How to Remove Stains from Cultured Marble Vanity Tops

marble countertop
  • 1-2 hours
  • Beginner
  • 35-100
What You'll Need
White vinegar
Gel wax
Glazing paint
Spray bottle
Soft cloth
Sponge
Paint thinner, denatured alcohol or turpentine
What You'll Need
White vinegar
Gel wax
Glazing paint
Spray bottle
Soft cloth
Sponge
Paint thinner, denatured alcohol or turpentine

Cultured marble vanity tops, often thought to be among the most classy and beautiful of surfaces you can build into your vanity, are also some of the more difficult to clean without creating permanent scratches, abrasions, and other types of marks. But for most of these surfaces there is a way to clean them and still maintain the natural looking beauty of their clear and unblemished surfaces. Refer to the 4 tips below to remove stains from your cultured marble vanity top.

Removing Hard Water Spots

Wherever you find a combination of hard water and polished surfaces, you are bound to also find hard water deposits. But you can remove these deposits from cultured marble vanity tops without unnecessary costs. Pour 0.5-cups of water and 0.5-cups of white vinegar into a spray bottle. After spraying this mixture on your hard water marks, allow the water-vinegar solution to sit for awhile (up to an hour). If your vanity top is then dry, spray it again. You should always be sure the surface of cultured marble is wet before wiping it. Use a soft, clean cloth or sponge and wipe away the water-vinegar solution and hard water spots. If the spots aren't entirely gone, try this process again. An alternative method is to use a liquid commercial cleaner. But use care in choosing something that is not abrasive.

Removing Hairspray and Paint

Some stains on your cultured marble surface, such as hairspray and paint, will be more difficult to remove. This will require a different cleaning method and material than you commonly use to remove the more easy to remove spots. Denatured alcohol, paint thinners, or turpentine can often do the job. If you do use these products, apply a small amount on a less conspicuous place to be sure it will not mar the surface. Always avoid allowing these more harsh materials to come in contact with any plastic surfaces. If you have doubts about the advisability of using more harsh cleaners on your cultured marble surface, check with the manufacturer of the cultured marble product you've purchased. You'll also want to check the safety instructions for using turpentinte or paint thinner products in your home, and follow them carefully.

Removing Cigarette Burns

A lit cigarette can easily mar a cultured marble vanity top, because this product is made from stone dust, a chemical binder, and a gel finish that gives the surface its shine. This gel finish is highly vulnerable to heat and a few chemicals such as fingernail polish and acetone. Often these marks cannot be removed. The best you can do, then, is to is to hide scratches, burns, and chemical scarring by applying a special glazing paint that is manufactured for this purpose. Be advised that this paint is very expensive.

Removing Scuff Marks

Scuff marks can easily be made on a cultured marble surface by using harsh cleaners or cleaning materials such as cloths or sponges that are rough. Scuffed surfaces can be made to shine again by applying a special gel wax.