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junebugmama12

Removing Stain from Quartzite

8 years ago

I recently noticed a dark staining along the edge of our bowed island. This is where our kids eat. In all likelihood, a babysitter used a household cleaner to wipe down the edge of the counter after a meal. Looking for suggestions of how best to remove the stain. Do I give it a go myself? Leave it to the professionals? TIA

Comments (261)

  • 3 years ago

    I have tried all of the above except the hydrogen peroxide and it just made the counter look worse.
    So I will now try that. I have matte quartzite. If the peroxide does not work I may try calling someone to re matte finish the top.

  • 3 years ago

    I noticed a grease stain on my new White Lux. I think some greasy food spilled off my cutting board. What do you suggest?

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Google poultices and test please.

  • 3 years ago

    Thank you! I will

  • 3 years ago

    I have used every granite oil remover on the market to remove some dark oily spots from our white quartzite (granite) countertop to no avail. It’s been over a year…so I had our stone company come out to take a look. I thought they were going to sand it to get it out. Nope! They used 100% acetone. They put a paper towel over each stain , soaked it with acetone, then applied a piece of Saran Wrap over the area. Then they taped all the edges down with regular masking tape. They told me to not touch it for three days. They also said “don’t freak out because it will look like there is a huge stain when you take the paper towel off but it’s just the acetone in the stone and it will evaporate in a day or two. “

    Like magic my stains are GONE! It’s a miracle so I thought I better share it with all my Houzz friends with stains on their granite. 😉 That is a picture of the original stain. And the second picture shows that the stain is gone!
    He did tell me not to use acetone on marble because it will etch the surface. Also, do not use blue or green painters tape because the acetone will take the color off the tape and deposit into your stone.

  • 3 years ago

    Also, the acetone strips the sealer so you will need to reapply sealer after you get the stains out.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Keep a fire extinguisher handy whenever you're using acetone. Don't ask me how I know, please.

  • 3 years ago

    😳

  • 3 years ago

    So glad you discovered it. I had the same success with acetone. Per the previous comment be sure to reseal...

  • 3 years ago

    Y'all have given me some hope for acetone. I think I'll try it. I have learned that oil stains in my quartzite countertop disappear/evaporate after a few days so I should just leave them alone. Unfortunately, I used poultices on a few before I learned they evaporate and now it's just been hard to get the moisture out of the stone.

  • 3 years ago

    @ericashell Same! Waiting for two weeks for the ring around my poultice to dry. Have had a small fan pointed directly on the area for that entire time. I used a hair dryer to help speed up drying in the past; need to do it this time. I have a new sealer now that I think will be way better than what my installer recommended. It just has not lasted on this stone.

  • 3 years ago

    " Y'all have given me some hope for acetone. "


    Just make sure all electrical appliances are unplugged and you have good ventilation or you run the risk of blowing up your house.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    @skigirl308 love how I went to 5 different stone yards and EVERYONE said "oh Quartzite is the new best thing, most durable, most everything, blah blah blah" ugh I wish I would have gone with white granite all the time. I tell everyone I know who is remodeling their kitchen - leave quartzite in the earth.

  • 3 years ago

    Yes, I definitely feel like the porosity was completely left out of the conversations I had. I did a ton of research and this did not come up two years ago when I was looking.

  • 3 years ago

    Agreed!

  • 3 years ago

    @ericashell this article gave me hope.

    I figure if she found a sealer that really works for matte quartzite then it should be perfect for my polished quartzite. The comments were also reassuring.

    https://evolutionofstyleblog.com/the-best-sealer-for-quartzite-countertops/

    The Stonetech stain remover did not work for me - it actually lightened the area. It isn't that noticeable since some time has passed, though.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    @skigirl308 oh nice! thanks for sharing! I also used the Stonetech oil stain remover and had no luck. I will probably try this sealer too. I am going to see if Stain Proof has a stain remover!

  • 3 years ago

    @ericashell you’re welcome. I haven’t had a chance to see if they have a stain remover but if you find they do, please let me know! 😊

  • 3 years ago

    @ericashell
    I found this, but it’s a liquid instead of a paste type poultice: https://www.drytreat.com/cleaners/regular/s-tech-stone-and-masonry-cleaner.html

  • 3 years ago

    I have a stain(unsure of what it is but it looks like Erin’s. I did a baking soda mixture and it is still drying out… should I try the acetone next? How long Should I wait?
    I too thought quartzite was the best of both worlds (Granite and marble) but sadly I’m stressed out since my remodel!

  • 3 years ago

    I would love to know the answer to this question, too!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    @skigirl308, sorry for the delay. I just saw this. did you try that cleaner? I’m finally trying the acetone and will take it off tomorrow.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    @charlottebscott did you try anything? any success?i know how you feel. i miss granite! hard lesson learned

  • 2 years ago

    My contractor said that he was going to bring something over and work on it. Then he will seal it again.
    I guess we just need to embrace the imperfections as they come like scratches on a new car lol

  • 2 years ago

    @ericashell, no. I am going to try this one in the next few days:

    https://www.bellinzoni.com/en/products/surfaces/to-remove-stains/b-spot-remover/

    Would love to know how the acetone works. Please let us know!

    I’ll keep you posted on how the Bellinzoni product works.

  • 2 years ago

    @charlottebscott, please let us know how it goes & what your contractor uses!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    @skigirl308 ill let you know! im thinking it will dry out by Sunday/Monday. Fingers crossed!


    also, ive heard good things about Mangiamacchia! i hope it goes well.

  • 2 years ago

    Ericashell hoping for the best! 🤞

  • 2 years ago

    @skigirl308 im sad to report that it only made the stain darker than it already was. theres one 1 slab of my stone left at stone yard so im going to try to get a deal on it and redo the island :(


    Now im wondering if i should use this opportunity to do a thicker mitered edge on the island. The perimiter of the kitchen has a thinner edge where rbe slab is just doubled.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    ericashell:


    You have a stone that is unsuitable as countertop material. The redone island will repeat the problem. I know you don't want to hear this, but that doesn't change anything.

  • 2 years ago

    @ericashell. I think the key is sealing with a good sealer and ceiling often. I read an article this week that said it’s good to do it every season or whenever water doesn’t bead on the surface. I’m going to do it every season at a minimum. We did a beveled edge to kind of mirror our cabinet doors, and I am really happy with it.

  • 2 years ago

    Joseph, I completely agree with you. In my next home i will not be getting quartzite. unfortunately, in this home i have to stick with it because its all over the kitchen, its the back splash too. Multiple fabricators told me it was the best stone available now. I know better now. that said, i did make the situation worse than it needed to be. i saw 3 small circular stains on the island appear over night and assumed i did it so started tackling with poultices. turns out it was the silicone underneath so my poultices just kept making it worse. the fabricator said if i would have left it alone it would have gone away in a couple of day because he sealed both sides. For one of the poultices i used baking soda and vinegar. gasp! so i royally messed this up. but still, never had issues like this with granite - the real MVP!


  • 2 years ago

    @skigirl308 i think ill be doing the same and dream of the day i will have low maintenance granite again.


    i came here to tell you there was a small stain in my bathroom and my fabricator brought TeClean powder by Tenax last week to get it out and it worked great!!! link below for you in case you have any spots. it looks good as new again.


    https://www.tenax4you.com/tenax-teclean-stain-remover-poultice-powder-8-oz-p/1tefillclean.htm


    did you decide to use Stain Proof? Tenax is really good too.

  • 2 years ago

    @skigirl308 your beveled edge is gorgeous!

  • 2 years ago

    @ericashell thanks!! I’m really happy with it.
    Btw, I sealed my counters this past weekend! I have a reminder on my calendar to reseal in two months if needed.
    We’ll see how it goes! 🤞 Hopefully, I won’t need to do it that soon, but I am staying on top of it this time!

  • 2 years ago

    @ericashell thanks for the tip on the stain remover! I will definitely keep that on hand.
    I used Stain-Proof Premium Impregnating Sealer. It is not exactly the same as the dense stone one reviewed in that article link I posted, but it’s from the same brand and good for quartzite also. I didn’t realize this until right before I started sealing. 🙃
    If it isn’t as good, I will switch to the dense stone one for next time.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    "i did it so started tackling with poultices. turns out it was the silicone underneath so my poultices just kept making it worse. the fabricator said if i would have left it alone it would have gone away in a couple of day because he sealed both sides."


    The fabricator is wrong. It would be the first time in recorded history that silicone bleed had gone away on its own in a few days.

  • 2 years ago

    Erin Ohnesorge - are your stains still gone after using the acetone?

  • 2 years ago

    skigirl308 i am reading through these posts and i similarly used stonetech stain remover, and while it totally did not work on the stain it lightened the area around the stain and I am devastated. I am looking for experiences from others that used this stain remover and if the white stains eventually faded and is there anything I can do to accelerate the lightening to go away.

  • 2 years ago

    @julie m
    The lightening on my counter has totally gone away. It took a few months, but has returned to how it looked before I applied the stain remover.
    Not sure if something is available to accelerate. Wish I could be more help.

  • 2 years ago

    I am back two years later with another stain:(. Someone left a tray with some gravy underneath that had Tumeric in it on my counter and it has left stains all over in different areas. My counter top is Taj Mahal Quartzite. I cook a lot and have never had an issue with any food stains prior to this. Unfortunately I think the tray sat for a few hours on the countertop and seeped in. Any recommendations that have been tried and tested? I used a poultice in the past for another stain made from dichotomous earth and 40 clear peroxide. But I do not know if it’s ok to use on an oil based Tumeric stain:(.
    Please help!

  • 2 years ago

    I apologize for my messy handwriting, but this technique worked for me. I did it at least twice for a gravy stain. It was recommended to me by a local countertop expert.
    After you get the stain up, I would definitely reseal.
    If you need a sealer recommendation, let me know. I’m very happy with the one I’m using now.

  • 2 years ago

    Thank you!

  • 2 years ago

    You're welcome! :) Wishing you the best!! I know how frustrating it is.

  • 2 years ago

    @skigirl308 Thanks for sharing the pic with the poultice recipe! I have stains on the backsplash behind the stove in a brand new home. I am super sad and hoping I am able to remove them using this Poultice. Can you kindly share a link to the sealant you recommend for resealing? Thanks in advance!

  • 2 years ago

    @pri v, here you go:
    https://a.co/d/8anxJY4

    I also use StainProof’s daily countertop cleaner and have been very pleased with that as well.

    Best of luck!

  • 2 years ago

    Thank you so much! @skigirl308

  • PRO
    2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Acetone is great for removing oil stain on Quartzite. Soak the area a couple times over a day or so with acetone and wipe up after a couple minutes to help remove any sealer that was applied. Then soak a shop rag paper towel with acetone and apply it over the stain. You have to really soak it. Then cover it in plastic and tape it down. I like to use 3m painters tape. Not green or blue tape. Poke a few holes in it. Leave that sit for at least 24 hour. You can check it. If the rag is still damp recover it and let it sit till it is dry. Now here is the scary part for people. The stain will look horrible and much darker then the surrounding stone. That is because the acetone soaked into the stone. That is what you wanted it to do to break up the stain. Sit and wait. It will dry. Sometimes very quickly. A day or so. Sometime it will take a week or even longer. Let it dry till either the stone returns to its color or the stone returns to its color and the stain is still there. Sometimes it takes several attempts to remove this. Its sometimes is a long process. Then yes you have to seal the spot that was affected with the acetone. I work for a fabricator and I remove stains on all types of stones.

    All stones are able to be stained, even with the best sealers. I know we have used them all. Sealers are to only help staining from penetrating. Anything and everything will still penetrate stone. Even the unstainable quartz stone so they say.

    Stonetech oil stain remover is a great stain remover. Sometimes it will leave a haze after you attempt to remove a stain and it dry's out. KEY let it completely dry. It takes time and you have give it time to dry. If it has a haze. Remove it with a acetone rag like my notes above.

    Do not use acid base anything on any countertops as a cleaner or stain remover. It will etch your stone.

    Also no acetone on any quartz countertop. I have removed almost any stain on quartz with softscrub with bleach. The green bottle sold everywhere. Shake well. Apply the softscrub. Add a little bit of water and lightly scrub with a little force. If you go crazy and scrub hard for a bit you can mar or dull the finish on the stone. That would be bad because it very very hard to fix. Repeat if needed to remove the stain.

    Only use acetone on natural stones.

    Stains need patients. I have only ran into a few permanent stains in my 13 years in this industry.

    Sorry for the long post.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    I tried the acetone on a rag covered by plastic wrap this afternoon only to have the plastic wrap get ruined by the acetone. It shrunk, warped and got brittle. Pointers? tips? Thank you.

  • PRO
    last year

    Not sure what type of plastic you used. I have never had acetone do that to a plastic wrap and I have done this hundreds of times.