Before you try anything: always speak to a professional before cleaning, treating or applying any product to your stone. Every slab is different, and the wrong product can cause permanent damage. Contact us or a qualified stone restorer first.
Quick answer
Etch marks on marble are surface damage from acid, so cleaning will never remove them. Light etches on polished marble can be buffed out with a marble polishing powder and a little water; deeper or widespread etching needs a stone restorer to hone and re-polish the surface. Once repaired, a protection film stops acids reaching the stone again.
First, check what you are dealing with
- Dull, pale or cloudy mark, often in the shape of a glass, drip or lemon wedge: an etch.
- Darker patch with no change in shine: a stain instead. See the stain guides.
- Slight roughness you can feel: a deeper etch that needs honing.
What you need
- Marble polishing powder
- Soft cloth or felt pad
- Spray bottle of water
- Microfibre cloth
Step by step
Clean and dry
Wash the area with warm water and pH-neutral cleaner and dry it.
Apply polishing powder
Sprinkle a little marble polishing powder over the etch and add a few drops of water to make a slurry.
Buff
Rub with a soft cloth, or a felt pad on a low-speed drill, keeping the slurry wet, for one to two minutes.
Rinse and check
Wipe clean, dry and look at the area at an angle. Repeat once or twice; stop if the area starts to look different from the surrounding stone.
Call a restorer for the rest
Etches that do not respond, feel rough or cover a large area need professional honing and polishing. A stone restorer can hone and re-polish marble back to an even finish, and on bookmatched or heavily veined slabs that is the safest route.
What not to use on marble
- Sandpaper or abrasive pads from the hardware store.
- Polishing powder on honed marble, which leaves a shiny patch.
- More acidic cleaners in the hope of "evening it out".
When to call a professional
Call a restorer for etches you can feel, etching across large areas, bookmatched or feature slabs, and anything on onyx. A stone restorer can hone and re-polish marble back to an even finish, and on bookmatched or heavily veined slabs that is the safest route.
Understanding etch marks on marble
Marble is almost pure calcite, which dissolves in acid. Lemon, wine, vinegar and many sprays dull a polished surface within seconds to minutes.
On polished marble damage shows as dull, cloudy patches in reflected light; on honed marble it tends to look darker or smoother than the surrounding stone.
A stone restorer can hone and re-polish marble back to an even finish, and on bookmatched or heavily veined slabs that is the safest route.
Good to know
Marble etching is the single most common stone problem in Sydney kitchens and bathrooms: lemon wedges, wine glasses, vinegar sprays and bathroom cleaners all leave dull marks.
Stop it happening again
Whether yours is Calacatta, Carrara, Statuario, Nero Marquina, Emperador and Crema Marfil, repairing it fixes today's mark; protecting it stops the next one. Our clear Stone Protection Film sits over the surface, so acids cannot etch it and liquids cannot soak in. Choose Gloss for polished marble or Matte/Satin for honed and matte finishes. The protection is identical. It is installed across Sydney with a 10-year written warranty.
How we protect marble · Fixing etch marks · Etch marks on every surface