How To Remove Stains From Marble Fireplace

A marble fireplace is a bit special. They have been used to provide the focal point of a room for hundreds of years, and they are still as popular as ever.

Marble is a very durable material, but it is porous and can be particularly susceptible to staining from acidic materials. Thus, it is important to clean it regularly, and if you spill something on it, it needs to be cleaned immediately. This guide will show you how to clean a marble fire surround and fireplace to keep it looking as good as new.

➡ How to polish marble by hand

Here is  the following advice on how to clean a marble fireplace depending on what’s been spilled on it:

Oil-based
Cause

Grease, tar, cooking oil, milk, cosmetics

What it looks like

Darkening of the stone

How to clean

If it’s an oil-based stain, it must be chemically dissolved. Don’t worry: if you do it quick enough and don’t let it rest then it shouldn’t damage the marble.

Clean the stone gently with a soft, liquid cleanser with bleach, household detergent, ammonia, mineral spirits or acetone.

Organic
Cause

Anything natural – coffee, tea, food, tobacco

What it looks like

Can cause a pinky-brown stain but can depend on what it was that was spilled.

How to clean

Use 12% hydrogen peroxide (the strength for hair dye) and a little ammonia.

Water
Cause

Spilled water, leaving glasses on the surface

What it looks like

Regular water spots or rings

How to clean

Use dry 0000 steel wool

Ink
Cause

Marker pens, biro, felt pens

What it looks like

Pretty much how you’d imagine ink to look

How to clean it

As marble is usually light coloured, use bleach or hydrogen peroxide, but only use a little at a time to make sure it doesn’t strip the colour. For darker stones you’d use acetone or lacquer thinner.

Paint
Cause

Paint spilled when decorating

What it looks like

Depends on the colour and how much you’ve spilled!

How to clean it

If it’s only a small amount of paint, you may be able to use lacquer thinner or even scrape it off with a blade. If it’s a lot of paint, then you’ll need to use a commercial paint stripper, which contain lye or caustic soda – DO NOT use acids or flames to get the paint off.

Follow the manufacturer directions or get a professional cleaner in to do it for you. Oil-based paints may leave an oily stain after cleaning – refer to the ‘oil’ section of this guide.

Fire & Smoke Damage
Cause

Flames and smoke from the fire or elsewhere if you’ve suffered a fire at home

What it looks like

Black or dark grey burn marks

How to clean it

You should either get in a professional cleaner or use ‘smoke removers’ to help restore your marble fireplace to its former glory.

Metal
Cause

Rust, iron, copper, etc. Can come from nails, screws, cans, fireside tools, etc.

What it looks like

• Iron and rust stains – orangey-brown
• Copper and bronze – green or muddy brown

 How to clean it

Stains from metal must be removed using a poultice – a liquid cleaner or chemical mixed with a white absorbent material to form a paste. This will draw out the stain over the course of 24-48 hours. You can buy poultice or you can make your own depending on what stains you’re trying to remove. See below on how to make your own poultice for stains.

Some metal stains, if left for a long time, are permanent and can’t be removed.

Biologicial
Cause

Mould, mildew, fungi

What it looks like

Can be powdery, green or brown. Obviously you know what fungi looks like.

How to clean it

Use diluted ammonia, bleach or hydrogen peroxide (½ cup in a gallon of water). DO NOT mix bleach and ammonia because it will create a lethal toxic gas!!!!

Tips for cleaning a marble fireplace or surround

Here are some more general tips for getting those pesky stains off your lovely marble fireplace or surround.

• Use a soft microfibre cloth to remove surface dust and dirt.
• Use warm (not hot) water.
• Lightly rub the stain with the cloth, increasing in pressure if the stain is stubborn.
• Regularly rinse the cloth out to keep it clean.
• Use distilled water where possible as any impurities in the water can stain the marble.
• Dry with a soft cloth or towel – do not let it air dry as this can cause water marks.
• Avoid using white vinegar or limescale removers as they contain acids, or baking soda which is abrasive and could affect the finish of the marble.
• Carefully read the directions on any cleaning products you use and start with small amounts to test.
• You can use a marble wax to bring the stone’s shine out.
  

How to make your own poultice for stains

You’ll need to buy an absorbent base for your poultice which can contain materials such as talc, chalk, kaolin, and diatomaceous earth. Here’s how to make poultice for stains:

Oil-based stains

• Poultice with baking soda and water; OR
• One of the powdered poultice materials mixed with mineral spirits

Copper stains

• Poultice with one of the powdered materials and ammonia. This can be a particularly tough stain to remove so may need to several applications or even help from a professional.

Organic stains

• Poultice with one of the powdered materials and hydrogen peroxide or acetone

Iron stains

• Poultice with diatomaceous earth and rust remover. Again, you may need a professional for this if it won’t come off.

How to apply poultice to stains

The consistency of your poultice should be roughly about that of peanut butter, and when you’re ready to apply it to the stain, follow these directions:

• Dampen the affected area with clean water (distilled if possible).
• Spread the poultice evenly over the stain so it’s about ½ inch thick, overlapping a little around the sides.
• Cover the poultice with plastic sheeting of some kind (a piece of plastic bag would do it) and tape down.
• Let the poultic dry and do it’s magic – this will take around 24-48 hours. After around 24 hours, take the plastic off.
• Remove the poultice, which will have drawn out the stain, and clean the marble with clean (again distilled if possible) water.
• Buff dry with a soft cloth.
• If the stains are particularly stubborn and ingrained, then it may take several applications before it’s completely gone.

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Cleaning soot and other stains from a marble fireplace

 

If you want to know how to clean marble fireplace mantels, the first thing you need to know is that marble is a very porous material, which means that it cannot be used on surfaces. Absorbs any liquid. Conventional cleaning products and harsh chemicals, when absorbed into the marble core, can damage the integrity of the stone, and damage or crack the surface. For this reason, it is best to use specialist marble cleaning products, designed specifically for cleaning marble.

The other thing you need to know is that any abrasive material – either cleaning products or rough cloths or brushes – can damage the marble finish. Many modern marble fireplaces are well-coated, which means they’re pretty much protected against light scratches, but if you have a historic marble fireplace, you’re more likely to damage the surface. would like to avoid it so that it not only continues. Looks great, but also that it retains its value. Here are some great tips for cleaning precious marble:

• First, use a very soft cloth, preferably a microfiber cloth, to remove surface dust and dirt from the fireplace. This will make it easier for you to spot any blemishes, and determine which areas you need to focus on. Look especially for soot stains and mug stains.
• To remove any marble stains, start with a soft, clean cloth dipped in distilled water – water that has been boiled to remove any impurities, and then allowed to cool. (You can also buy distilled water at the store.) These impurities can affect the surface of the marble, so the cleaner the water, the better. Gently wipe with a damp cloth, paying particular attention to the stained areas.
• If water is not able to remove all stains on its own, you can use specialist cleaning products designed for marble. Remember to read the instructions before use and test any product or method on a small, inconspicuous area first to make sure the cleaning solution won’t damage the marble.

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Tips for cleaning a marble fireplace or surround

 

Here are some more general tips for removing those pesky stains from your beautiful marble fireplace or surround.

• Use a soft microfiber cloth to remove dust and dirt from the surface.
• Use warm (not hot) water.
• Rub the stain gently with the cloth, increasing the pressure if the stain is stubborn.
• Rinse clothes regularly to keep them clean.
  Use distilled water where possible as any impurities in the water can stain the marble.
• Dry with a soft cloth or towel – do not let it air dry as this can cause water marks.
• Avoid using white vinegar or limescale removers because they contain acids or baking soda that are abrasive and can affect the marble finish.
• Carefully read the instructions on any cleaning products you use and start with a small amount to test.
• You can use marble wax to bring out the shine of the stone.

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FAQs

How do you remove old stains from marble?

You can add a little soap to warm water in a spray bottle or put a few drops on a damp cloth. Clean the marble surface with this damp cloth and immediately rinse and dry. Be careful not to use too much soap, which can leave a film behind.

What is the best way to clean a marble fireplace?

Use a soft microfiber cloth to remove dust and dirt from the surface. Use warm (not hot) water. Rub the stain gently with the cloth, increasing the pressure if the stain is stubborn. Rinse clothes regularly to keep them clean.

Does a marble fireplace stain?

Like any other material, a marble fireplace will stain if proper care and maintenance are not followed. Just like wood fire surrounds, marble fireplace surrounds stain if they are exposed to harsh chemicals, abrasive liquids, and anything sharp that can scratch the surface.

How do you make marble look new again?

Eco-Polishing Your Marble: Use a mixture of baking soda and water as a polish. Mix (45 g) baking soda with (0.9 L) water and mix well. Then, using a clean cloth, apply the mixture to your surface in a thin layer. Allow drying for about 5 hours.