How to restore the white color of a yellowed marble figurine?
Estimated Reading Time: 1 MinutesQ. How do I clean a yellow marble figurine to make it white again? I have tried marble cleaner to no avail.
A. Your DIY methods will differ depending on how the marble turned yellow.
One possibility is that the stone absorbed some sort of staining agent, like oils or smoke residue.
Here are instructions for DIY stain removal. First, gently clean the figurine using warm water with a few drops of dish soap or stone soap. Use a soft bristle brush to clean the nooks and crannies in the figurine. Next, apply a commercial degreaser. Allow it to dwell for a few minutes. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. If necessary, poultice with degreaser. 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.
Another possibility is that with moisture and oxygen exposure over time the marble became oxidized, which can be caused by iron or minerals within the stone rusting.
For this, you'll need a stone-specific iron stain remover. Many people accidentally damage their marble using the wrong kind of product or misapplying it. Preclean the figurine in the same manner as you would for stain removal. Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions. Multiple applications may be required. Some very old stains may never reach pure white, but their appearance can improve dramatically with treatment.
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.]