Thankfully, it’s also an easy problem to solve. The key to eliminating hair dye stains on your stone countertops lies in the kind of stone you have and the particular dye you used. Follow these steps to get rid of those unsightly stains once and for all!
The Background Story
Have you ever been to a really nice home with beautiful stone countertops? What do you imagine they used to color them? The natural slate color? No, most likely, it was dyed. The same goes for marble, travertine, and other stones. Now, I’m not here to knock people who choose to dye their stone countertops; what’s important is that if you want your colored countertop looking its best, there are steps you can take. This post discusses how to remove hair dye from natural stone countertop material like slate or marble, which can have a glazed look when newly installed and requires a different cleaning process than your run-of-the-mill granite or quartz.
Common Mixtures to Use
During your search, you’ll probably find a lot of different recipes online. The most common advice given is to make a paste out of baking soda and water. Other popular methods include using lemon juice or vinegar (both diluted with water). Before you start in on any method, it’s important to know what sort of countertop you have and what surface has been stained. Different stones will react differently to a certain cleaner; some may work better than others at lifting stains completely, while others may gradually fade them over time. In general, here are some different ways you can go about cleaning hair dye from natural stone countertops
Step 1 – Disinfect
Before you start anything, you need to get rid of any infection that may have spread to your stone counter. Mix up a bleach and water solution at a ratio of 1 part bleach to 5 parts water (be sure not to use too much, or you risk damaging your stone). Apply with a cloth and leave on for 10 minutes before wiping clean. You can also mix up some liquid hand soap and warm water as another disinfectant option. Repeat if necessary.
Step 2 – Scrub Away the Residue
The same process you used to dye your hair can be applied to remove excess dye from your stone countertop. Just like when you dyed your hair, carefully apply a small amount of shampoo and mix it with warm water in a bowl or container. Use an old toothbrush to scrub away any residue left behind by your hair dye. Repeat if necessary, but try not to scrub too hard as you’ll risk scratching or damaging the stone countertop underneath. Use a dry cloth or paper towel to soak up any excess water after washing away leftover hair dye and let it air dry before using it again. If you still find discoloration on your stone countertop, repeat steps 1 and 2 until all stains are removed.
Step 3 – Polish and Seal
Natural stone surfaces can become scratched and worn over time. To fix that, you’ll need to polish and seal your countertops. Most countertop polishes are clear or light, allowing your beautiful stone to show through. Polish every few months and re-seal every year or two to keep your countertops in top shape. In addition, sealing will help protect them from staining. The same rule applies when cleaning natural stone floors – it’s best to wipe up spills as soon as possible before they leave a stain! If you do end up with a stain, though, don’t worry – many polished marble surfaces can be scrubbed out with baking soda (this will not work on uncoated surfaces).
Conclusion
Getting hair dye out of your stone countertop can be a bit tricky, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. If you or someone in the home is thinking about changing their hair color or returning to their natural hue, consider these tips to help you remove dye from stone countertops before and after the big event.