A few tricks may clean easily stained marble

Dear Sandi: I have a coffee table with a marble top. Over the years, it has been stained by spilling drinks or plant residue, etc. The stains are colorless, but one can see the damaged areas by the loss of luster in these spots.

Can the marble be resurfaced or restored? I would appreciate any advice you may have. I enjoy your column. Thank you. —Shirley H., Salem

Hi Shirley: Well, this was a new one for me, and I had to do a bit of research to see what, if anything, could be done.

A marble countertop is used in this kitchen. While marble is a beautiful material, spills need to be wiped up immediately so they do not leave stains. Applying marble sealers is a good idea to clean and protect the stone.

Although marble is stone, it is very porous. Most of the information I was able to find dealt with making sure you always immediately wipe up anything that spills on a marble top for the simple reason that it does stain so easily. However, there are some general rules for cleaning marble.

For regular cleaning, a damp chamois cloth run over the surface usually is sufficient. Water will not hurt marble if it is wiped off. You can gently wash marble surfaces with warm water, being careful to thoroughly dry them.

If more cleaning is needed, a mild detergent mixed with warm water can be used. Never use anything harsher than liquid dish soap. Although they smell great, do not use the orange-based cleaners (or vinegar) on marble. They are too acidic and can easily damage the stone. There also are commercial marble cleaners and polish they generally are available through companies that sell marble products.

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It doesn’t sound like your marble actually is stained, just dulled from standing water, etc. There are commercial marble cleaners and marble polishes that can make dull, lack-luster marble look rich again. If that isn’t sufficient, then there are a few other remedies that might help.

There are specific chemicals you can use for removing a variety of stains, but it is necessary to know what the stain is in order to use the correct products. If you don’t know for certain what the original stains are, peroxide (mixed with water) often can be used effectively. Just make certain to wipe the moisture off after you have finished. Also a few drops of ammonia can be added to the peroxide and water mixture. Apply it with a small soft cloth or facial tissue, then let it sit on the stain for a few hours. The amount of time you leave the mixture on will depend on how deep and/or old the stain is. Just be sure to keep the tissue damp (cover with plastic wrap, etc.). Clean thoroughly with warm water and wipe dry.

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There are marble sealers on the market that can be applied to clean marble surfaces to protect them from staining. Another advantage to the sealers is that you can more easily wipe up spills, plant residue, etc., without worrying about scratching or etching.

Anything acidic (orange juice, etc.), if not cleaned up immediately, can etch the marble, which means dulling down the natural shine of the stone. If your spills were soft drinks or fruit juices, the dull areas may be a result of these beverages (sounds like this is what you may have, and the above remedy may do the trick).

Marble wax also is available and will provide a certain amount of protection and luster, but if your marble is white, it can cause some yellowing.

As a last resort, businesses that make and sell marble items (tombstones being the most common) often can remove old scars, stains and scratches that are severe.

That’s it. More than I ever thought I would know about marble! November 5, 2004