How to remove stains from marble: coffee, wine, oil, rust and hard water

Most marble stains can be removed at home, as long as you know what kind of stain it is and use the right product. This guide goes through each case in detail. For everyday cleaning, see how to clean marble.

First: is it a stain or an etch mark?

Run your finger over it and look at it against the light:

• Stain: the area is darker or coloured (brown, pink, orange), but the shine is unchanged. The stone has absorbed something. It can be drawn out.
• Etch mark: the area is dull or lighter, sometimes slightly rough to the touch. Lemon, vinegar, wine or an acidic cleaner has dissolved the surface. It will not clean off; it needs re-polishing (see the end of this guide).

The key tool: a poultice

A poultice is a paste you spread over the stain. As it dries, it pulls out what the stone has absorbed. It is made of two things:

• An absorbent powder: baking soda, flour, whiting (powdered chalk) or talc. Paper towels soaked in the liquid also work.
• A liquid that dissolves the stain, which depends on the type of stain (see the table below).

Step by step

1. Clean the area with water and mild soap, then dry it.
2. Mix the powder and the liquid into a paste with the consistency of thick yoghurt or peanut butter.
3. Spread it over the stain about 5 mm (¼ in) thick, overlapping the edge of the stain by about 1 cm (½ in).
4. Cover it with plastic wrap, tape down the edges with painter's tape and poke a few small holes with a toothpick.
5. Leave it for 24 to 48 hours, until the paste is completely dry. The drying is what draws the stain out.
6. Remove it with a plastic or wooden scraper (never metal), rinse with water and dry.
7. If the stain has faded but is still there, repeat. Old stains may need 3 to 5 applications.

Always test first on an inconspicuous spot, especially on dark or coloured marbles.

What to use for each stain

Pharmacy-strength hydrogen peroxide (3%) works for light stains. For stubborn ones, people use the stronger hair-salon developer (around 12%, "40 volume"), wearing gloves and with good ventilation.

Hard water rings and white marks

White rings from hard water are mineral deposits sitting on top of the stone. The problem is that most limescale removers are acidic and will etch marble. So:

• Remove the deposits with a hard water remover formulated for marble (pH-neutral) or, if they are heavily built up, ask a professional.
• The best prevention is to dry with a cloth or a squeegee after every use, especially in showers and around taps.

Yellowing on white marble

White marble can turn yellow for several reasons: old wax or products that have oxidised, moisture rising from below, or iron within the stone itself oxidising with water. If it comes from a wax, a stone stripper can remove it. If it comes from inside the stone, it is hard to fix at home: talk to a professional before trying products.

What never to do

• Scrub with vinegar, lemon or bathroom limescale cleaners.
• Use undiluted bleach on coloured marbles, as it can discolour them.
• Scrape with green scouring pads, steel wool or blades.
• Mix products together. Bleach and ammonia, for example, give off toxic fumes.

If it was an etch mark, not a stain

If the mark is dull and on polished marble, you can try a marble polishing powder, rubbed in with a damp cloth until the shine returns. If the etch is deep or the area is large, a stone restoration professional can re-polish it on site and make it look new.

How to stop it happening again

Well-sealed marble absorbs much more slowly, giving you time to wipe up a spill before it stains. If you want a more carefree kitchen surface, have a look at quartzite countertops.