How to Remove a Wine Etch on an Onyx Table

Q. Someone spilled white wine on my onyx table last night. I wiped it up, but this morning I see that it looks like it penetrated the table and left a dull finish over an area about 15 inches wide. Any suggestions what to do? I have a feeling time is of the essence. At present, we have someone coming next week, but I don’t know who they are. We got them on Internet. I am not adverse to trying some DIY as I am pretty handy.

A. If your onyx has a honed (soft matte) finish, then do not follow this suggestion, as it will likely leave a shiny spot on your finish. Unfortunately, the stone has been chemically etched by the neutralization process that happens between calcium (the main ingredient in marble) and the spill. You may need your professional restoration contractor to refinish your stone. If the etching is not severe, and assuming your finish is polished, you can try to polish the etch out of your stone using etch remover marble polish. Understand this it is not cleaning—it is polishing the stone much like jewelers rouge. Although etching can‘t be removed with a cleaner, improper cleaning products may actually CAUSE etching. You want to make sure to always use only stone-safe, good quality cleaning products. We can recommend a vetted contractor if the one you‘ve already made an appointment with doesn‘t work out. For more information, contact us. Good luck!