Help! I stained my counter!
So, you’ve invested in brand new solid stone countertops but horror of horrors the very next day there’s a massive stain all across the surface. Or, you’ve had your counters for a while but forgot to seal it regularly. Don’t panic yet, there are a couple of quick fixes before you have to call a counter resurfacer. To remove new surface stains on quartz, granite, or marble countertops:
Immediately clean any staining agents off of your counter surface using warm water and dish soap.
Apply a paste of baking soda and water (for oil-based stains) or a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water (for water-based stains) and then let it sit for a short while (15-45 min) before removing with a clean, non-abrasive cloth.
If the stain persists you can try soaking another clean, non-abrasive cloth with clear acetone (not nail polish remover, 100% clear acetone) and scrubbing very hard for a very long time.
No matter the stain, there are a few chemicals and cleaners to avoid: bleach, nail polish remover, turpentine, drain cleaner, oven cleaner, dishwasher rinse agents, or any abrasive cleaners such as Comet. These can permanently damage your countertop surface and cause a bigger problem than the initial stain. Warm dish soap and water is your best bet when cleaning solid stone counters if you’d rather not spring for the stone specific cleaners, and make sure you seal natural stone at least annually. Avoid putting anything that will rust directly on your counter, and wipe up any spills as they happen.