Treating Stone Surface Stains

Image: White Springs Granite Kitchen Countertop Slab from Arizona Tile

Natural stone offers many benefits in a home or commercial setting. Using natural materials throughout a space creates a calming and grounded feeling that can improve your overall mood and reduce stress. If your stone surface becomes a little lackluster, you may feel marginally frustrated, but don’t let this overwhelm you. Stone and stain management with the proper maintenance and care will keep your stone as beautiful as the day it was installed.

Every stone has characteristics that make it prone to etching, staining, etc. differently than one of its counterparts. In this guide, we‘ll cover stain management and how to treat stone surface stains for three common natural stones: marble, granite, and travertine.

General Stone Care

Proper maintenance will help keep your stone looking its best and be more resistant to scratching and wear from general use. Natural stone is sensitive to harsh chemicals, especially polished vs. honed surfaces. To keep your stone clean, regular wiping with a damp cloth is recommended, especially after any spill. With an acidic spill like lemon juice, wine, or vinegar, move swiftly as these types are more corrosive. A neutral pH-balanced cleaner can be used, but be certain it is appropriate for natural stone and doesn’t contain strong acids, alkaline agents, and vinegar. Acid-based foods can cause etching on stone surfaces as well, some more than others (granite can handle it better than marble) so wipe after any contact. In bathrooms, there is a higher likelihood of alkaline and soap scum build-up, predominantly within a shower. After showering, use a squeegee on these surfaces before they dry onto the stone’s surface and steal their radiant luster.

Image: Taj Mahal Polished Quartzite Countertop & Backsplash from Arizona Tile

All natural stone products must be sealed with an impregnating sealer, either by yourself or a tile and stone professional. Without proper sealing, the surface will be vulnerable to staining and damage. While sealing doesn’t need to be done all that often, make sure you mark it on your home maintenance calendar so you don’t forget. We recommend you know and commit to this step of maintenance before selecting a natural stone product. Also, knowing in advance how to remove stains from stone countertops will make the task more manageable when presented. 

Side note: Quartz slabs can sometimes be mistaken as natural stone, like Calacatta Divine, because quartz is a natural mineral and the slabs have similar aesthetics, but this is indeed a manufactured surface. Be sure to follow quartz care and maintenance if you are cleaning a quartz surface.

Image: Iceberg Agglomerate Marble Kitchen Floor Tile, Nuage Quartzite Kitchen Countertop , & Calacatta Divine Quartz Kitchen Backsplash from Arizona Tile

Marble Stains

Marble is a timelessly elegant stone and has proven it can withstand the tests of time. To ensure complete satisfaction with your chosen marble, only have it installed in suitable areas AND be sure it is properly maintained. Marble is a softer stone, so extra precautions should always be taken, like using quality cutting boards on countertops, making sure a good trivet sits between the counter and a hot pan, and when spills happen, wipe them promptly. When it’s time to clean, never use harsh chemicals as they can corrode the stone.

Given this tidbit, knowing the difference between a stain and etching will help you address the area properly. A stain will always be darker in color than its surroundings, whereas if it appears lighter, it is not a stain but an etched area. A lighter-colored area always indicates surface damage and does not relate to stone absorbency. These marks of corrosion can appear easily on calcite-based stones, like marble, as they chemically react to acidic substances. If this happens, an etched mark cannot be removed, as it is essentially an area of missing stone. To resolve this damage, a small restorative project is necessary as the surrounding material needs to be removed to smooth out the surface.

Image: Belvedere Granite Bathroom Countertop from Arizona Tile

Granite Stains

Granite is a far more durable natural stone and ranks high on the Mohs hardness scale. Because of this, granite functions well in high-traffic areas. Etching is not a concern with most granites, which takes away a common worry. The only thing to negate this is hydrofluoric acid, found in rust removers, so try to minimize keeping any projects on your granite countertop, instead use the garage or workshop.

If you are seeing a true stain on your granite—remember it will be a darker spot—a quality stone-safe cleaner is your first go-to. Follow the product’s instructions on how to remove stains from stone, of course, but allow the cleaner to sit and do the work. If that doesn’t work to remove the stain, a poultice may be needed. A poultice is a combination of a very absorbent substance—like baby powder or household flour—mixed with a chemical to re-absorb the stain from the stone. The chemical to use is based on the type of stone and the stain itself. Some options are hydrogen peroxide (coffee, food coloring, etc.) or denatured alcohol (ink). Remove stains promptly and keep your stone up to date on sealing so undesirable “features” don’t become a permanent part of your natural stone surface. Stone countertop stain removal may not be an ideal cleaning task, but it often solves the problem, regardless of whether the stain is from grease or a pigmented liquid spill.

Travertine Stains

Like marble, travertine is a calcite-based stone, so it will be more prone to etching and staining. Staining agents left on travertine will absorb into the stone if left unattended, so wipe promptly, and, if necessary, try cleaning the area with a quality stone-safe cleaner such as Easy Oxy or Easy Scrub Deep Cleaning Cream available from Arizona Tile. Apply the cleaner and allow it to dwell. Let the product do the work! If this method doesn’t do the trick, a specialized poultice is a good option.

As with travertine and other stones, the placement of flooring or countertops doesn’t make a huge difference when it comes to stain removal. Be it etching or stains, both surfaces should be treated and maintained the same with regular sealing and daily cleaning.

Some Products are Worth the Maintenance

There are so many natural stone products to highlight a design, but here are some to ignite your design senses:

Granite: Belvedere and White Springs

Quartzite: Taj Mahal, Nuage, and Beverly Blue

Marble: Agglomerate Marble, Iceberg, Sky Blue Tile

Travertine: Torreon Stone Tile

Image: Beverly Blue Quartzite Bathroom Countertop & Sky Blue Honed 12×24 Bathroom Floor Tile from Arizona Tile

Identifying Stains or Damage

If you are unsure if your natural stone surface has faced a chemical change or is holding onto a stubborn stain, reach out to a professional for advice. While sometimes natural stone may require a restorative project, know that the process will very likely restore its original beauty, so don’t give up on it! Always protect your surfaces with area rugs, trivets, etc. to avoid scratches and staining, and keep natural stone stain management at the forefront of your mind to reduce the need for any hefty cleaning/resurfacing projects. For a full guide to natural stone stain management, read here.

Image: Torreon Stone Travertine Bathroom Countertop & Aequa Castor Wood-Look Porcelain Bathroom Tile Floor from Arizona Tile

To help see your favorite tile and stone selections in a space, check out our Just Imagine Tile and Slab Visualizer. If you have questions about our products, please contact us! Be sure to stop into an Arizona Tile showroom or slab yard to meet with our knowledgeable staff and see our great products.