First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Blot the spill with a clean, dry white cloth or paper towels, pressing rather than rubbing.
- Pretest any cleaner on a hidden spot first and stop if color transfers or changes.
- Keep the spot away from heat until the stain is gone, since heat sets stains.
Oil on marble can sink in and set, and once it does a wipe won't lift it. Marble can take plain water, but acid is a no, so the job is to draw the oil out rather than scrub at it. Fresh oil is the easiest to pull back out, while difficult stains can take up to five poultice applications and some may never come out completely.
For an oil stain on a marble countertop, use a poultice made for natural stone, then a pH neutral stone-safe cleaner for the wipe-down. Skip anything acidic on the surface, even if it's sold as an oil stain remover for natural stone. If a marble table stain still shows after repeat poultice rounds, a stone restorer is the next call.
Before you start
What marble & natural stone can take
Safe to use1
- Water
Use with care5
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
Avoid1
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
9 items
What you'll need
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- Clean, dry white cloth or white paper towelsLifts the oil without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soapFlushes the area before the poultice goes on. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaThe base of the poultice that draws out the oil. (opens Amazon)
- Distilled waterWets the poultice area and gives the final rinse.
- Wood or plastic scraperSpreads the poultice evenly. (opens Amazon)
- Plastic wrap and tapeSeals the poultice so it stays in place while it dries. (opens Amazon)
- Soft clothDries the stone and buffs it at the end. (opens Amazon)
- Polishing powder and a burlap or felt buffing padOnly needed if the stone looks etched after the poultice.
- Mineral spiritsOnly for stubborn stains, as the solvent in the set-in option. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Blot the spill before it spreads
Press a clean, dry white cloth or paper towel onto the oil and lift it away, then switch to a fresh section and repeat until little more comes up. Blotting pulls up the loose oil before it can soak deeper into the stone.
Careful. Wiping a fresh spill spreads it across the marble.
Step 2 of 6
Flush the area with mild soap
Rinse the spot with plain water and a little mild soap, then rinse several times until no soap is left. Dry the area thoroughly with a soft cloth before you go on.
Step 3 of 6
Mix the baking soda poultice
Mix baking soda with water until the paste is as thick as peanut butter. Wet the stained area with distilled water first so the paste goes on evenly.
Step 4 of 6
Spread and seal the poultice
Spread the paste about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick, reaching about one inch past the edge of the stain, and smooth it with a wood or plastic scraper. Cover it with plastic wrap and tape the edges down to seal it in place.
Careful. A poultice may dull polished marble, so keep it to the stain and its one-inch edge.
Step 5 of 624 to 48 hours
Let the poultice dry fully
Leave the poultice alone until it's completely dry, which usually takes 24 to 48 hours. Don't lift it early to check, because that breaks the seal the plastic made.
Tip. Write down the time you put it on so you know when to check.
Careful. Keep heat away while it dries, since heat sets stains.
Step 6 of 6
Remove, rinse and buff dry
Lift off the dried poultice, rinse the area with distilled water, and buff it dry with a soft cloth. If the spot looks etched or dull, rub polishing powder over it with a burlap or felt buffing pad to bring back the surface.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for oil on marble & natural stone
Choose a poultice or stone cleaner labeled for natural stone, and skip any with acid or scouring grit. A soft liquid cleanser without bleach is the safest cleaner to keep on hand for marble.
Granite Gold® Daily Cleaner
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on marble & natural stone, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A stain that's lifting looks lighter and softer after the poultice comes off. If the spot still looks dark or greasy once it's fully dry, the oil is still there, so plan another round.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your marble & natural stone
Marble countertop
A countertop gets wiped and used every day, so a grease spot can sit under a cutting board or cookware before anyone notices it. Blot it as soon as you see it, then follow the same poultice method. Keep a trivet under hot pots and pans while the stain is still there, since heat sets stains.
Once the poultice is off, buff the spot dry and check it in daylight. If a dull patch is left, use the polishing step rather than scrubbing the counter harder.
Marble table
Tables often pick up oil from plates, hands and lotion, and the spot may be older than it looks. Use the same blot, flush and poultice steps, and keep the paste on the stained area and its one-inch edge. Don't let the poultice spill over onto the table's edges.
If the table is polished, pretest the poultice on an underside or hidden spot first, because a poultice can dull polished stone. Expect a second round if the first one only lightens the spot.
Marble floor
Floors take foot traffic, and footsteps can spread a fresh oil spill before you reach it. Blot it up right away, then apply the poultice to the stain and about one inch beyond it. Keep the area roped off or covered while it dries.
Keep foot traffic off the poultice for the full 24 to 48 hours, and skip the mop over that spot until it's removed and rinsed. Buff the area dry afterward so no damp patch is left on the floor.
White marble
White marble shows an oil shadow more clearly, so check the spot in good light before you start and again after the poultice comes off. The method stays the same, and the shadow is what you're judging.
Don't reach for bleach to whiten the shadow; repeat the poultice rather than switching to a stronger product. If a faint shadow remains, repeat the poultice rather than switching to a stronger product.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old oil stain has had time to sink deeper into the stone, so the first poultice may only lighten it. That's normal and doesn't mean the method failed.
If the spot has dried and hardened, repeat the baking soda poultice on the same area. For the toughest spots, swap the water for mineral spirits and mix in a powdered poultice material, after a pretest and in a ventilated room away from flames.
Difficult stains can need up to five applications, and some may never come out completely. Rinse with distilled water and let the stone dry between rounds. If a shadow still remains after five rounds, a professional stone restorer is the next step.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on oil on marble & natural stone?
Plenty of kitchen remedies get suggested for oil, but most of them are wrong for marble. Baking soda is the one to use for oil on marble, since the other kitchen remedies either etch the stone or don't target oil.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use vinegar or lemon on marble
Vinegar, lemon and other acids etch and dull marble, limestone and travertine, and even a quick try can leave a dull patch behind. Stick to the baking soda poultice and mild soap instead.
Don't scrub with powders or pads
Scouring powders, creams and scrub pads can scratch the stone and make existing etches look worse. Use a soft cloth and let the poultice do the drawing.
Don't mix bleach and ammonia
Mixing the two gives off a toxic, lethal gas. If you switch between products, rinse the area with plain water in between.
When to call a professional
Call a professional stone restorer for etched areas you can't fix, deeper scratches and nicks, deep rust or copper stains, or stains that remain after repeated poultices. Professionals can often pull out what home methods can't, and periodic refinishing helps polished marble keep its shine.
Questions
Does oil stain marble?
Yes. Marble is porous, so oil soaks in quickly and can leave a dark shadow if it sits. The sooner you blot it, the better your chances of pulling it out in one round.
What oil stain remover works on marble?
Choose a poultice or stone cleaner labeled for natural stone, and make sure it's pH neutral and free of scouring grit. Pretest it on a hidden spot first, since a product that's safe on one stone can still dull marble.
Will the stain come out completely?
Often it fades a lot, but old or deep stains may never come out completely. Repeat the poultice up to five times, and call a professional if a shadow stays.
How long should the poultice stay on?
Leave it until it has dried completely, which usually takes 24 to 48 hours. Set a reminder for the 24-hour mark so you know when to check.
Can I use vinegar on marble?
No. Vinegar is an acid, and acids etch or dull marble, limestone and travertine. Stick to the baking soda poultice and mild soap.
How do I know the stain is gone?
Let the stone dry fully, then look at it in good light. A gone stain matches the stone around it, and if it's still there, repeat the poultice.
Oil on other materials
Other stains on marble & natural stone
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.