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Remove stains from Granite countertop
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Q. How do I remove an olive oil stain from my granite counter top? Please help! I just put them in this week! Sheryl R [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ++ Q. Hi, - Berkeley, California
++++++ A. For oil and other stains try placing a hot wet terry cloth towel on the stain with a iron on full steam right on top,then try the common poultice, the steam will help breakdown the residue and the poultice will draw out the stain. Dan C [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Suffolk, New York
+++++++ Q. Dear Readers, hobbyist - Lutz, Florida +++++++ Q. Does anyone know how to get out stain from a granite countertop caused by someone spraying WD-40 [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] up under the countertop to lubricate the kitchen sink faucet. This inadvertently soaked the granite from underneath and a dark stain spread to the top and lip of the countertop overhanging the sink. Any help will be greatly appreciated. This is a brand new, light color granite countertop. Steve L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]homeowner - Newtown, Pennsylvania |
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Q. In a panic, I placed an overheated pot on my black granite. The pot was stainless steel and had oil stains on the bottom. The hot pot, which was only on the granite for a few seconds, left a white mark. I have tried everything suggested here. When I first remove the treatments, the mark is gone, but after a few hours it returns. Any suggestions anyone? Bebe S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Birmingham, Alabama ++++++ PLEASE HELP! I think I have the same problem as one of the previous posts - but I am not sure "white"" stain or a fog on my granite counter and I don't know how to get it out. Since I am not sure what the stain is from I am not sure how to treat it. Please help Linda H [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]homeowner - Boston, Massachusetts ++++++ I have a white stain or a fog on my Gialo Florito granite counter and I don't know how to get it out. Since I am not sure what the stain is from I am not sure how to treat it. Please help. Same problem as Linda H posted. Jose A [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Bronx, New York ++++++++ There does not seem to be an answer to this type of stain request. - Sydney, Australia August 4, 2011 Hi, - Singapore |
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Q. Does anyone know how to remove embedded coffee stains on granite? Patti S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]Consumer - Vernon, Wisconsin May 2, 2008 My coffee pot sat on the counter overnight and leaked coffee and has stained the counter top granite which is light. I tried the flour and dawn solution and it did not work.. any other solutions Teri Aceves- Simi Valley, California |
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Q. We had granite installed last week and it is already stained. It was sealed, I watched the men do it after they installed the top. Just about everything stains it, even if you try like mad to keep it spotless. - Chiefland, Florida
March 1, 2008 Q. I used Windex on the olive oil stain and it's getting lighter I keep working on it I only had my counter tops for 2 weeks and I was willing to call them in to replace one side but they said impossible with the glue on the counter tops they would have to tear up everything and that's too costly good luck with the Windex Tawana [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Los Angeles, California May 3, 2008 Q. We've been in our new renovated kitchen for six months now. we chose a kashmir granite, brushed. And we have two toddlers. The granite was sealed three times before delivery and once afterwards. Our table in the kitchen, connected to island is the same brushed granite. The entire end area where my son eats is a darker, dull color now, and same situation around the cooktop. I'm guessing it's a combination of use and oil stains. How do I remove these stains? And if that's successful, how do I prevent them in the future? Is there some spray cleaner or something to use after my son eats or after I cook? I'm meticulous and always wipe down the area but I know now that's not enough. By the way, the granite shop and dealer told me it was no more porous than if I bought it polished. I disagree. Thanks for any advice. Jennifer Hamilton- Atlanta, Georgia January 25, 2009 Alas, the black granite power kitchens of the late 80's, early 90's got us to love granite but not the black color. So we choose light & colored granites etc., and then are so surprised, disappointed and unhappy when they stain up so badly with food, oil, felt markers, crayons, candles etc. I think if I ever get to do it over, I will choose something different -- something that is a rapidly renewable resource, or easily recyclable. If I tear this out I have no idea how it could be recycled, so this expensive and non-renewable will just go in the landfill. - Oakland, California July 20, 2010 I've had black granite in my kitchen for 15 years. I have never resealed it or taken any precautions. We put any and everything on it. Looks as new as the day it was laid. I think the new granites must be lower grade and not properly sealed to have all the problems described here. So sad. Louise Scott- Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA August 6, 2010 I put some blue dawn on an oil spot and left it accidentally overnight and now I have a bigger stain from the blue dawn! any suggestions? Had I known granite was so wimpy I would NEVER have bought it. shannon dammed- san francisco, California USA April 1, 2011 I just had a granite countertop installed yesterday. It's a light color. I wasn't told anything about care, but was told it would be sealed at the factory then sealed when installed. They didn't seal it when they installed it. Said it wasn't necessary. It water-marks in, like, 10 minutes then takes 2 hours to dry. I woke up this morning and there is a stain next to the stove. I have absolutely no idea what caused it. If it WAS wet, it was dry by the time I saw it, but it looks like something was set on it. And it wasn't. I am praying this fades. As far as I'm concerned this was a big mistake. I would never have put in granite had I known it wasn't functional. A kitchen countertop is supposed to be durable. Granite sounds durable. It's not. I hope you'll leave this post in even though it doesn't ask for a solution. If you're considering a granite countertop, at the very least, test a sample piece. I can't imagine anyone being happy with granite, so unless my granite is defective, I think it's so much over-rated as to be a fraud. Midge Dana- Wood Dale, Illinois, USA |
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Q. Does anyone know how to remove a red wine stain from granite counter tops without damaging the finish of the granite? Colette S [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]homeowner - Braintree, Massachusetts March 10, 2008 A. I had a red wine stain on my granite counter top that we had managed to overlook for two weeks. Using dish washing liquid and brushing it out did nothing to the purple stain that was left behind. I mixed OxiClean [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] and a little bit of water, brushed it with a toothbrush onto the counter top and left it to dry for several hours. After 2 applications, the OxiClean took the entire red wine stain out! Melissa F [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- San Marcos, California December 7, 2010 I tried a generic version of oxiclean to remove a red wine ring on my granite countertop...and it Worked! Thanks for the suggestion. Sharon F [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Chicago Illinois USA |
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April 13, 2008
Q. I set a bottle of CLR [linked by editor to product info at Amazon] on my white granite counter top for a minute and it now has a foggy stain. I haven't tried anything yet. Any suggestions? Barb Haselhorst- Aviston, Illinois September 29, 2009 I was trying to clean the hard water off of our faucet in the bathroom and set a plastic bowl (old margarine tub) with some CLR in it on the counter. Well I guess the CLR had dribbled over the edge of the tub because when I removed the bowl I was left with nice rings of CLR stains! Does anyone know how to remove a stain remover! :) Thanks for your help. Kelly Oliver- Burlington, Ontario, Canada August 8, 2008 Q. Recently my boyfriend and I purchased a granite counter top for my bathroom. Apparently I spilled some Ivory hand soap on its surface and it remained there for two months when we were in Florida working. He has used CLR and I tried lots of water to possibly dilute the soap stain but those efforts haven't worked. Any one ever had this type of problem and possibly a solution? Thanks! Judy Granthomeowner - Bailey, Colorado |
June 4, 2008
A. After the installation of my (light-coloured) granite I took a spare piece and left oil, vinegar, lemon juice and a very popular soft drink on it and let them soak in. After 24 hours I wiped the granite: nothing left a mark apart from the oil, which gradually faded. If you can do this you will be able to check how porous your granite is (they vary widely) and know the degree of care you should take. Any oily substance I religiously put on a coaster. However, if occasionally something does get spilled and I prefer not to wait a couple of weeks for the stain to gradually fade & disappear, then I soak the spot with water before applying a poultice of baking powder and water. This should be mixed to a thick paste and put on top of the stain, before being covered with cling-film cellotaped down at the sides. Leave for 48 hours, remove and wipe down and that should help with the removal/fading process nicely. I also actually cover the counter top at the side of the stove I'm using with a tea towel before cooking anything using oil, to avoid spits. It only takes a minute, but I can't afford to replace my granite if it gets screwed up.
Helen Carter- Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
August 8, 2008
A. I put in new Paradiso granite tops, and within 24 hours had an olive oil stain. The tops had not been sealed as I proved that sealant prevents this. Using a blowtorch (used for crème brulé) I gently played the flame over the stain and Voilá - stain gone in seconds.
Shelley Nelson- York, North Yorkshire, UK
August 24, 2008
I have a question. A candle melted on our granite outdoor table top. There is a huge stain now and I have tried poultices,acetone,shout,dawn soap. I'm now trying lacquer thinner but to no avail. Is there anything that will work? Help!
Deb Kassner
- Elk Grove Village, Illinois
November 6, 2008
A. My olive oil stain was 4 days old. First I applied Shout and it didn't work. Then I rubbed dry baby powder with a dry dish cloth and it removed 90% of the stain. I will continue to apply the baby powder over the next couple days.
Sharon K [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 11, 2008
My husband dropped and broke a bottle of olive oil on our granite counter while cooking. He wiped it up, and I went over it--over and over. It appeared to be dry, but several days later, I wiped it again with a paper towel and found that there was still oil in the seams (between the counter top and the "rise" (granite backsplash)...I was soaking it up and thought I'd gotten most of it. Several weeks later, I have noticed a huge stain from the rise out about 3 inches...and a little bit going up the rise. I've tried the acetone and paper towels, the baking powder and Windex...several times...are there any other suggestions or is it too late?
Cathy
- Marco Island, Florida
November 18, 2008
I used the flour and peroxide poultice method to remove a grease stain from my brand new granite counter top. I let it sit over night.. and.. Oh my gosh! There is a newer, bigger stain now from that poultice mixture! What do I do now? Help?
Susan Grattino- Denver, Colorado
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July 12, 2008
Q. We just had a new granite counter top installed and today my wife noticed that the seems, on either side of the back splash, are turning Tawana . The granite has a stain guard on the surface that is supposedly guaranteed for 15 years. Some of these seems have never even been wet and are not close to any heat. Has anyone encountered this before? I just was looking for some opinions before I call the company. James Gilchrist- Lincoln, California ^-- this reader rates this thread: 
December 10, 2008 I too have questions about new white granite turning green, but what good is a web site that is nothing more than questions? belle sandwith- calpine, California December 11, 2008 Hi, Belle. Please view the thread a little more slowly: many of the postings are answers to previous questions! But your question is not clear to me. You are considering white granite counters but have heard that they turn green, so you're leery? Or they are turning green? Do you think they are becoming stained with green from cutting vegetables and so on? Please clarify. Thanks! Regards,
September 1, 2009 A. The green stains you see in lighter granite is a chemical reaction between a accelerant used to dry a adhesive (similar to super glue) and feldspar, a common mineral in lighter granite. An oil removing poultice will remove it in 2-3 applications. Sometimes there will be a darker area where the poultice was but will fade in a day or two. Bobby chambers- grandview, Missouri |
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January 9, 2009
A. I had an oil stain on my new whitish granite counter top. I used Dupont StoneTech Professional Oil Stain Remover => - Fairfax, Virginia |
February 17, 2009I went to Amazon and was shocked by how much their STONETECH Oil Stain Remover was, but I found a great price at Tri-Point Marble & Granite Restoration, $6.95 for the 3 oz size. Here is the link: www.tripointpro.com/servlet/the-Stonetech/Categories
Laurie Macfee
I'm in the middle of trying the cornstarch, bought baby powder, Shout, and ammonia just in case, and am ordering the Stone Tech for future problems. Good luck everyone!
- Reno, Nevada
March 7, 2009That's a good price, Laurie, thanks for finding it! But Amazon isn't a boutique, it's the world's most respected mail-order vendor -- so the situation could be the reverse when a future reader checks this. Thanks again!
Update April 2011: Amazon is offering the 3-oz size for $5.75, or the 16-oz for $23.34 with free shipping.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
January 19, 2009
We just got done remodeling our bathroom with a beautiful new black granite vanity top. When cleaning the toilet, I set the bottle on the granite not thinking about it. Now I have white stain which looks like it took the shiny finish off of it! I am just sick about it...can anyone help?
Thanks
- Mukwonago,Wisconsin
January 19, 2009
A red Christmas candle melted in the sun on my outside patio furniture, which is a coarse marble from Mexico. My husband scraped away most of the melted candle wax with a razor blade. However a red stain was left on the marble. Any ideas for how to remove?
LB Sullivan- San Diego, California
January 27, 2009
I like the Dupont StoneTech Professional Oil Stain Remover suggestion on a previous answer, has anyone else tried it? Does it really work? Is there a final solution to getting the oil stains out? Can someone finally send a correct answer that really works?
Help us all please!
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Ed. note: There are light granites and dark granites, Jose. There are porous granites and polished granites; there are unsealed granites, factory-sealed granites, and site-sealed granites, and a half dozen different types of sealers. There are stains of a 1001 varieties. People have offered solutions, and other have responded that they worked in some particular cases and not in others. Please don't demand that someone "finally send a correct answer" as it is insulting to the people who have been trying to help you.
February 2, 2009
A. Oil stains on sealed granite? Happened to me too... I used an fix for the same problem with oil on my new expensive leather purse... CORNSTARCH! Lifted the oil right out of the leather. So I figured, couldn't hurt...
Sprinkle some cornstarch on the cleaned, dry surface, covering the stain completely. let sit overnight/24 hours. vacuum or wipe off. Stubborn cases (or if the stain is older) may take longer. I was shocked this worked, but it did.
- Sacramento, California
February 3, 2009
A. Two months ago when my new kitchen was finished I discovered I had not done my homework and my new granite counters were subject to oil staining. Something as simple as oil on the bottom of my olive oil bottle leaves a ring. I tried the dawn, flour, water combination, and it made the stains lighter but they did not go away. Then I got the StoneTech Professional Oil Stain Remover [linked by editor to product info at Amazon], just a 3 oz can to try it out on my stains. WOW, it really works, the stains are gone! While I do intend to continue being careful, I no longer think something as simple as letting others (like my kids) cook or clean up in my kitchen will end up ruining my counters.
Suzanne Glade- Evanston, Illinois
February 24, 2009
I have "Silver Cloud" granite counter tops that were installed in 2000. We usually reseal them about every 6-12 months, but I have put it off because I have several oil and butter stains that have been there for a long time. I've tried to remove them in the past with poultice, repeating the process several times with out luck. Is it possible to remove or even lighten these stains or am I done for?
Kerstin Gomez- Boston, Massachusetts
March 7, 2009
A. Try corn starch as a very safe and low impact way to remove an oil stain. I set a plate on my new granite countertop last week, unbeknownst to me it had some olive oil on the bottom ring of the plate. The plate only sat there for 30 minutes max, but that was enough. Several hours later I noticed a very obvious ring in the granite from the olive oil penetration of the surface.
I ordered a product at a local tile store that is supposed to remove oil stains which was to come in 48 hours later. In the interim I thought I would try a safer approach since there is always the risk that anything with an aggressive solvent might actually discolor the granite and make things go from bad to worse. I put corn starch on the stain based on a response I had read to this same question.
Put the cornstarch on and let it sit for 18 or 24 hours. A couple of times within that period I wiped the cornstarch with some pressure across the stain in order to encourage the oil to be absorbed by the cs. At the end I then vacuumed up the cornstarch and repeated the process for another 24 hours with more cs. 90+ percent of the stain is gone. Given the pattern and multicolor nature of my granite it is now only visible to me since I know exactly where it is. I highly recommend giving this a try before you put harsh chemicals or cleaners on the granite since the risk is zero with this method. If you discolor your granite with a more aggressive method there will be no turning back if the granite is discolored.
Ron Ryan- San Jose, California
December 14, 2009
I never post on these things - but had such success I needed to pass on the information. My kudos to Ron Ryan for his suggestion of using Cornstarch. Like many others, I had new countertops installed last week - they are Salt and Pepper (light white/grey with a little black). Well it was Hanukkah this weekend and I made enough latkes to feed an army. Unfortunately, I didn't clean up around the stove until the last guest left.....only to find a nice 5"x7" discoloration from the oil next to the area where I was frying. I applied a poultice of flour, dawn soap and water and left it on overnight under plastic wrap. It only made the smallest difference. This morning I re-read for more suggestions and since I was really nervous about causing further damage - figured I'd try the cornstarch or some other powder (for some reason, it just seemed logical to me that these substances would work). Well....I'm happy to say that after only an hour or two under plastic wrap - the cornstarch has made a marked difference. It's not completely gone - but it is infinitely better. I'm leaving it there until tomorrow morning; saying a little prayer that it disappears completely by then.
Michele L [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Suffolk, New York
March 8, 2009
I have a rainbow stain around my faucet and soap dispenser. I have an undermount sink and I sealed my countertop a year ago. Is the stain trapped in the sealer or can I get it out? I also have water drop stains in other areas of my granite. Do you know how to remove them?
Rebecca Elkin- Evans, Georgia
April 20, 2009
A. Thanks for such a informative website, I had no idea when purchasing stone that it stains so easily. Moved into our new kitchen on Wednesday, first oil stain by Friday. But after reading some entries on this site, tried a modified version and had success.
I thickly layered dry baking powder on top of the stain, and then covered with plastic wrap . Then I kept a hot towel over the cling wrap for several hours. There is only the faintest mark , which I would only be able to see .
Thanks again now my husband doesn't want to KILL ME !
- Australia
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April 20, 2009
I think I've gotten everyone beat! I have a gold/cream colored granite and it appears that I have strings of spaghetti forming throughout many parts of the granite. That is what it looks like - darker strands, then lighter. The granite has been sealed twice, once when it was installed and once by us. We've had it for about 18 months - I am afraid to seal it again as I do not want to seal these streaks in it forever. Any advice? Kerri Nexon- Succasunna, New Jersey May 22, 2009 A. Granite countertops should be sealed on a regular basis. My place told me every 6 months, but I do it once a year or so. I cook with olive oil and let it drip onto the counters pretty much daily. And I don't always clean up at night! I've had my countertops for 10 years. - Stamford, Connecticut |
July 21, 2009
A. I covered the stain with Tidy Multiple Cats Clumping Litter and covered the kitty litter (to seal it in) with Glad Press'n Seal wrap for a couple days. It worked great!
Kathy Pritchard- Rosemount, Minnesota
September 16, 2009
A. My Problem stain:
Okay, I have a black granite vanity. I placed a brushed nickel soap dish on it. Well, it stained.
How I removed the stain:
I found this solution on the web. But can't remember where.
Anyway ... Use moulding plaster, about a quarter cup, and then mix in some bleach. But only enough to make a thick paste. Put the paste about 1/4 inch thick on the stain. Wait about 30 minutes, then wipe it away. Wash thoroughly, and that should do it.
- Newport News, Virginia
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October 18, 2009
A. I just want to say, that I have had some bad oil based stains in a brand new kashmir green granite countertop. Apparently my countertop was not adequately sealed at the time of installation, and no one bothered to follow up with us as to what was normal with granite. It has been a huge nightmare, trying poultice after poultice. I ended up trying the Dupont Professional Oil Stain remover, it was amazing => I had pretty much given up and was hating this waste of money on these new countertops......but the stains did vanish with this product. One area did require two applications, but really cannot say [enough about] how good this was. Don't mess around with homemade poultices - I didn't find the ones with acetone or hydrogen peroxide etc to work.... cathaleen Norman- Vancouver, bc, Canada |
November 21, 2009A. I too got an oil stain on my brand new colonial gold granite countertop. Tried various of the remedies found on this site to no avail...bought the stone-tech stuff [StoneTech Professional Oil Stain Remover [linked by editor to product info at Amazon]] and voila! stain gone. I did leave it on 72 hours...don't know if that made a difference or not. Hope this help someone else...
dian barker
- alton Illinois
January 2, 2010
A. Oil and other stains can be removed from stone using a poultice.
For light olive oil stains, first try ammonia mixed into a paste with powdered chalk or corn or rice flour. Cover the stain with the paste, overlapping by about an inch, then cover with cling wrap and seal down with tape. This keeps the poultice moist, allowing the ammonia time to penetrate the stone.
Leave overnight, remove cover and allow poultice to dry, then brush off.
If that doesn't work or for heavier stains, repeat using acetate. For small stains, leave just one hour. For large ones (over 12 inches diameter) leave overnight. I have used this method several times and it works exactly as I had hoped - no trace of oil remained.
- Sydney, NSW Australia
January 3, 2010
Thnx for all the advice, but my first instinct (seeing as the oil stains are still a nice color:) was to soak my whole countertop with mineral oil (the kind you use on cutting boards)and just stain the whole thing; treat it like a cutting board and oil it a few times a year! does anyone know of a reason why NOT to do this?
Maiggen Dutka- New Westminster, BC, Canada
February 2, 2010I have a bathroom vanity granite top bleached in one spot where a bottle of nail polish remover (acetone?) leaked. Its a dark browny grey top so very obvious. I urgently need to fix it or disguise it as am moving out. I thought of rubbing shoe nugget into it since the top is porous, but haven't been brave enough yet. Any other ideas? This is a great page of hints. ta.
Sally Ruth
- Canberra, ACT, Australia
February 3, 2010A. Hi, Sally. I don't have granite countertops, so no experience, but that sounds like a worse idea than Maiggan's, and I didn't care for that one at all :-)
Acetone removes some types of granite sealers. I think you need to soak up any remaining acetone with one of the methods mentioned on this page, and then reseal the granite. Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey
February 18, 2010So did the lady who suggested treating the whole surface with a coat of oil try it? I think this is a brilliant solution (of course I've thought of it also) - as in "if you can't fight'em - join'em". The colour change this would create is pretty much similar to what happens to the look of raw wood after finishing with an OIL treatment (heaven forbid) or varathane/clear stain which is used every day with wood products) and no one complains about that. We reno. houses and have lived with about 5 different colours of granite (polished & sealed) over the last 7 years and have never had a problem (I cook a lot) with oil until the one I have now (light gray/white/black speckled local looking granite). All of the granite has come from the same supplier. It turns out that this particular granite was not sealed properly according to the owner of the company so he is replacing it for us.
Carol Rainsford
When he comes to do it I'm going to ask him to bring a sample piece so I can try an experiment on one half of it - covering it in oil and the other half with a good heavy coat of varathane. I'm hoping the varathane with fill the porous areas. It will also deepen the colour just like it does to wood but maybe it will survive "oil testing" afterwards also.
- Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
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February 5, 2010
I wanted to thank the people on this forum for the suggestions, and reinforce to new readers that this DuPont product, "StoneTech Professional Oil Stain Remover", REALLY works => I left a plate that apparently had olive oil on the bottom on my brand new granite counter tops. It sat for about 48 hours, leaving a dark ring that no amount of cleaning could get rid of. I tried cornstarch first for about a week and it barely made any difference. This was very stressful. Applying the DuPont product takes a lot of faith because at first the situation looks much worse; the solvent seeps into the rock and causes a lot more discoloration, and the paste looks like the world's worst glue spill. But a few minutes ago I cleaned up the hard, powdery paste that was left behind and the stain is 100% gone, making me feel a whole lot better. I promise you I don't work for DuPont, this is just a good product worthy of a recommendation! Thaddeus Ladd, Ph.D.- Woodland Hills, California |
February 17, 2010
I had a stain that I wasn't sure was oil, but I had tried leaving dry baking soda and baby powder to soak up the stain. Over time, it was getting slightly lighter, but I wanted it to be completely out, so I purchased the Stone Tech Oil Stain Remover, and tried it last Thursday. When we wiped off the flaky paste this past Monday, the stain had lightened, but to our horror there was ring around the outside of the circle where the paste was. It wasn't in the middle, it was on the edge of the circle. Has anyone who has used this product encountered this problem? It boggles my mind because everyone seems to have had no problems with the product. Then I looked at the packaging, and realized that this might be an older packaging, and possibly I was sold an expired product (there's a sticker on the bottom of the can that says 012105). Does anyone know if this stuff expires? Or does it normally look like this, and we have to let it dry for more than 72 hours? Or could it be that moisture is being stuck underneath the sealer that was surrounding the circle of paste and we need to expand the circle so that it eats away at the rest of the sealer?
Please help!
- San Mateo, California
April 6, 2011Tia D,
ED K
We're having the same problem. Have a darker Kashmir Gold granite countertop. Contractor left WD40 can for a few minutes on the counter. We got an ugly dark stain after 1 week. DuPont Oil Stain Remover took that stain out; you don't even know it was there.
But we have another problem now! We have a ring around the area where the poultice was applied. We waited 1 week since removing the dried up poultice, but the ring is still there. It's fairly faint, but still there.
We even applied the Dupont mix over the ring area. Now we have a bigger ring around the area we applied the poultice to the second time.
Any ideas?
- Berkeley, California
July 19, 2010
My light colored granite counter top was stained with an olive oil mixture which set for 3 or 4 days before discovery. I was confronted with a dark circular stain which was very noticeable. After searching a trying different cleaning products I read about using a paste mixture of acetone and baking soda, spreading on the stain, and covering with plastic wrap and tape. I followed the directions and mixed a paste about the consistency of toothpaste and left it on the stain for about 3 hours until the powder was dry. The powder was wiped away and the area washed with water. At first the area was dark colored but after an hour it lightened and the stain was completely gone. WORKS GREAT.
John Tyler- Clinton Township, Michigan, USA
September 16, 2010
I had a Bacon pan leave a nasty stain on my six month old countertops. Corn Starch with detergent, as suggested above, worked miracles. My large dark portion was back to new within 24 hours. My stain was the size of a medium cookie sheet so I mixed 3/4 box of cornstarch with a cup and half palmolive then spread on the large stain generously. Wiped off after 24 hours, cleaned with Windex.
Lynn Wagner- East Northport New York USA
November 23, 2010
A. My brother and I own a granite counter top fab shop in Canada and we go and fix oil base stains on counter tops that have not been sealed properly. This fix works for all types of oil stains, and oil stains only, please don't try this on any other type of stain i.e. red wine, rust or coffee. It won't work and may set the stain for ever. If you scroll to the thread on this page posted on August 8 2008 from Shelly N from york, north Yorkshire U.K. you will find the remedy that we use all the time, but this only works on oil based stains. Follow her instructions very carefully and you will have success.Don't be scared, this works, I have done it a lot and it takes about ten minutes. It has never failed to work for me. Pay attention to the gently playing the flame over the stain, it's fast and painless and will allow you to sleep at night the next time you get an oil based stain on your granite counter top.
I don't even have to wish you good luck, that is how confident I am with this quick and effective fix.
There was a post earlier on that suggested that oiling the entire surface was a brilliant Idea..... wrong, I received a call from a client that had a butter stain on his light colored granite so he rubbed his entire counter with it and abra cadabra his stain was gone and it looked fabulous. Three weeks later in the heat of summer his kitchen started to smell like rancid butter and it took me days to get his granite back to normal.
If you are getting new granite installed insist that it gets sealed at least 3 times, We do it twice in the shop and once after we complete the install. And on more porous stone we will even wax the entire surface. If you take a sample home to match to the rest of your decor, get the shop to seal it and then take it home and put a little oil on it and see what happens. Again don't panic and don't be scared.
- Salmon Arm British Columbia Canada
December 5, 2010
Recently, I found a stain on the light-colored new granite in my guest bathroom. Wasn't sure what caused the stain but figured it was probably oil-based. Tried the flour & dish soap which faded it a little. But when I used the creme brulee blow torch it got it all and made the entire stain disappear in a couple of minutes. Thanks to Shelley N (Aug 08) and Kevin Chesney (Nov 10)!
Jackie Sundquist- Castle Rock, Colorado
February 26, 2011
I have a very large kitchen with a lot of granite. The granite is swirls of gray, black, white and peach. A house sitter left a bag of recycling for a week that had plastic bottles in it, and one of them contained oil. So, oil, beer, juice etc. spilled through a hole in the bag and sat there for at least a week.
I tried everything - the poultices, Dawn,Shout, etc. and I realized that we have a friend that drives old cars that leak oil. Every time he visits, we have oil spots on our beige driveway. We use a product called, "Super Clean Tough Task Degreaser" to eliminate the oil spots on our driveway. I think we bought in Home Depot or an automotive store (?). Anyway, I sprayed it on, sprinkled baking soda on top, let it sit for an hour and the huge stain disappeared! This stuff is amazing!
- San Diego, California
March 25, 2011
Q. Got a Listerine ring on a light colored granite top. Any suggestions?
Wendy Kerriganhobbyist - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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June 4, 2011
A. I found something that works!! We put brand new granite in our bathroom and while we were remodeling an unlit, small candle was placed on the granite overnight, I came in and it had left a dark brown stain the diameter of the candle. I almost died!! They hadn't even been in two days. I found this forum and tried all the homemade poultices and they lightened it, but it was still there. THEN I tried Dupont Stonetech Professional Oil Stain remover => - Sacramento, California |
August 18, 2011
Grandson left a blue popsicle melt on a placemat on our black granite. It melted under the placemat and I didn't find it until 2-3 hrs later. It has left a whitish colored stain. I tried the cornstarch paste with cling wrap and no effect. Called a local granite shop they suggested lemon Pledge. That has not worked. Any suggestions? New counter top.
Beth Oergelhousewife, retired - Olympia, Washington
August 21, 2011
I woke up this morning to find SELF TANNING lotion spilled on my new granite counter....any suggestions?
nikki arnasn- wpg, mb, canada
August 31, 2011
No, it wasn't me; it was my husband who dripped some hair dye onto our brand-new granite vanity countertop. I've postponed killing him until I find out whether the stain can be removed. Supposedly the granite was sealed after it was put in, even tho it still water-spots anytime water is splashed. The water spots aren't an issue; they dry after a couple of hours, but I'd really like to know how to remove the hair dye.
Pamela MaddenHomeowner - Mountain View
November 30, 2011
Help! My cashmere white granite is less than a month old. While I was unpacking in my new house, I started laying the items I was unpacking onto my granite countertop. Amongst those items, where 4 unlit candles which were left on the countertop overnight. The next morning as I was putting the stuff away, I noticed 4 very distinct stains, one reddish, and 3 brown/greyish stains in the shape of the bottom of the candles. What would be the best type of poultice to use on these types of stains and should this have happened? They had just been sealed! Is there anything I CAN put on my countertop?
Tami Grant- London, Ontario, Canada
January 31, 2012
Hello everyone .
Most of the stain on a granite countertop or natural stone will go if you apply a wet piece of cloth with bleach and leave it there for a one hour or more. Make sure that the piece of cloth is wet enough.
Sealer should be applied every year by a professional.
Granite counters are beautiful and made for lifetime.
Best Regards,
Elva
- Canada