Acid etching creates dull, rough patches on marble benchtops wherever acidic liquids contact the stone. Lemon juice, vinegar, wine, coffee, tomato and many kitchen cleaners all cause etching. These marks cannot be wiped away — they require professional diamond polishing or honing. Marble contains calcium carbonate which reacts immediately with acids. Even mildly acidic substances like sparkling water, wine and many kitchen cleaners instantly etch the surface, dissolving the polished layer and leaving dull, rough patches. Professional diamond polishing or honing mechanically removes the etched surface layer, restoring a smooth, uniform finish. We apply an acid-resistant penetrating sealer afterwards. Honing is recommended for busy kitchen benchtops as the matte finish conceals future etching better.
Foot traffic and everyday cleaning can gradually reduce the stone's natural appearance.
Foot traffic and everyday cleaning can gradually reduce the stone's natural appearance.
Foot traffic and everyday cleaning can gradually reduce the stone's natural appearance.
Foot traffic and everyday cleaning can gradually reduce the stone's natural appearance.
Foot traffic and everyday cleaning can gradually reduce the stone's natural appearance.
Foot traffic and everyday cleaning can gradually reduce the stone's natural appearance.
Remove dirt, grime, stains, mould and everyday residue from indoor and outdoor limestone surfaces.
Remove dirt, grime, stains, mould and everyday residue from indoor and outdoor limestone surfaces.
Remove dirt, grime, stains, mould and everyday residue from indoor and outdoor limestone surfaces.
Professional cleaning, honing and restoration for indoor limestone flooring.
Professional cleaning, honing and restoration for indoor limestone flooring.
Professional cleaning, honing and restoration for indoor limestone flooring.
Yes — etch marks on marble benchtops can be fully removed by professional diamond polishing or honing. Etching is mechanical damage to the stone surface that cannot be wiped away, but it responds very well to diamond abrasive polishing. After treatment, the surface is smooth and uniform again.
Etching is caused by acid reacting with the calcium carbonate in marble. Common kitchen culprits include lemon juice, vinegar, wine, tomato, coffee, sparkling water, fruit juices and a large number of kitchen cleaning products. Even brief contact is enough to cause etching on unsealed or under-sealed marble.
For kitchen benchtops, honing is usually the better choice. A honed matte-to-satin finish is much more resistant to showing new etch marks than a high-gloss surface — both etch at the same rate, but marks are far less visible on a honed surface.
Use only stone-safe pH-neutral cleaners. Wipe up acid spills immediately. Apply a quality penetrating sealer every 1–3 years. Consider switching to a honed finish which is far more forgiving in kitchen environments.
