It is often the case that a person who thinks their stone is stained is not dealing with a stain at all. How? Because there are a number of stone issues that look like stains but are something else entirely. While you can always contact Fuller Stone Care at 855-205-0972 for help cleaning and restoring your stone, there are also a few steps you can take to make sure that you really need us.
Acid Etching
If you have polished marble, you can count on it becoming discolored and dull if it is in contact with acids such as lemon juice, soda, orange juice, food, and certain household and bathroom cleaners. When this contact occurs, the acid reacts to the calcium in the stone and etches it. This can happen on other surfaces, too, such as polished concrete and certain tile surfaces.
If you need to remove etching from polished marble, the best option is to have it re-polished. The good news is that we can hone and re-polish your marble more affordably than you might think.
Moisture
Another common issue that can look like staining is moisture becoming absorbed into the stone. This can happen if you have a porous stone surface that is not properly sealed. When this happens, the stone looks darker. If you see this, let it dry completely. If you want to find out right away if it is a true stain, use a hairdryer to get the area completely dry faster. Just make sure you do not use too much heat, or it could cause the stone to crack.
Water Spots and Rings
If you have a glass on a marble or other natural stone surface, it can leave a ring behind where it was placed. This can occur due to even a small amount of slightly acidic liquid running down the side of the glass. It can also occur if chemicals in the liquid deposit minerals into the stone. When that happens, it is known as a hard water spot.
These are not stains, but they do often require professional refinishing and polishing.
Efflorescence
If you have a white, powdery, dust-like material on the surface of your stone, this is known as efflorescence. Put simply, this is a deposit of minerals that is on the surface of the stone. These minerals can occur from within the stone itself when it becomes wet. This is yet another issue that Fuller Stone Care can help with.
If you are in need of natural stone services, we invite you to contact us at 855-205-0972 as soon as possible.