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Best Poultice to Remove Oil From Granite

723 February 22, 2023  Stain Management, Stone & Tile Restoration

How to Remove Oil Stains on a Granite Floor

Oily stains on a granite floor can be difficult to remove. Assuming you have not had success cleaning the affected area, your next step is to apply a poultice. 

Fred Hueston, Chief Technical Director of Surface Care Pros and Owner of Stone Forensics says, “The best chemical to use in a poultice to get an oily substance out of granite floors will be either a solvent, such as varnish remover, or a commercial degreaser, available at most janitorial supply and big box stores.”

Poultice Application Instructions

Pre-wet the stained area with water. Then mix your poultice chemical with flour or diatomaceous earth, which is available at pool supply stores. Apply the paste-like mixture to the stain, with about 1/4 of an inch overlap around the edges. Cover the poultice with a piece of plastic wrap with a few holes poked in it to allow the moisture to escape. Let to sit overnight. 

The purpose of the poultice is to draw out the stain or discoloration from the stone by absorbing it into the paste, so it is important that you allow your poultice to dry out. Remove the plastic if it doesn’t dry overnight, and allow it to sit until it dries out.

Use the flat edge of a plastic putty knife to scrape the poultice from the surface of the granite. 

Reapply, If Necessary

Assuming you see progress in the stain removal, you may need to reapply the poultice many times to get the stain entirely removed. There may be a dark spot on the stone for a while until the moisture from the poultice evaporates. You can speed the evaporation process by running a dehumidifier or an air conditioner (which is a dehumidifier). 

The final step is to clean the area with a stone-safe, neutral cleaner.

Stain Care PRO App

Professional stone and tile restoration contractors find the Stain Care PRO web and mobile app very helpful in dealing with different stain types. Visit https://staincarepro.com to download. The app provides in-depth instructions for poultice mixing and application. 

Stain Care PRO Online Course

If you're interested in taking a course on stains, Surface Care Pros Learning Institute offers the Stain Care PRO course. The course includes a FREE one-year subscription to the Stain Care PRO web and mobile app.

For more information, register to earn a Stone Restoration Master Course Certificate. You'll learn how to restore natural stone floors, countertops, and walls, engineered stone, and granite floors, using the most efficient and effective restoration procedures. Also included in this program is the Stain Care Pro course with a one-year subscription to the Stain Care Pro app and Understanding Sealers.