Mamta asked, “How do I remove acid stains from marble flooring?”
Acid 
stains, such as by a toilet bowl cleaner or battery acid, cause what is known as etching on marble. These stains can be difficult to remove, but not impossible. If needed, a professional marble restorer can always be called to repair the damage.
Using Commercial Products
Using a commercial product to remove the damage is most likely to give you the best results.
You Will Need:
- A marble restorer OR marble polish
- Water
- A cloth
Steps to Remove the Stains:
- Get a marble restoration kit or etch removing product. There are a variety available at home improvement stores. Look for products that specifically say they will remove acid stains or etching, such as Fila Marble Restore Kit.
- Follow the instructions on the label of your selected product.
- Another option is to use a marble polish. If using a powder, wipe some water over the marble, then sprinkle the powder over it. Moisten a cloth with water and use it to rub the powder over the stone until it shines. An alternative to polishing the stone by hand with a cloth is to use a buffing on a drill with a low speed setting.
Using Home Remedies
You Will Need:
- Baking soda
- Water
- Ammonia
Steps to Remove the Stain:
- For fresh stains, sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the stain.¹ The baking soda will neutralize the acid. Don’t be alarmed if the area starts to bubble or foam; that is the effect of the acid and base mixing together and neutralizing.
- 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.
- If the stain remains, moisten the area with diluted (10%) ammonia.³ Ammonia is also a basic solution, which can neutralize the acid.
- Rinse the area well with water to remove any remaining residue from the ammonia.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Do not moisten the area with water before applying a basic (baking soda or ammonia) solution, as the water will reactivate the acid.²
- Borax can be used instead of baking soda if desired.⁴
- Scrubbing vigorously with baking soda could damage the finish of glossy surfaces.⁵
- Wear gloves and ventilate the area well when using ammonia. For more ammonia safety information, see Wikipedia.
Sources
- Home Comforts; The Art & Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelson
- Stain Removal by Stephanie Zia
- Baking Soda Bonanza by Peter Ciullo
- Removing Spots and Stains by Ilbert & Elanor Mellan
- Natural Stain Removal Secrets by Deborah L. Martin
- Don Aslett’s Stainbuster’s Bible
I just put Harpic on a marble platform and my green marble turned white in patches. Please help me how to remove this…it’s urgent.
Tofani,
It depends on what type of Harpic you have. If you have the Active Fresh, those are acid stains, so the steps in this guide should work. If you have a kind that contains bleach, then those are likely bleach stains, which requre the marble be refinished. You can try using the same steps in this guide (using a polishing compound or etching kit), but those might not be strong enough to remove the bleach stains. Good luck!
I removed acid strains following the method of water and baking soda mixed. A miracle happened, the stains just disappeared. I kept the mix for 30 minutes, then rubbed slightly using mica sheet. Don’t use pressure on the rubbing. Thanks a lot for your help!
I recently cleaned marble with toilet cleaner and found that my green marble has turned whitish when dry. Please, how I can restore the shine?
I spilt lemon juice on my marble bench top and you could see spots in the marble. I was told to use Jif to clean it. Now the area looks dull and the stains are still there. Is there anything I can do to fix it?
Maya,
Try using the marble restorer or marble polish. If those don’t work, the dullness may mean that the area is etched (damaged with fine scratches) and for that you would need a marble etch remover. Follow the instructions on the label of your selected marble product. Good luck!
Acid spilled on my Italian marble, so the floor has become rough where it was spilled … Is there any product which can heal the damage and recover to previous state?
Saurabh,
The rough feeling you are describing is known as “etching” and can be fixed with an etch remover. These products are sold at hardware stores and some marble supply stores. Follow the instructions on the label of your specific product. Good luck!
If possible please help me to remove white acid stains on yellow tiles due to acid wash on the whole floor of my home. If by any means it is possible to remove the white stains from it, please give me advice or send a professional to clean it.
Shailesh,
Select one of the treatment methods above (Using Commercial Products or Using Home Remedies) and follow the steps for that method to remove the stains. If one method doesn’t work, try the other. If neither method works, you may need to have the floor refinished. Good luck!
I poured acid on a cement floor and it totally turned into white stains. How to remove that?
Shalini,
This is the article you need: How to Remove Acid Stains from Concrete Countertops. The process is the same for both counters and floors. Good luck!
I found the information and tips here to remove acid stains on marble flooring.
Can such a method of using baking soda or 10% diluted Ammonia work for the removal of acid stains on ceramic floor tiles also?
Thanks & Regards,
S. N. SAREEN
S. N.,
Yes, it is safe to use baking soda and diluted ammonia on ceramic tile! However, try not to let the ammonia solution get on the grout, as it can cause discoloration.
Source: World Floor Cleaning Association – How to Clean Ceramic Tile Flooring