How to fix stains on stone bathroom benchtop?

regan_a

We have a stone bench top around the bathroom sinks and certain products seem to eat away at it leaving marks. The marks are dull and have a rough texture like they have been corroded away. I first discovered that saline contact lense solution damaging it, and now I think this (images) was toothpaste. Is this normal?? I have washed and scrubbed them, including with stone cleaner, but they still look like this.

so, two questions, 1) can I fix the benchtop and 2) can I apply any product to help protect it so I don’t keep having this issue?

JacobZ

Hi @regan_a,

Are you aware of what type of stone the benchtop is? From the photos, it looks like it could be polished granite, but it would be helpful if you could confirm this.

The patches look like they could potentially be related to the surface finish or sealer rather than something that can simply be cleaned away. Natural stone is porous and is generally sealed to help prevent moisture and other substances penetrating the surface. Over time, that sealer can deteriorate or become affected by cleaning products, leaving areas looking different from the surrounding polished surface.

I'd avoid experimenting with acidic cleaners, abrasive products or strong chemicals for the moment, as these could potentially make the appearance worse. I'd start by trying a stone cleaner such as this https://www.bunnings.com.au/peerless-jal-1l-deep-clean-slate-and-hard-stone-cleaner_p4470411 with a non-scratch scourer for light agitation.

Unfortunately, if this is not effective, I'd say the sealer has reacted with the chemicals sitting on it, which would likely mean it needs to be ground back to remove it, then a new sealer reapplied. If this is the case, I'd suggest contacting a stone benchtop repair specialist as this is not something I would recommend as a D.I.Y. repair.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob