item or short-term exposure to high temperatures.
Don't use harsh cleaners.
Never use abrasive scrubbers or rough-woven cloths that could scratch marble. Take a pass on products containing lemon, vinegar, or other acids that will dull or etch marble surfaces.
It is best to steer clear of Magic Erasers when cleaning marble surfaces because they are abrasive. Along with scratching the surface, Magic Erasers can dull marble and damage any existing sealant. Hard water will stain marble because it contains mineral deposits.
Rubbing alcohol is a great tactic if your marble has a few light stains, or if it's been a while since you updated the coat of sealant, because it restores the shine of your stone. Inside a spray bottle, mix a few drops of dish soap, 1/8 cup of rubbing alcohol, and water.
Rubbing Alcohol. If your marble only has light stains or if you have not updated the seal on your marble lately, you may restore the shine by using a rubbing alcohol spray. In a clean spray bottle, mix a few drops of dish soap, 1/8-cup of rubbing alcohol and water. Shake the bottle and then spray on the surface.
Mix white vinegar and water together, use a towel dipped in this solution to scrub the stain until it disappears. It's worth remembering the clothing will smell like vinegar until you can wash it.
A Marble is a porous material that absorbs many types of stains, making them difficult to remove. The first step is to give the surface a thorough cleaning.
Examples include the occasional tea, coffee, or wine spill, which can leave noticeable pink or brown stains if not cleaned immediately. Luckily, removing these stains from marble is relatively easy to do. Just mix a few drops of ammonia and 12% hydrogen peroxide on the stained area to spot clean.
Mix a small amount of laundry detergent with some cool water, and gently rub it into the stain. (If you don't have any laundry detergent on hand, a gentle dish soap, like Dawn, is actually a great substitute.) Let it sit for up to a few minutes before rinsing it with water.
Hydrogen peroxide.
Hydrogen peroxide is great for coffee stains on carpets. Use 1 cup hydrogen peroxide and ½ teaspoon of dish soap mixed in a small bowl. Gently dab the mixture over the stain and let the solution sit for 10 minutes.