Q. I am wondering how to clean the marble step into our bathroom shower. It has a lot of dark brown crud -- I'm assuming it's mineral deposits -- that have built up over the years where the aluminum frame of the shower door meets the marble... Read More

Q: My 6 month old shower has a travertine shower pan and a combination of ceramic and travertine tile on the walls. There are hard water marks all over the tile and on the fixtures and I need to get them off. I have already tried some of the... Read More

Q. We have a terrible problem with hard-water deposits in our ceramic tile shower. We were told that installing a water softener would solve this problem. What is your recommendation?   A. I definitely agree, that a water softener will resolve the... Read More

Q. We moved into a new house 6 months ago that has a shower stall made with 4x4 tumbled travertine tiles. We live in Phoenix where the water is pretty hard and the stone is getting a hazy white appearance to it most likely from the hard water. We... Read More

Q. How can one remove hard water deposits (probably from calcium) from granite (specifically Emerald Pearl)? A. We suggest that you first try a soap film remover. It will remove not only film, but hard water deposits without damaging the polished... Read More

Q. I know that I can use mineral oil on my soapstone to age or give a nice patina to my soapstone, but how do I remove the excess mineral oil from the surface of the stone? A. To remove excess mineral oil from soapstone, you could use denatured... Read More

These white streaks may be hard-water deposits, which can prove very difficult to remove. Suggest that they try a sulfamic acid-based tile-and-grout cleaner. CAUTION Make sure to let them know to NOT use sulfamic acid or any acids on marble. Acid... Read More

What should you do about hard water deposits on a ceramic tile shower? Hard water deposits can build up on ceramic tile in a shower, leaving behind an unsightly residue. Here are suggestions for removing and preventing hard water deposits.  NOTE: Do... Read More

If a stone fountain has a copper basin, chances are the stone may get green discoloration. The hard, green deposits are a combination of calcium deposits from the water and copper from the basin. The easiest way to remove them is to use a pressure... Read More

Q. I have granite tiles around the hot tub and pool and there are calcium deposits forming on the grout areas and the tile is dull. Can I clean and restore it myself and then seal it?   A. It may be possible to clean and restore it yourself... Read More