Care and Maintenance

Q. How do I apply a poultice to remove a stain?A. How to Make and Apply a Poultice: Before you attempt to remove a stain, it is extremely important to know what has caused it. For reference see our Stone and Tile Care Guide. If you have questions,... Read More

Q. I have tried to remove a stain but it still shows up. What should I do next? A. If a stain is still present, a chemical poultice may have to be applied. Avoid using chemicals of any kind until you know which chemical cleaner to use. Certain... Read More

Q. How can I prevent stains from occurring on my stone?A. If your stone is porous, it can absorb liquids. In this case, you will want to make sure to have it sealed properly with an impregnating sealer. Sealers for stone are designed to fill the... Read More

Q. Is there a product that will remove water rings from a polished marble surface? A. What are commonly mistakenly referred to as water rings are generally etch marks. Etching is actually surface damage caused by a chemical reaction from an acidic... Read More

Q. How can I find out if I need to seal my stone? A. To find out if your stone should be sealed, spill some water on it and wait for approximately half an hour, then wipe it dry. If the surface of the stone did not darken where the water was, it... Read More

Q. Why does black granite fade? A. The answer is, black granite should not fade. Black granite imported from Asia is sometimes doctored with dyes and oils to darken the surface. The fading is nothing more than the dyes and oils being removed. You can... Read More

Q. How do I clean my shower grout? A. Many of the shower and grout cleaners on the market can remove not only the grime, but the top layer of the grout as well. This creates bigger holes for hard water, soap scum, and bacteria to hold onto, so you... Read More

Q. Can I remove etching from my stone? A. Maybe. If it is polished marble or travertine or onyx, then there’s hope. If it is hone-finished marble or travertine, or hone-finished slate (like a chalk-board), or mixed "granite" then you’d... Read More

Q. How do I create a poultice to remove stains? I know that to remove stains from my granite countertops that I need to make a poultice, but how do I do it?A. Here is how you do it:First, understand what a poultice is. It is simply a chemical or... Read More

Q. How do I treat an organic or inorganic stain?A. The chemical of choice for both organic and inorganic stains is hydrogen peroxide (30/40 volumes, the clear type – available at your local beauty salon. The one from the drugstore is too weak, at 3... Read More