# Getting stains out of marble counter tops? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801 "2006-04-08T00:56:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/1 "2006-04-08T00:56:27Z")
My husband and I seem to have stained the white marble counter top in our bathroom. The marble is white with dark grey streaks. The stains are light grey blobs. They appear to be from a shampoo bottle I had turned upside down to get the last bits out. The stains feel no different than the counter top itself. Is there any way to remove them, or will this end up being a replacement? ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/2 "2006-04-08T02:05:28Z")
Marble and granite are quite porous. Since the stain is from a soap, try putting a wet cloth over the stain for a while to see if it will dilute. I’d get a hand towel dripping wet and leave it for an hour or so. Check it after an hour, if the stain is still there, but changed, do it again. I doubt you’ll get it all out. I had a grease stain on a piece of granite that I was able to lighten, but I didn’t get it all the way out. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/3 "2006-04-08T02:11:08Z")
Thanks. I’ll try that. I’ve never had to deal with stone counters before, and I’m a bit worried, as this is a rental. I’ve found [this site](http://doityourself.com/clean/marble.htm), but I don’t know how good it is. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/4 "2006-04-08T02:58:34Z")
From your link > [@](#): > > Oil Stains: Oil stains may include butter, hand cream or lotion. As soon as possible, spread surface with an absorbent fine powder such as whiting or even corn starch. After short time brush to remove and reapply more powder. Let stand 24 hours. To remove: Scrub with hot, sudsy (detergent) solution and stiff brush. I’d try this, first. A good absorbing powder is, of all things, Plaster of Paris (the dry powder, of course.) I use it to clean flux from my stained glass after soldering. It’s fairly inexpensive. Be sure you brush it off before getting it wet, it sets up pretty fast. It may work well. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/5 "2006-04-08T03:00:04Z")
Cool. I’ll look into that as well. Right now I have corn starch on the stains. I’m hoping against hope I can get these stains out or mostly out. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/6 "2006-04-08T04:24:04Z")
> [@BlueKangaroo](#): > > Right now I have corn starch on the stains. I’m hoping against hope I can get these stains out or mostly out. Or get another bottle or two of shampoo, and create similar stains all over the counter, in a nice marble pattern. Then it’ll look like they are supposed to be there; that they’re part of the design in the marble. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/7 "2006-04-08T15:51:41Z")
You have no idea how tempting that is. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/8 "2006-04-08T17:06:28Z")
Whatever you do, DON’T use acid to clean marble. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/9 "2006-04-08T17:34:43Z")
I read that acid can etch marble, so it wasn’t on the list of “to try”. A friend pointed out that if worst comes to worst, I can possibly have it polished out. I have no idea what that entails, though. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/10 "2006-04-08T17:48:30Z")
Try a paste of cream of tarter and hydrogen peroxide. Smear it on, leave a while, and wipe off. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/11 "2006-04-08T18:12:57Z")
The book ‘Clean it Fast, Clean it Right’ from the catville library offers this: > [@](#): > > “To remove stains in marble, you have to wick or suck them back out of the stone,” says Fred Hueston, director or the National Training Center for Stone and Masonry Trades in Longwood, Florida, and author of _Marble and Tile: Selection and Care of Stone and Tile Surfaces._ The best way is with a poultice. For oil stains, mix 1/2 cup bleached flour, a small squirt of dishwashing detergent, and warm water into a paste that has the consistency of peanut butter. Spread it over the stained area, cover it with plastic wrap, and tape down the sides with masking tape. Let it sit overnight. Remove the plastic, let the poultice dry, and scrape it away. Good luck, 'roo. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/12 "2006-04-09T01:59:50Z")
Thanks! I’ll be trying both of those things, assuming one doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/13 "2006-04-09T02:39:09Z")
I’d also suggest trying a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. I’ve never used it to deal with marble, but I’ve never tried to use it to get any stain out and failed. [Amazed infomercial voice]It really _is_ Magic![/AIV] ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/14 "2006-04-09T02:39:56Z")
AND! I have a coupon! (Thanks, I’ll look into that as well. With my coupon.) ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/15 "2006-04-09T02:51:28Z")
> [@BlueKangaroo](#): > > AND! > > I have a coupon! > > (Thanks, I’ll look into that as well. With my coupon.) If it doesn’t work on the marble, try it on any number of other stains you haven’t been able to remove (or have been able to remove, but not without a lot of work). It gets soap scum off of my shower stall with a mere swipe. (No, I’m not an employee of the company, and am not paid to say such things. I just loves me my Magic Eraser). ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/16 "2006-04-09T02:52:26Z")
Oh, I’m getting it just for the soap scum then. I hate dealing with soap scum. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/17 "2006-04-15T01:17:36Z")
Just a quick thanks to **danceswithcats**! Two of the three stains are gone, and the third is substantially lighter after two applications. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-stains-out-of-marble-counter-tops/351801/18 "2006-04-15T07:03:07Z")
Kewl. Glad it worked out for you **BlueKangaroo**!