How to remove a white stain on stone from spilled gun cleaner?

Q. Spilled gun cleaner on my stone topped coffee table. It left a white stain. How can I remove this?

A. Natural stone may not look porous, but it is. Liquids and chemicals can soak below the surface. Gun cleaners often contain strong solvents that can dissolve and carry staining agents down into those pores, which is likely why you’re seeing a white stain instead of something that wipes away.

You may be able to use a poultice to remove the stain. A poultice is a paste made from an absorbent material, like diatomaceous earth, mixed with a liquid that’s appropriate for the type of stain. Your poultice ingredient will be mineral spirits or commercial paint remover. After the paste is applied, it draws the stain out of the stone over time. For detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to mix and apply a poultice correctly, check out our free Stain Management App. If the stain lifts at all, that means the poultice is working. You may need to reapply the poultice several times.

Is your stone is resined? Resining is a treatment process applied to natural stone slabs. After quarrying and cutting, slabs are coated with resin that penetrates micro-fissures, pores, and natural voids. The slab is then cured and polished, leaving the resin mostly invisible. The purpose is to reduce porosity, improve stain resistance, strengthen fragile stones, create a more uniform glossy finish, and minimize natural defects like pits and cracks. If your stone is resined, it is possible that the gun cleaner turned the resin binder cloudy or chalky. 

Does your stone have a clear protective coating? Strong solvents like gun cleaner can soften or strip the coating, eat away at the finish, and leave a dull or white spot. No poultice can lift this type of discoloration.

If a poultice makes no difference, professional honing and polishing with diamond abrasives may be necessary to restore the finish of your coffee table. To find a vetted PRO in your area, visit www.surfacecarepros.com and click on Find a PRO.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Hueston is the Chief Technical Director at SurfaceCarePROS.com and Director at StoneForensics.com. He is also the author of Stone and Tile Restoration: The Manual, a comprehensive online manual for stone and tile restoration contractors. [Learn more about Fred.]