Although I was not the best science student sometimes this job makes me feel like a mad scientist! I have customers who have stains on their marble and natural stone and I need to determine what “magic potion” or polishing compounds and poultices to mix up to remove or draw out the stain.
A poultice is a mixture or paste that is applied directly to the stones surface, often to remove stains. There are many causes that cause a stone to stain. Sometimes its due to a spill that isn’t cleaned up in a timely manner. Other times it has to do with the mineral content inside the stone. One good example of this is with White Carrerra. A very popular marble containing large amounts of iron oxide, a mineral that causes rust or in this case, rust stains. The best way to remove this is with a poultice. Often times, multiple applications are required.
On a related note, I really felt like a mad scientist when I was contracted to restore several soap stone lab benches in a local laboratory at the University of Massachusetts. The finish on these bench tops had been damaged after years of chemical exposure and wear. With a combination of my “magic potions” and TLC, I was able to restore the beauty and functionality of the soap stone.