Care
Caring for a marble countertop
A stain is something that soaked into the stone. An etch is surface damage from acid. Red wine can leave both: the colored part is a stain, and the dull ring is an etch. A poultice may lift the color, but the dull ring stays, because it's a change to the surface itself. So don't reach for a stronger cleaner every time you see a ring.
Honed or polished
Polished marble is glossy, and etches stand out because a dull spot breaks the reflection. Honed marble is smooth with little or no shine, so small etches blend in. Both finishes still etch. Choose honed if you'd rather see less wear, and polished if you love the shine and accept that dull spots will show.
Clean it and seal it
Clean daily with mild soap or a neutral stone cleaner and a soft cloth, then rinse and dry. Avoid vinegar and abrasive powders. Use boards for food prep and trivets for hot pans. Sealer reduces absorption but does nothing against etching. Instead of resealing on a calendar, test it: if a few drops of water darken the stone, it's time.
What can be fixed
A stone restorer can often draw a stain out with a poultice, a paste that pulls it from the stone. Some stains take several treatments, and a few never fully clear. Etches need refinishing rather than stain removal, and a professional can restore a honed or polished finish. Deeper scratches and chips need a professional's eye too. Adding sealer won't erase a dull ring that's already there.
Pricing
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More about materials
Planning
Choosing a material
Quartzite, marble, granite, quartz and porcelain compared, how to care for each one, and polished, honed or leathered finishes.
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Quartzite vs quartz
Quartzite and quartz share most of a name, but they're very different materials.
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Sealer: what it does and what it doesn't
Some natural stone absorbs liquid through tiny pores, which is how an oily spill leaves a dark patch. A penetrating sealer soaks in and slows that absorption.
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