How to remove dark color in mosaic marble tiles around my toilet?
Estimated Reading Time: 2 MinutesQ. We had mosaic marble tiles installed in our bathroom about a month ago and recently noticed the tiles about 12 inches around the toilet were a darker gray color than the rest of the floor due to a leak in the wax seal when the toilet was replaced. The tiles were not wet to the touch, because the leak was underneath the tiles. Do you think the darker colored tiles will lighten back up over time once the area dries up? If so, how long might it take? It has been 2 days since the leak was fixed and the tiles are still dark. Could the tiles have been stained by the water mixing with the thinset underneath? If so, is there a cleaner that might whiten the tiles again or will the tiles need to be replaced in this area?
A. Yes, the the moisture absorbed by the tile may dissipate, but it may take quite a while, even weeks or months. It is not likely that the tiles have been stained by thinset, because if that were the case, the staining would not be isolated to the area around the toilet.
For now, focus on getting the moisture out of the stone. To help speed things up, run a dehumidifier in the bathroom 24/7. You may also run your air conditioner, which functions as a dehumidifier. If you see any change in the darkness of the stone, that means the moisture is evaporating from the stone.
If all the moisture dissipates and the stone is still darker in that area than the surrounding area, it might be that color from the wax ring transferred to the stone through capillary action, that is, it wicked up into the pores of the stone. If this is the case, you can apply a poultice to remove the stain. A poultice 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.
After you apply the poultice, if you see any progress, keep reapplying the poultice until the entire stain is removed. Your wet poultice ingredient will be a solvent, such as varnish remover, available at your local home store.
If you need professional assistance, find a vetted PRO in your area, by visiting www.surfacecarepros.com and clicking 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.]