Q. I had a delivery guy accidentally drop two bottles of olive oil on the stone in the hallway of my apartment building. I'm not sure what kind of stone it is, but it's matte looking and apparently very porous. Now, my landlord is saying I have to pay for the entire floor in the hallway to be replaced? Is there no cleaning options?
A. Olive oil can be challenging to remove from natural stone surfaces because, as you mentioned, it’s absorbed into the pores of the stone rather than just sitting on top. Fortunately, many stains on natural stone can be removed with the appropriate methods, and replacement probably will not be necessary.
To draw out the oil, make a poultice using diatomaceous earth and acetone from a hardware or paint store.
NOTE: Follow the manufacturer’s safety precautions when using chemicals.
Do not use nail polish remover, which has additives and may contain no acetone at all. 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.
You may need to repeat the poultice process several times for deep stains, but in most cases this can significantly reduce or even completely remove the discoloration. Once the stain is gone, clean the area with a pH-neutral, stone-safe cleaner.
If the stain persists, it may be more cost-effective to hire a professional stone restoration contractor than to replace the stone. 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.]
Article ID: 808
Created: November 5, 2025
Last Updated: December 4, 2025
Author: Alice Dean
Online URL: https://surfacecarepros.com/kb/article/how-to-remove-an-olive-oil-stain-on-a-natural-stone-floor-808.html