If you take a look at your natural stone surfaces and notice a mark that should not be there, your first thought might be that the area is stained. Not all marks, however, are stains. There could be a number of other reasons behind the difference in colour. Here are some common causes.
Etching
If your polished marble surface comes into contact with acidic substances, etching can easily occur. Examples of acidic substances include lemons, orange juice, wine, vinegar and several foods such as tomatoes. The acid from the food or beverage will come in contact with the calcium in the stone and cause the unsightly etched appearance. In order to remove the etching, you will need to re-polish the surface.
Moisture marks
If your stone surface is porous and you spill water, it can easily be mistaken for a stain. The best thing to do is to allow the water to dry before reassessing the area. If there is still a significant amount of water on the surface, use a soft towel to soak it up. Do not use heat to dry the water because it can make the stone too hot and this can cause certain types of stone to crack. Once properly dry, don’t forget to seal your stone surfaces to prevent this from happening again.
Water spots
Hard water can leave water spots on your surfaces much like it does your glassware. To prevent this from occurring, you should use coasters rather than placing glasses directly on the surface. If water spots occur, they will need to be polished out.
Actual stains can also be caused by different spills such as dark liquids like red wine, balsamic vinegar and tomato juice. The key is to seal your worktops regularly and clean up spills right away. By doing this, you prevent them from penetrating the stone. Even if a light stain remains, it is usually on the surface and can be polished out.