Stain Removal Chart
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Most stains can be removed with a poultice. A poultice is an absorbent material applied to a surface to draw out a stain. It can be a powder, paper or a gel. The most common poultices in use today are powders. A number of powders are very absorbent and are ideal for stain removal. Some typical powders used in poultices are the following: clays and fullers earth Talc Chalk (whiting) Sepiolite (hydrous magnesium silicate) Diatomaceous earth Methyl cellulose Flour Clays and diatomaceous earth are usually the best. Do not use whiting or clays containing iron. When using acidic chemicals the acids will react with the iron and may cause yellowing of certain stone surfaces. It is best to purchase poultice powder materials from reputable suppliers of products for this purpose. Some typical paper poultices are: Cotton balls Paper towels Gauze pads Paper poultices can be quite effective on mild stains. They are easier to apply than powder poultices and are also easier to remove. Gel poultices are usually thick chemical gels that are designed to be applied to a stain with the use of powders or papers. They work effectively with certain stains. When purchasing poultice materials ask if they contain stain removing chemicals or if they need to have chemicals added. Some powder and gel poultices contain chemicals and all you need to do is add water. Never mix additional chemicals with a poultice that contains its own chemical formulation. APPLYING THE POULTICE 1. Identify the stain. 2. Clean the stained area to remove excess from the surface. 3. Wet the stained area with distilled water. Pre-wetting fills the pores of the stone with water -isolating the stain and accelerating the removal by the chemical. 4. Prepare the poultice. If a powder is to be used, pre-mix the powder and the chemical of choice into a thick paste, the consistency of peanut butter. In other words, wet it enough so that it does not run. If a paper poultice is to be used, soak the paper in the chemical. Lift the paper out of the chemical until it stops dripping. 5. Apply the poultice to the stain being careful not to spill any on the non-stained areas. Apply approximately one-quarter-inch thick overlapping the stain area by about one inch. 6. Cover the poultice with plastic (food wrap works great). Tape the plastic down to seal the edges. Allow the poultice to dry thoroughly. This is a very important step. The drying of the poultice is what pulls the stain from the stone into the poultice material. If the poultice is not allowed to dry, the stain may not be removed. Drying usually takes from 24 to 48 hours. 7. After 24 to 48 hours, remove the plastic. 8. Remove the poultice from the stain. Rinse with distilled water and buff dry with a soft cloth. If the stain is not removed, apply the poultice again. It may take up to five applications for difficult stains. 9. Some chemicals may etch the marble surface. If this occurs, then apply polishing powder and buff with a piece of soft cloth to restore the shine. |
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Anguilla