Jane asked: How do I remove chemical burns from the countertop in the kitchen. We had a sink back up and the drain was clogged, so we put in a chemical drain cleaner. When we plunged the sink, some of the chemical cleaner landed on the countertop. It is a black marble, and it now has a white stain, and several dots of whitish spots where the water and chemicals landed. When we wash it, the marks disappear. However, when it dries, they return. Do you have any help? Thanks.
When chemicals come in contact with countertops, they first attack the protective finish and sealant that has been applied to the surface before damaging the actual counter. Since the white stains are going away when wet, it is likely that just the protective surface has been damaged. To fix this, strip the existing finish and apply a new sealant and wax. All of these items can be found at hardware or home improvement stores and instructions for application will come with the product. Once the old sealant is removed, the white areas should be gone. The new sealant will keep the countertop protected from future stains. If the countertop is large, it may be wise to have the new sealant professionally applied.
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Natural Stone?
I am not sure what type of counter top the person was speaking of but this reply will not work on natural stone counter tops. What looks like a stain is really the absence of polish and can only be restored mechanically. Not by reapplying the sealer. Sealers only slow down the attacks on your stone caused by non stone friendly chemicals. It will not make your stone bullet proof. If you have areas on your polished stone counter tops that look dull, then you need to find a professional in your area to restore the finish. This is the beauty of stone verses Formica. Stone can be refinished many times.