How to Whiten Marble

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • Whiting

  • Baking soda

  • Mineral spirits

  • 12 percent hydrogen peroxide

  • Commercial rust remover

  • Ammonia

  • Large bowl

  • Rubber gloves

  • Distilled water

  • Wood or plastic scraper

  • Large wooden spoon

  • Large sheet of plastic

  • Masking tape

Using a poultice is the best way to remove stains and whiten marble.

Marble is a natural calcareous stone, which means it is porous and susceptible to staining and discoloration. The best marble-whitening method is to use a combination of a mild cleaning agent mixed with an absorbent material known as "whiting" (finely ground white chalk), which can be found in most paint or home improvement stores. This paste mixture, called poultice, will then be applied to the marble surface and will act as a sponge, pulling out the stain.

Advertisement

For best results, poultice needs to be custom-mixed, to draw out the specific type of stain causing the marble's discoloration.

Video of the Day

How to Mix and Use Poultice

Step 1

Put on gloves and mix the whiting powder with the cleaning agent in a bowl. If it's an oil stain, mix powder with baking soda and mineral spirits; for organic or biological stains, mix with 12 percent hydrogen peroxide; for rust stains, mix with commercial rust remover; and for copper stains, mix with ammonia.

Advertisement

Blend the ingredients until a paste is formed that is as thick as peanut butter. The average 1 lb. of poultice mix, will cover 1 square foot of counter top.

Step 2

Wet the area to be whitened with distilled water. Spreading this thin layer over the counter top will fill the marble pores with water and immediately start to loosen the stain.

Advertisement

Step 3

Spread a 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick layer of poultice to the counter top, using the wood or plastic scraper for even application.

Step 4

Cover the entire area of poultice-covered counter top with the large sheet or sheets of plastic. With masking tape, seal the plastic by taping it down around the edges.

Advertisement

Step 5

Remove the plastic after approximately 24 hours, but leave the poultice on the surface until dry to touch.

Cleanup

Step 1

Remove the poultice by chipping with wooden or plastic scraper. Do not use a metal scraper; it may chip or scratch the marble.

Advertisement

Step 2

Rinse the surface with distilled water and buff it dry with a soft cotton cloth.

Step 3

Repeat the poultice application, if the counter top is still showing stain or discoloration. It may take several applications to remove deep color damage.

Tip

There may be commercial options better suited for whitening marble. For example, copper stains are extremely difficult to remove, so hiring a professional may be a better option than using this do-it-yourself method.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references