Designing Kitchens and Bathrooms - Discolored Cultured Marble
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dubbelyu
07-07-07, 03:51 PM
I have yellow discoloration on my white cultured marble under two sources, 1) navy blue plastic tissue cover and soap dish and 2) wicker baskets holding towels. (in 2 bathrooms)
The soap dish just has a dry bar of rarely used soap sitting in it, so it appears to be the dish itself. These products are all widely available at many home decor stores and I've never seen any product that comes with a warning not to be placed on a cultured marble surface.
Q1) Any ideas of what the plastic pieces and the wicker could have in common to cause the same discoloration? Obviously I will stop using these pieces, but until I know what is causing the problem, I don't know what to replace them with.
Q2) Any ideas on how to get rid of the discoloration?
Q3) For our next home, what is a recommended countertop surface that isn't as sensative as cultured marble appears to be? This is all this builder offered. Our last home had tan cultured marble and I never had this problem, but maybe I just didn't see it because of the color.
Any ideas appreciated!
Thanks,
dubbelyu
The soap dish just has a dry bar of rarely used soap sitting in it, so it appears to be the dish itself. These products are all widely available at many home decor stores and I've never seen any product that comes with a warning not to be placed on a cultured marble surface.
Q1) Any ideas of what the plastic pieces and the wicker could have in common to cause the same discoloration? Obviously I will stop using these pieces, but until I know what is causing the problem, I don't know what to replace them with.
Q2) Any ideas on how to get rid of the discoloration?
Q3) For our next home, what is a recommended countertop surface that isn't as sensative as cultured marble appears to be? This is all this builder offered. Our last home had tan cultured marble and I never had this problem, but maybe I just didn't see it because of the color.
Any ideas appreciated!
Thanks,
dubbelyu
mohpvn
08-09-07, 06:32 PM
dubbelyu, I don't have any answers for you -- just want to say the same thing happened to us. We have a new cultured marble bathroom countertop, white on white color, 5 months old, and when I cleaned the counter the other day, found yellow discoloration under the soap dispenser and soap dish. I've been cleaning the bathroom frequently since installation and this is the first time I noticed this.
I haven't been able to find any information on what might have caused this. The installer came today and buffed out the stain, but we are frustrated trying to figure out why this happened.
I have cultured marble in another house more than 15 years old, all similar color, and no stains. It's held up beautifully, which is why we installed it in the new bathroom. We're now trying to figure out if we should stick with the same vendor for yet another counter top. Was it a fluke or bad recipe?
Help!
I haven't been able to find any information on what might have caused this. The installer came today and buffed out the stain, but we are frustrated trying to figure out why this happened.
I have cultured marble in another house more than 15 years old, all similar color, and no stains. It's held up beautifully, which is why we installed it in the new bathroom. We're now trying to figure out if we should stick with the same vendor for yet another counter top. Was it a fluke or bad recipe?
Help!
twelvepole
08-09-07, 07:12 PM
Not all cultured marble products are created equal. Higher quality cultured marbled tops have thicker and better gel coating. Thus, some are less impervious to stains, more durable, and allow for buffing out scratches. Products that contain dyes, PVC, and other substances can cause discoloration.
It is important not to use abrasive products when cleaning cultured marble. Hydrogen peroxide, a mild oxygenating bleach, left to pool on stains may lift them. The strongest oxygenating bleach is clorine bleach (Clorox) and may be able to lift discoloration. These bleaches may be able to lift dye transfer stains. PVC and other chemical migrations tend to cause permanent discoloration.
Attempts to use mild abrasives include baking soda, toothpaste, Soft Scrub, BarKeepers Friend, Zud, or other mild abrasive. The key is not to use an abrasive.
For best results with cultured marble tops is to keep them sealed with Gel Gloss, auto wax, or other product containing wax. It is also important not to place anything on gel coat that could potentially cause discoloration, stains, or scratches.
It is important not to use abrasive products when cleaning cultured marble. Hydrogen peroxide, a mild oxygenating bleach, left to pool on stains may lift them. The strongest oxygenating bleach is clorine bleach (Clorox) and may be able to lift discoloration. These bleaches may be able to lift dye transfer stains. PVC and other chemical migrations tend to cause permanent discoloration.
Attempts to use mild abrasives include baking soda, toothpaste, Soft Scrub, BarKeepers Friend, Zud, or other mild abrasive. The key is not to use an abrasive.
For best results with cultured marble tops is to keep them sealed with Gel Gloss, auto wax, or other product containing wax. It is also important not to place anything on gel coat that could potentially cause discoloration, stains, or scratches.