What to Do About a Stain on Your Countertop

A stain on a new countertop can make your stomach drop. Take a breath. Most stains come out, and the first two minutes matter more than any product you can buy.

This guide covers natural stone (granite, quartzite and marble) and quartz separately, because they are made differently and need different fixes. The natural stone steps come from the Natural Stone Institute, the trade group for the natural stone industry. The quartz steps come from the quartz makers.

One rule before anything else: if you are not sure what to do, call us before you scrub. Using the wrong product can turn a small stain into a bigger problem.

Step One for Any Spill: Blot, Do Not Wipe

The Natural Stone Institute says: “Blot the spill with a paper towel immediately. Don’t wipe the area, it will spread the spill.”

Then: “Flush the area with plain water and mild soap and rinse several times.” Dry it with a soft cloth.

That handles most fresh spills on any stone.

Is It a Stain or an Etch?

Before you treat a mark on natural stone, look closely. A stain is a darker spot where something soaked in. An etch is a dull spot where an acid ate into the shine.

The Natural Stone Institute says “Some materials will etch the finish but not leave a stain. Others will both etch and stain.” Etching mostly happens on marble and other calcite stones. The Institute says marble’s calcite “is vulnerable to attack by mild acids, including those commonly found in kitchen and bar settings.”

A stain remover will not fix an etch, because nothing soaked in. Etches on marble often need a professional to restore the shine. If you see a dull spot rather than a dark one, call us.

Natural Stone: Match the Stain to the Fix

The Natural Stone Institute sorts stains by type. The Institute says “Surface stains can often be removed by cleaning with an appropriate cleaning product or household chemical,” and “Deep-seated or stubborn stains may require using a poultice or calling in a professional.”

Oil (cooking oil, grease, butter, lotion). Oil stains darken the stone. The Institute says to “Clean gently with a soft, liquid cleanser with bleach OR household detergent OR ammonia OR mineral spirits OR acetone.” Pick one, not several. For a stubborn oil stain, it describes a poultice made with baking soda and water.

Organic (coffee, tea, fruit, wine, food). These often leave a pinkish brown mark. For use indoors, the Institute suggests “12% hydrogen peroxide (hair bleaching strength) and a few drops of ammonia.” Wear gloves and open a window.

Ink and marker. The Institute says “Clean with bleach or hydrogen peroxide (light colored stone only!) or lacquer thinner or acetone (dark stones only!).” The color of your stone decides the product. Using bleach on dark stone, or acetone on light stone, can make things worse.

Rust and metal. These are the hardest. The Institute warns that “Deep-seated, rusty stains are extremely difficult to remove and the stone may be permanently stained,” and “You may need to call a professional.” Keep cast iron pans and metal cans off damp stone.

Water rings and spots. The Institute says to “Buff with dry 0000 steel wool.” Use only the finest grade, 0000, and buff gently.

The most important safety rule. In capital letters, the Institute says: “DO NOT MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA! THIS COMBINATION CREATES A TOXIC AND LETHAL GAS!” If you try one product and it does not work, rinse well with plain water before trying another.

Natural Stone: What a Poultice Is

A poultice is a paste that draws a stain back out of the stone as it dries. You spread it over the stain, let it dry, and remove it.

Two things to know from the Natural Stone Institute:

“Allow the poultice to dry thoroughly, usually about 24 to 48 hours.”
“It may take up to five applications for difficult stains.”

So be patient. The Institute’s stains page has full poultice recipes for each stain type. If you are not comfortable making one, call us.

Quartz: Gentler Fixes

Quartz has no open spaces for a stain to soak into, so most marks sit on the surface. The rules are different because of the resin that holds quartz together.

Fresh spills. MSI says “Wipe up coffee, wine, and juice as soon as they happen.” It warns that “acidic or pigmented liquids like red wine, tomato sauce, or tea, can lead to discoloration if left untreated.”

Stubborn spots. MSI says: “For stubborn spots, make a paste of baking soda and water.” Spread it over the stain, “let it sit briefly, and then gently scrub with a soft cloth before rinsing clean.”

Dried gunk. MSI suggests “a nonabrasive surface cleaner or a glass cleaner.”

Gum, nail polish or dried paint. MSI says to carefully use a plastic putty knife, and to “Avoid metal blades, as they can scratch the surface.” Caesarstone says for nail polish: “Use a small amount of nail polish remover right away, and clean and dry like normal.”

Grease. Caesarstone says to “Apply a mild degreaser on the surface and let sit a few minutes, then wipe with a clean damp cloth.”

Tougher stains. Caesarstone says “household alcohol, and a soft cloth will work.”

Bleach on quartz? The makers disagree. MSI says to “Stay away from cleaners with bleach, ammonia, or strong solvents.” Caesarstone suggests “a small amount of household bleach for lighter-colored surfaces.” Check your own quartz brand’s care guide before using bleach, and never use it on dark quartz without checking.

Marble: Extra Care

Marble marks more easily than any other countertop stone. MSI’s marble guide lists acids to keep away: “lemon juice, vinegar, catsup, tomato sauce, orange juice, soft drinks.” It says to “Wipe up spills of any liquid immediately, and only use mild soap and a soft cloth for cleaning.”

For specific stains on marble, MSI suggests:

Oil: “clean with mild dish detergent.”
Ink: “hydrogen peroxide on light colored marble, acetone on dark colors.”

And remember the etch rule above. A dull spot on marble is usually an etch, not a stain.

How to Prevent Stains

Wipe spills right away, especially oil, wine, coffee, tea and tomato.
Use coasters under glasses and a tray under oil bottles.
On natural stone, keep the seal in good shape. We seal every natural stone slab before we install it, but sealing makes stone “more stain resistant,” not stain proof, as the Natural Stone Institute puts it.
Never mix cleaning products.

When to Call Us

Call if the stain is rust, if it has not moved after a few tries, if you see a dull etch on marble, or any time you are unsure. A phone call costs nothing and can save your countertop from the wrong fix.