How to Clean Stained Marble?

[Laura Zaruba]

I have some marble I got from Lasersketch that is stained from dirt and the paper they put between pieces. Does anyone know how to remove the stains? Sometimes alcohol works, sometimes it doesn't.

[Jerry Allen]

I have used bleach on a q-tip before. Not miraculous, but it worked.
Is it stained before etching? That sounds like it would be hard to see.

[Laura Zaruba]

It is stained before etching. If I were doing a full photo or something it wouldn't be so bad but if I can't etch over the stained parts you can see it pretty well. I'll have to try bleach and see how that works.

[Jerry Allen]

I wasn't sure what you were talking about. I used the bleach after etching.
I think I would try a light amount of acetone just in case it's glue or carbonaceous char, etc., and then use Gel Gloss or a marble specific cleaner.

from the Heloise site:
Try this simple home solution: Mix liquid dishwashing detergent with warm water and use a sponge to clean your marble. Be sure to thoroughly rinse to remove all soap residue -- a buildup could damage the stone, according to the Marble Institute of America. Then buff dry with a soft cloth; never air-dry. Anything acidic -- like lemon, vinegar or bathroom cleansers -- can eat into marble. Hair dyes may also leave permanent stains. And the alcohol in aftershave lotions and perfumes can cause etching.