Marble Vanity Dull From Hair Spray

by Bruce Taylor
(Sutton, MA)

QUESTION:

Green marble is dulled and has dry, slightly rough touch from my wife's liberal use of hair spray.

ANSWER:

Some bath and personal products like hair spray can be damaging to marble due to acids in the product corroding and "etching" the marble countertop.

The etching eats at the marble destroying the shiny polished layer leaving dull and sometimes discolored spots.

So, it's not a matter of "cleaning marble" since your regular cleaning has likely removed hair spray residue. It's a matter of repairing damaged marble.

If the marble bathroom vanity is now rough to the touch, then this has been going on for quite a while.

I'd suggest you first use the Marble Polishing Etch Remover, which will restore the shine and color with mild to moderate etching on polished (not honed) marble.

However, when the etching is severe (rough to touch) it can require hiring a marble repair professional to restore the countertop.

Severe etching is not at all common, so the etch remover usually gets the job done quickly and easily and is far cheaper than a pro, but want you to know you may have to hire a pro if the job is beyond the capabilities of the polishing paste.

Marble Floor Hairspray Build-Up

QUESTION:

I have a lot of hairspray built up on our marble bathroom floor tile. You can see the build up and the shine is gone. What's the best way to clean this and restore it to it's original shine?

ANSWER:

I'd recommend using this Tile Floor Cleaner.

You can use acetone and that won't damage the marble, but don't really want to use it for regular cleaning. You really need a safe marble cleaner.

The Tile Floor Cleaner should clean the marble floor well. After cleaning notice if the floor is still dull... is it in a pattern or only one area?

It's possible that your hair spray has etched the marble floor (it is full of chemicals that could react with marble and destroy the shine).

If that is the case, then you'll need a professional to restore the shine, but the problem will just re-occur. You may consider having the marble honed, which is a matte/satin type finish. The hair spray will still etch the marble, but you won't notice it so much.

Whatever you decide, it's important to understand that you cannot polish marble or any stone with a spray or chemical. The polish comes from intense grinding and sanding using machines or hand tools. It is not a DIY job.

You can keep the polish nice with proper daily/weekly care, but acidic (and many alkaline) food, sprays, potions and lotions will corrode or "etch" marble destroying the polish.

Hope this helps. Let us know how it works out via the comment link at the bottom of this page.

Good Luck,
Ryan

Old Hairspray on Marble

by Debbie
(South Dakota)

QUESTION:

How can I remove old hairspray from the marble countertop in my bathroom.

ANSWER:

Removing hairspray or anything coating the marble surface is pretty easy. Use acetone (not fingernail polish... buy at hardware store). Acetone will not damage your marble, but it will remove anything on the surface.

Hopefully you haven't already, but DO NOT use any "normal" generic or brand name household cleaner. You will etch and dull your marble.

And after the initial cleaning with acetone, start using a dedicated marble cleaner.

I have a feeling that what you think is old hairspray coating the marble is really just dull marble, because really hot water should remove hairspray.

But the acetone will leave no question about cleaning marble of anything on the surface.

If the marble is still dull after the acetone, then you can use the Marble Polishing Etch Remover (links above and below) to restore the shine.

However, if the countertop is large and/or the etching (corrosion that caused the marble to be dull) is severe, then you'll need to hire a marble restoration professional to resurface the marble.

Once you do get the results you want, then be sure to use only products safe for marble to protect and clean it in the future.

Good Luck,
Ryan

Cleaning Hair Spray Off Marble

QUESTION: How do I clean hair spray off of marble countertops?

ANSWER: Hot water and a sponge or acetone... or better... a specially formulated marble cleaner like Granite Countertop & Marble Cleaning spray.

If you have done this and are thinking that the marble still doesn't seem clean or is dull, then you have etched the marble from repeated exposure to hairspray, other toiletries and/or damaging cleaning products.

You will most likely need a professional to re-polish the surface in such circumstance (if the etching is severe).

However, if the marble has a shiny, "polished" finish you can restore dull etch marks using the Etch Remover (link above).

Hair Gel Spot on Marble Vanity

by Kay Keen
(Madison, TN)

QUESTION:

There is what looks to be water spots on my light color bathroom vanity. It is either water or hair gel.

The stain does not have a color. Can you please tell me how to clean it and also how to prevent spots in the future?

ANSWER:

The colorless spot you describe may also be a bit dull... it's etching.... and not a marble stain.

Etching occurs upon contact with an acidic substance and also from use of too harsh cleaning products.

Granite does not etch, but marble, travertine, limestone and slate are all sensitive to acids.

Luckily, you can remove the spot and restore the shine on polished shiny marble with ETCH REMOVER / Marble polishing paste.

If you have honed or any other non-shiny surface, then you'll have to follow the steps in the Removing Etch Marks Manual.

Chances are though that your vanity is polished and the paste will work perfect for this marble maintenance issue.