Ammonia Damage on Black Marble Floor

QUESTION:

I inadvertently cleaned a black marble floor with ammonia and water solution - now have streaking, etc. in floor - how to cure, if possible?

ANSWER:

Big mistake, but it is possible to repair. What happened is the ammonia (which is too alkaline for marble) corroded or "etched" the marble creating a dull and possibly lighter colored spot or streaks.

Ammonia, vinegar, bleach and most brand-name common household cleaners should not be used on marble.

Use only products made specifically for cleaning marble.

To repair the etch marks you have to re-polish the damaged areas with ETCH REMOVER / Marble Polishing product, which is made exactly for this purpose.

And just so you and other readers are not confused... the marble must have already been polished to a high shine (which is done by machine) for the paste to achieve the desired results.

This product can't make marble that has never been polished shiny and it won't remove etch marks on honed marble.

Well, it actually can make a honed marble more shiny, but you don't want that on a honed finish.

You'll end up with a shiny spot on an otherwise matte or honed surface.

I clarify what the product can do because some people think that polishing marble (making marble shiny) is done by wiping on some chemical or wax... it is not.

It's done with high friction and special abrasives. However, once polished (and subsequently etched) it can be re-polished by hand using the above product on small areas.

I know it's a bit confusing, but that's the deal.

The paste is easy to use. Just apply with a clean cloth, rub in circular motion on the etched area and watch the shine return.

Some spots require multiple applications. You have to repeatedly apply and rub until the surface is again shiny.

Think of it like sanding wood smooth. You aren't actually "removing" anything. Rather you are "re-finishing" the surface.

Now, a little goes a long way, but if you have a large area to treat, you may need more than one bottle.