One of the major downsides of marble is its porousness. Since it’s natural, marble easily soaks in liquids, making it susceptible to stains and scratches. Some people have the notion it’s hard to remove marble stains, but this isn’t the case.

While there are some stains that are more difficult to remove than others, removing stains from marble countertops isn’t as hard as you think.

Do your countertops have stains and wondering how to get rid of them? Here are tips on how to remove stains from marble:

How to remove oil-based marble stains

Oil-based stains are brought about by milk, butter, cooking oil, grease, hand lotion, and other oil-based products. The products easily get through the porous marble structure, leaving persistent stains that darken the marble surface.

On the countertops, these stains appear yellow or light brown.

To remove the stain, you need to draw out the oil from the marble surface. To do this, clean the area with a soft, liquid cleanser mixed with ammonia and acetone. If this doesn’t work, use a poultice made with a combination that includes mineral spirits.

Leave the poultice on the surfaces for a day or two then rinse with warm water. Dry the surface properly then repeat the process if necessary.

How to remove organic stains

Organic stains are one of the most common stains on marble surfaces. The most popular organic stains are rings left behind by cups and other household substances. These stains can be light brown to dark brown.

The cool thing is, while the stains are common, they are easy to remove. Mix a few drops of ammonia with 12% hydrogen peroxide and spot clean the affected area.

If removing the stain from a darker colored marble, be cautious as the hydrogen peroxide can cause the marble to lighten.

How to remove rust stains

Flower pots, metal furniture, nails, screws, and metal cans are some of the things that can leave stains on your marble surfaces. Rust stains are usually brown or copper-colored, and they are often difficult to remove.

If you identify the rust stains early enough, you can remove them with the help of a soft wire brush that reaches into the crevices without damaging the polished surface.

If it’s late and the stain has set in the countertops, you will need a poultice and chemical treatment with a rust remover to remove the stain.

If you try the above tricks and none works, get in touch with a professional who will assess the situation and recommend the way forward.

How to remove water stains

Like organic stains, water stains are also quite common. These stains are often as a result of leaving a water glass on the marble surfaces for a long time. The stain will also come about due to hard water buildup around showers and sinks.

The beauty is it’s easy to remove water stains. You can remove them using regular marble cleaner or using a grade 0000 steel wool.

How to remove soap scum

Soap scum builds up within the countertop’s pores and voids, leading to stains. Fortunately, it’s easy to remove soap scum stains. Simply add half a cup of ammonia to a gallon of water and wipe the surfaces clean with it.

When making the mixture, be cautious of using too much ammonia as it might dull the marble surface.

How to remove ink stains

Ink stains result from markers, pens, wine, and even highlighters. These stains can be water or alcohol-based and you can remove them using lacquer thinner. If the stains are persistent, try removing them using a marble poultice that will soak up the pigments from the stain within a few days.

Prevent stains from coming about

Prevention is always better than cure, so you should work hard at preventing the stains from coming about in the first place. How do you do this?

Seal your marble surfaces at the time of installation then make it a habit to reseal them once every year. You can seal the surfaces by yourself but for best results, let granite installers or other professionals help you out.

You also should use coasters under glasses and cups and avoid metal containers from coming into direct contact with the marble surface. You also shouldn’t let alcohol or citrus sit on the surface.