Spot removal from various material
Engineered stone: Caesarstone, Quantum Quartz, Silestone, Radianz, Cambria, Quantra, Santamargherita, Zodiaq, Difiniti, Hanstone and others:
Many modern kitchens have quartz-based countertops which are not porous, so they don’t need sealants such as polyurethane. Clean with a damp cloth and remove glues or resins with a single-sided razor blade held at a low angle. Fill chips with a malleable epoxy resin.
Q: I had a new kitchen installed and chose a dark blue Silestone countertop. But it never looks clean. It shows every fingerprint, watermark and cloth mark. Can you suggest anything that would help the countertop look clean and shiny?
A: Streaky Silestone. You have to use: White vinegar, pantyhose, damp cloth. Silestone is a great countertop but when it’s brand new the high-gloss surface shows dirt, oil and dust. Clean with a little white vinegar on a rolled up pair of pantyhose and wipe with a damp cloth. Polish with a dry pair of pantyhose.
Marble
Marble is often coated in polyurethane to give a slick finish and provide protection. Be careful not to damage the polyurethane because it’s difficult to repair. If you have unsealed marble, protect it with a good quality marble floor wax (follow the instructions on the pack).
Q: I’ve got tea stains under my sealed marble countertop. Can I get them out?
A: Tea stains on polyurethane-sealed marble. Use: Cloth, acetone, plastic wrap, pantyhose, warm water, plaster of Paris, glycerine, plastic scraper, marble floor wax. This is a big job and you may decide to live with the stain rather than go through this tricky process. It’s likely the tea has penetrated through a tiny hole in the polyurethane but you’ll need to remove a relatively large area of polyurethane to remove the stain. Seek professional help or, if you’re handy, remove the polyurethane coating by tightly wringing a cloth in acetone and placing it over the stained area. Cover the cloth with plastic wrap so the acetone doesn’t evaporate and leave for 20 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and the cloth and rub with a pair of rolled up pantyhose dampened in warm water. To remove the tea stains, mix plaster of Paris with water to form a paste the consistency of peanut butter. For each cup of mixture, add ½ teaspoon of glycerine. Apply a 1 cm thick layer of the mixture on the stain and leave to dry. When it’s completely dry, remove with a plastic scraper. Have the polyurethane replaced by a professional or seal with marble floor wax. To prevent staining on marble, apply marble floor wax every month.
You can repair chips in marble with crayon wax, candle wax or surfboard wax in a matching colour. Melt the wax into the chip with a hair dryer and buff with pantyhose until it’s level with the surface.
Q: I’ve got rust marks on unsealed marble. What do you suggest?
A: Rust on unsealed marble. Use: Plaster of Paris, water, stiff brush; or bicarb, white vinegar, nylon brush. Mix plaster of Paris and water to form a paste the consistency of peanut butter. Paint a 1 cm thick layer of the mixture over the stains and leave until dry. Brush off with a stiff brush. You may need to repeat this several times. If the marble is sealed, sprinkle with bicarb and white vinegar. Scrub with a nylon brush and rinse quickly because vinegar can make holes in marble.
Q: I have a marble-covered dining table. And the marble is beginning to show fingerprints and other marks, such as glass rims. Any ideas?
A: Marking on marble. Use: Brasso, cloth; or cake of bathroom soap, water, soft cloth, marble milk wax or skim milk. If the marble is coated in polyurethane, rub with a little Brasso applied with a cloth using speed, not pressure. This partially melts the polyurethane. It will look worse before it looks better. If it’s machine polished, rub with a soft cloth that’s been rubbed with a cake of bathroom soap and water. Then apply a good quality marble milk wax or skim milk.
Marble floor
Cleaning guide to marble floor:
Use: Grate 1 teaspoon of pH neutral soap into a 9 litre bucket of warm water. To seal (when the surface is dull), coat with a thin layer of marble flooring wax or limestone milk. Sweep/mop the solution with a clean broom covered in pantyhouse. Dry with an old towel under your feet as you clean. When dry, apply a small quantity of quality marble flooring wax or limestone milk. How often: At least once a week depending on the amount of traffic.
Granite
Even though many granite countertops are sealed, the surface is still porous so if there’s a spill, wipe it up as soon as possible. For spills that have penetrated, mix plaster of Paris and water to form a paste the consistency of peanut butter. To each cup of mixture, add 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid (to remove oils) or 1 teaspoon of white vinegar (to remove coffee and tea stains) and place over the stain. When the plaster is completely dry, brush away. The plaster of Paris absorbs the stain.
Q: A bottle of dishwashing liquid leaked onto our granite countertop and penetrated under the sealed surface, How can I get it out?
A: Dishwashing liquid on sealed granite. Use: Acetone, cloth, plastic wrap, plaster of Paris, water, white vinegar, stiff brush. If it is a small area, mix plaster of Paris and water to form a paste to the consistency of peanut butter. For each cup of mixture add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar. Apply a 1 cm thick layer to the stain and leave to dry. Brush away with a stiff brush. If it is a large area you may need to remove the polyurethane. This can be done by a professional or if you wish to attempt it yourself, soak a cloth in acetone and place it over the stained area. Cover with plastic and leave for 20 minutes. Clean the melted polyurethane off with a vinegar-soaked cloth, then rinse with clean water and leave to dry before using the plaster of Paris mix above. When the stain is clean, replace the polyurethane. This is often better done by a professional as it can be tricky to get a nice smooth finish. If you don’t wish to replace the polyurethane you can use a quality marble flooring wax.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel can discolour if left in contact with harsh chemicals, including acidic food, for extended periods so clean regularly with damp pantyhose. If it is very dirty, damp the pantyhose with white vinegar. Always rub in the direction of the grain or it will lose its shine. Never use steel wool, scourers or stainless steel wool because they will cause rust marks. And don’t use baby oil because it creates a build-up that attracts dust and dirt.
Q: How do you remove a rust mark from a stainless steel countertop?.
A: Rust on stainless steel. Use: Non-iodised salt, lemon juice/lemon, pantyhose, damp cloth. Place salt over the mark, add lemon juice and scrub with pantyhose. Alternatively, sprinkle salt over the top of a cut lemon and scrub. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Tiles and grout
The grout between tiles is very porous and will stain, particularly in the area behind your cooktop. Clean it with equal parts bicarb, white vinegar and an old toothbrush.
Q: The kitchen tiles surrounding my stovetop are stained with grease that’s accumulated over the years. I’ve tried everything to remove it without success and have been told by experts that the grease has penetrated into the glaze of the tiles and the only solution is to replace them. As this is an expensive and messy job, and I love the colour of my wall tiles which have now gone out-of-date, it means I would need to have my whole kitchen redone. Is there any solution at all?
A: Grease on tiles. Use: Grout rake, plaster of Paris, water, dishwashing liquid, stiff brush. the grout with a grout rake (available at hardware stores). Mix plaster of Paris and water to form a paste the consistency of peanut butter. For each cup of mixture, add 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Apply a 1 cm thick layer to the entire side of the tile. Leave it to dry completely and remove with a stiff brush. If any oil or grease remains, repeat. When all the staining is removed, replace the grout.
MantlePieces
Clean mantlepieces according to what they’re made of:
Marble—if stained, mix plaster of Paris and water to form a paste the consistency of peanut butter. Apply to the stain, to dry, then brush away. Seal with marble flooring wax. If you can’t get marble flooring wax, use milk.
Granite—if stained, mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of runny cream. Apply the mixture and leave to dry. Rub off with pantyhose.
Sandstone, brick—if stained, mix equal parts cigarette ash, bicarb and white vinegar. Apply to the stain and scrub well with a brush. Rinse with a damp cloth. Don’t use on limestone or marble because this mixture is too acidic.
Timber—can be easily damaged with smoke. If finished in plaster or paint, clean with a paste of bicarb and water. Polish on with a cloth, allow to dry and polish off with a cloth.
Reference: Fleming, Jennifer; Lush, Shannon (2011-02-01). Spotless 2: More room-by-room solutions to domestic disasters. Harper Collins, Inc.