Stone and Tile PROS
Logo
FOR PROS ONLY : BACKSTAGE

Home » Categories » Care and Maintenance

Hard water stains and etching on soapstone
Article Number: 106 | Rating: Unrated | Last Updated: Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 9:53 AM
I have hard water stains on my soapstone countertops. It is an extremely hard and dense green soapstone, not the softer black and white. The rings and cloudy sponge marks are driving me crazy. My fabricator oiled the countertops and said that the didn't need sealing. It is true that oil seems to make the marks go away, but they come back. I tested white vinegar on a spot and it was better at first, but I let it sit longer and it got cloudier. Ideas?

Use a quality stone safe Soap Scum Remover and a razor blade to gently shave the build up from the stone. If the spots you have are lighter than the surrounding areas then you most likely have an etch mark which will require a restoration professional. If the etch mark is small or not severe, you can generally polish it out yourself using a quality marble polishing compound. 
If the etching is severe or covers a large area, you will want to have it professionally restored. To locate a pro in your area, visit www.stoneandtilepros.com/findapro.php

Some additional information can be at the bottom of the page under related links.
Posted - Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 9:53 AM This article has been viewed 2752 times.
Filed Under: Care and Maintenance
Attachments Attachments
There are no attachments for this article.
Comments Comments
There are no comments for this article. Be the first to post a comment.
Icon Add Comment
Name
Email (Required, but not published)
Comment
Security Code Security Code
 
Related Q&A's RSS Feed
Should I use the enhancing sealer followed by regular water based sealer?
Viewed 1321 times since Fri, Mar 2, 2007
Is granite sensitive to acids?
Viewed 2172 times since Wed, Feb 28, 2007
removing scratch marks from travertine floor
Viewed 2071 times since Fri, Aug 13, 2010
Remove faux finish - quote
Viewed 1028 times since Fri, Sep 25, 2009
When I am polishing with a powder the marble gets a dull, wavy appearance and sometimes looks rough and dimpled. What’s going on?
Viewed 1373 times since Wed, Feb 28, 2007
How can I get grout color stains out of my tumbled marble tiles?
Viewed 2300 times since Tue, Dec 23, 2008
We have Italian marble on the lobby floors in our commercial office buildings. Recently, we have noticed several problems: 1. Entire tiles are evenly discoloring yellow or grey and 2) Rust-like stains are appearing in an area near the door. What is c
Viewed 293 times since Sat, Sep 8, 2012
We installed a marble shower wall, and the contractor used an acid to clean it. We had it professionally repolished, but it keeps getting etched after we take a shower. What’s causing the etching and how do we correct it?
Viewed 202 times since Sat, Sep 8, 2012
We are installing 12 X 12 travertine in a bathroom. Can you recommend sealer and cleaning products?
Viewed 4639 times since Fri, Jun 13, 2008
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?
Viewed 299 times since Sat, Sep 8, 2012
 
  • Icon SubscriberSubscribe to Article
  • Icon PrinterPrint Article
  • Icon EmailEmail Article to Friend
  • Icon PDFExport to PDF
  • Icon MS-WordExport to MS Word
  • Icon TwitterTweet This Article
  • Icon DiggDigg It
  • Icon StumbleuponStumble Upon
  • Icon de.icio.usDel.icio.us
Article Rating (No Votes)
Rate this article