How to Care for a Water Spot on a Hearthstone

Remove a water stain from your hearthstone using a poultice.

Water spills on hearthstones should be cleaned up as soon as possible to avoid staining, but if the stain is already set, you can remove it by pulling it out of the stone with a poultice. A poultice is a paste consisting of water and another substance that can absorb the water stain, thus removing it from the stone.

Things You'll Need

• Mild detergent or stone soap
• Clean rag
• Spray bottle
• Distilled water
• Baking soda, talcum powder, or cornstarch
• Plastic wrap
• Tape
• Scraping tool or spatula

Instructions

1. Mix water and mild detergent or stone soap to wash the stained area. Instead of wiping back and forth, which can push the stain farther into the stone, use a blotting motion with your rag.

2. 

   Wet the area, but don't spray so much that you leave puddles.

   Spray distilled water onto the affected area to prepare it for the poultice.

3. 

   Mix your poultice in a mixing bowl.

   Mix water with baking soda, talcum powder or cornstarch in a small mixing bowl to make a paste with the consistency of peanut butter.

4. Apply the poultice material to the stain. Extend the poultice past the stain by at least 1/4 inch on all sides. The poultice should completely cover the stain, but don't lay it on so thick that it will take more than 24 hours to dry.

5. Cover the poultice with plastic wrap, and tape the plastic wrap down on all edges. Make sure you don't use a tape that will leave stickiness behind when you pull it up. Painter's tape works well for this application.

6. Let the poultice sit for 24 hours. After 24 hours, pull off the plastic wrap to see if the poultice has dried. If it hasn't, let the poultice remain on the stain uncovered until it has thoroughly dried.

7. Scrape the poultice off of the stone with a scraping tool or spatula, and then rinse the area with distilled water. After the stone as dried, examine the area to see if any of the original stain remains. If you still see some staining, repeat the poulticing process.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear latex or rubber gloves when working with poulticing chemicals.

• Keep children and pets away from the area while the poulticing chemicals are being used. You may need to block off the hearth with gates or chairs.

References

• Housekeeping Channel: Stain Removal
• Natural Stone Interiors: Stain Removal
• Marble Institute of America: Natural Stone Stain Removal