What do I use to remove chalky stains on my stone?

Q. I waxed my stone tile floors with Quick Shine after removing dried up salt from the snow with clear water. It didn't look the best, because I used a cheap wax mop. Then, I put bleach in water to try and remove the wax and got chalky like stains. How can I fix this? What do I use to remove chalky stains on my stone?

 

A. Quick Shine and similar coatings on natural stone may not produce the desired result, as in your case, and even if the desired result is achieved, the glossy appearance won't last long. It will become scratched and attract dirt, making the floor look even worse than before the coating was applied. A natural polish lasts longer and does not require continuous stripping and reapplication of waxes. A natural polish can be achieved through professional restoration processes, namely, honing and polishing. When alkaline cleaners such as bleach are used on stone, they must be neutralized, and since you did not mention using a neutral cleaner, it is likely that the chalky stains you notice are actually alkaline etch damage. To learn more, read this article: https://surphaces.com/high-alkaline-substances-can-etch-natural-stone/. Although the Quick Shine bottle says it is appropriate for stone floors, we do not recommend topical coatings on stone. If your floor is simply streaked, then stripping the coating you applied may resolve the situation. Strippers can be tricky, though. Selecting the right type of stripper, applying it properly, and removing all the stripper residue is not an easy DIY process. Because you mentioned the chalky stains after applying the bleach solution, you probably are not dealing with a simple streaking problem. Moderate alkaline etching can sometimes be removed with a mild acid, but the damage to your floor covers too a wide surface area. We highly recommend that you contact your professional stone restoration contractor to refinish your floor. Your PRO can also recommend ways to safely avoid a recurrence of this problem next winter. If you do not already have a PRO, fill out this form https://surphaces.com/contact-us/. We may be able recommended a vetted, reputable company in your area.