Julie asked: How do I clean stains in cultured marble sinks? I have a grayish ring-type stained area around the drain area of my cultured marble, bathroom sink. Do you know how I can clean this stain?
Cultured marble is a beautiful stone, but one that requires special care to keep it in good condition. A stain around the drain is likely from mineral deposits from the water that commonly sits in that area. Below are two stain removal methods: one for removing mineral deposits and the other for removing general stains.
Removing Water Deposit Stains
You Will Need:
- Vinegar
- Barkeeper’s Friend
- Marble cleaner and polish
- Water
- Soft cloths
Steps to Remove the Stains:
- Moisten a soft cloth with white vinegar.
- Lay the cloth on top of the hard water stains.
- Allow it to set for several hours.
- Remove and rinse completely with cold water.
- If the stain remains, make a paste of water and Barkeeper’s Friend.
- Apply the paste and allow it to set on the stain for several hours to overnight.
- Rinse with cold water.
- Follow up with a marble cleaner and polish, if desired.
Removing Everyday Stains
You Will Need:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Ammonia
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Water
- Rubber gloves
- Soft cloths
Steps to Remove the Stains:
- For dark stains, soak a cloth with hydrogen peroxide.
- Lay the wet cloth on top of the stain.
- Allow it to set overnight.
- Rinse completely with cold water.
- If the stain remains, mix the following items in a bucket:
- ¼ cup baking soda
- ¼ cup vinegar
- ½ cup ammonia
- 8 cups hot water
- Allow the mixture to foam.
- Use a soft cloth or sponge to apply the mixture to the stains.
- Allow it to set for five minutes.
- Rinse completely with cold water.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Bleach can also be placed on a cloth and set on top of the stain to soak – but do not allow the bleach to mix with ammonia under any conditions!
- As with any cleaning product, test a small area first to ensure there are no adverse effects to the marble, coloring or surface.
- If the stains are not removed with the above stain removal methods, it may have to be buffed out of the marble. Once completed the marble will have to be refinished. This is a job that needs to be completed by a professional.
In regard to the question from Julie on how to remove stains from cultured marble. I have tried all of the above suggestions and nothing works on my bathroom sink. There is never water standing in the sink. I clean the sink weekly with a special marble cleaner, and I wipe the sink dry each time it is used, The stain is smooth to the touch and seems to be deep within the marble. I checked with a cultered marble dealer, and they said the only solution is to replace it.
I had burn marks on a cultured marble countertop that were caused by a young teenage daughter who mistakenly left her straightening iron sitting directly on top of it. I used a dishrag and glass cooktop cleaner to remove most of the burn with no problem whatsoever. The mild liquid abrasive did not need a moist rag, I was patient and used on a little of the glass cooktop cleaner at a time, repeating the process until the burn did not show. The countertop was not scratched by the this process, whatsoever.
Part of the burn was more pronounced, so I used a mild scouring pad (like the green ones used for dishes) along with the glass cooktop cleaner. Being patient and using a little of the glass cooktop cleaner at a time, I removed the entire burn mark with no problem, Again, the countertop was not scrartched – in fact – the process removed all the little scratch marks that show up on faux marble after years of use. This process restored the luster, removed the burn marks and actually made the countertop look brand new!