For greasy stains:
Mix acetone with powdered chalk dust or whiting (found in most paint stores) until you create a thick paste.
Apply in a thick layer to the stained area.
Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and tape the sides down to prevent the acetone from evaporating.
Let sit overnight.
Clean off the poultice and scrub the stain.
Repeat this process if the stain is not removed the first time.
After you have treated a greasy stain in marble, the surface may be slightly dull from the poultice and require polishing.
For coffee, tea, soda, fruit juice, or other organic material stains:
Mix hydrogen peroxide (found in drugstores) with powdered whiting.
Apply in a thick layer to the stained area.
Squeeze a few drops of household ammonia onto the poultice.
Cover quickly with plastic wrap and tape down the sides.
Let sit overnight.
Scrub the stain with a dry cloth.
Repeat this process if the stain is not removed the first time.
If the stain is not lightening at all using the above poultice, try making the poultice with straight household ammonia.
After you have treated a stain in marble, the surface may be slightly dull from the poultice and require polishing.
For rust stains (the most difficult type of stain to remove):
If the stain is relatively fresh you may be able to get it up by rubbing hard with a dry cloth.
If the stain doesn't come out, you need to make a poultice.
Mix a liquid rust remover (found in hardware stores) with powdered whiting.
Apply to the stain and let the poultice sit for several hours.
If the poultice gets most but not all of the rust stain out, try another poultice containing bleach.
This may do the trick in getting the entire stain out.
After you have treated a rust stain in marble, the surface may be slightly dull from the poultice and require polishing.
Polishing your marble: After you have treated a stain in marble, the surface may be slightly dull from the poultice and require polishing.
Wet the marble surface.
Sprinkle tin oxide powder (available from marble dealers and often from furniture stores) generously onto the surface.
Use a thick cloth pad to rub the area hard until the surface is lustrous again.
Portable buffers are a good idea if you want to polish an entire surface, since your arm may give out before you finish the job!
