How to Remove Stains From Granite Tile

It is always best to clean up a spill as soon as it happens. Granite tile is porous, and the spill will hide deep within the pores. When cleaning up a spill, be sure to blot, not swipe the spill. Swiping can cause the substance to spread to a wider area. Poultice materials -- such as paper towels and flour -- are best suited for cleaning up stains from granite tile. Poultice materials can be combined with other chemicals to remove those unsightly stains.

Things You'll Need

• Made-for-stone soap
• Distilled water
• Towel
• Poultice (such as flour, diatomaceous earth or sawdust)
• Chemical agents (Iron Out, hydrogen peroxide, methylene chloride, ammonia or mineral spirits), depending on stain
• Plastic sandwich bag
• Tape
• Scraper

Instructions

1. Wash the stained area with water and a made-for-stone soap.

2. Blot the washed area dry with a towel.

3. Moisten the stain with distilled water.

4. Decide on a poultice mixture. To remove coffee and tea stains, use hydrogen peroxide and flour. Methylene chloride and sawdust is a good combination for ink and magic markers. Ammonia and flour can be used to remove oil stains. Mineral spirits and flour will work for paint removal. Rust is particularly nasty and requires Iron Out and diatomaceous earth.

5. Create the poultice mixture. Mix the two ingredients until a peanut butter-like consistency is formed. If you are removing rust, combine 1 part Iron Out and 2 parts diatomaceous earth. Add enough water to the mixture to reach a soupy consistency.

6. Apply the mixture over the stain. Overlap the stain by at least ¼ inch.

7. Tape a plastic sandwich bag over the mixture. Allow the mixture to set over the stain for 24 hours.

8. Scrape the mixture off the granite tile, and rinse well. If the stain is still present but lighter than before, repeat the process. Otherwise, you will have to call in a professional.

Tips & Warnings

• When removing rust, do not use just any rust remover. Many rust removers can cause damage to the granite tile.

References

• Removing Stains from Stone, Tile and Concrete

Resources

• To Purchase Iron Out
• To Purchase Diatomaceous Earth