Engineering and fabrication

There is a portion of my newly-bought marble vanity top that is not clean and shiny. How can I fix it?

The fabricator said there is nothing they can do to make it clean and shiny. According to them, it is the nature of the stone. I do not agree with them because they were able to make the rest of this marble shiny and clean. What is the reason they cannot do this portion clean and shiny also. They are in the same stone. Please help. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. To give marble a quick shine, try crushing a child's stick of common white chalk into a fine powder. Dampen a clean white wash rag and dip into the chalk powder. Rub it on the marble with smooth, overlapping back and forth strokes. Allow to dry for amoment, then rinse with fresh water on a damp rag, and dry thoroughly.

   Marble countertops are porous and susceptible to stains, but they are not affected by heat. Seal marble with a special stone sealer to reduce its porosity, and wipe up wine, fruit juice, and other acidic food spills immediately to prevent permanent surface etching. Abrasive and caustic cleaners will mar the surface of marble, and oil polish and soft waxes may discolor it. While many appropriate commercial cleaners are available, borax rubbed into the surface with a moistened cloth will also clean marble. Rinse with warm water, and buff with a soft cloth.



2. Marble is shined with chemicals rubbed on the stone. There is no reason why your vanity top could not be hand polished while in place. This sounds like poor customer service. Keep complaining, and threaten to call the Better Business Bureau, or your state's Division of Consumer Affairs.