never use viakal limescale remover on marble

Why You Shouldn't Use Viakal Limescale Remover on Marble

This article will answer the following questions:
Why does Viakal limescale remover stain marble? How do I remove limescale without using Viakal? How to remove Viakal limescale remover stains. How do I protect the marble effectively after you have removed the stain? What is Viakal? is it safe to leave it on overnight? and what Viakal is used for.
If you would rather consult with a stone restoration professional, feel free to give us a call and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Viakal Limescale Remover Marble Bathroom Stains

We’ve been working for many years in the marble industry and worked on all types of natural stone, however, the one job we most work on tends to be the removal of Viakal stains from marble showers. 

It’s caused when using Viakal limescale remover to remove limescale around taps and showerheads. If you are not careful when cleaning these, the Viakal can easily stain the marble in your bathroom or shower.

Many cleaners tend to leave the Viakal limescale remover spray on the surface to eat away at the limescale, but unfortunately it also eats away at the marble too. 
The good news is that we have seen a lot of success in removing Viakal stains from marble and the end result usually looks very close to new. 

But you will need to call in a professional for this type of job because it does require special tools and expertise.

If you're a homeowner, then don't worry! We offer our professional services to homeowners on all budgets and with no obligation quotations that can be discussed over the phone or via email before any work commences.

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Best Maintenance Products For Stone Surfaces

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    FINE WIRE WOOL

    Fine Wire Wool. This product helps remove surface grime without damaging the stone.
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    This electric mop comes with 4 reusable microfiber pads. Perfect for stone floors.
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Why does Viakal Limescale Remover Stain Marble?

As you can see from the Viakal limescale remover safety data sheet, Viakal has 3 types of acid in it, Formic acid, Deceth-8, and Citric acid, none of which are very good for marble as you can imagine.

These acids are designed to breakaway limescale, the problem is, it also burns, or etches into the marble, leaving pale white burn marks. 
These can look terrible and almost unsolvable! However, there is a way to remove these Viakal marble shower stains. 

This is because marble has a very high water absorption rate which means that the acid can penetrate deep into the pores of your marble, causing more damage than usual.
David Smith Segarra
"We are a London-based family business with over 35 years experience, and passionate about natural stone. We specialise in marble restoration, providing personalised attention to detail for every customer. Based in Canary Wharf, covering all of Greater London. You can trust us for all your marble needs!"

DAVID SMITH

Marble Restoration Specialist
London, Canary Wharf
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What are my options? How do I remove limescale without affecting the marble?

There are many good sprays at removing limescale, but none that are good on natural stone tiles. 

If you need to remove limescale from your shower walls or bathroom floor then there are two ways:
1. The easiest way is using fine wire wool to remove the limescale from the surface.
2. If the wire wool alone doesn't work, use natural stone soap to help eat away at the limescale before using the fine wire wool to break up the limescale.

How to remove limescale without viakal limescale remover

In this video you can see limescale has built up around the sink and tap. Limescale can easily be removed using fine wire wool which will safely remove the limescale without damaging the marble or granite, and without using viakal limescale remover.

Maintenance Tips For Natural Stone Surfaces

Marble Cleaning Tips
Reasons to Trust Marble Renovation
Marble Cleaning Tips
Reasons to trust marble renovation

How to safely remove Viakal bathroom stains

To remove the Viakal limescale remover spray burn marks on marble shower tiles, we use a diamond pad to grind away and polish up until all stains are removed. 

We tend to use around 4-5 pads for this process depending how badly stained your walls may be. Once it is done you can seal the wall with an acid resistant primer that will protect any remaining tile from future damage!

Depending on how badly stained the marble tiles are in the shower wall, we use a more abrasive pad until the stains are removed. We then move onto a finer diamond pad until the wall is completely honed and sealed. 
We tend to use between 4 or 5 pads to ensure all the Viakal stains have been removed from the shower walls. Once the wall has been repaired, we will grind back to its original color and seal and polish it so that the area looks new.

Viakal Limescale - Viakal is a type of limescale remover used primarily to remove hard water stains from around taps and showerheads. It's acidic in nature, so if you're not careful it can easily stain the surface on which it has been applied. 

The good news is that we have seen success with removing Viakal stains from marble, but we would recommend contacting a professional if you are not sure how to go about it.

How to protect your marble after the removal of Viakal marble shower stains

Once we have removed the Viakal limescale remover shower stain, it’s important to look after your marble tiles as much as possible. For starters, keep Viakal limescale remover away! If you want to keep limescale away, it’s important to ensure the bathroom remains as dry as possible. 
Use a squeegee after you use the shower to dry away any water droplets that may remain on the marble tiles. Only use a neutral detergent (Fairy washing up liquid is an example of a neutral detergent) to help clean the tiles to remove any soaps or liquids that may have splashed onto the walls during your shower.

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Marble Cleaning & Polishing Services in London

We are a family-run business based in Canary Wharf, London, offering professional marble restoration services in the greater London area. With years of experience, our skilled team is dedicated to restoring the beauty and elegance of your marble surfaces to their original glory. Whether your marble surfaces are dull, stained, scratched, or damaged, we can provide a tailored restoration solution to meet your specific needs. Our services include cleaning, polishing, honing, repairing cracks and chips, and sealing to protect against future damage. 
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If you would rather consult with a stone restoration professional, feel free to give us a call and we will be more than happy to assist you.

FAQs on why you should never use viakal limescale remover on Marble

Can you leave Viakal overnight?
Viakal is designed to be used in the shower, so it's best not to leave this product on for too long as leaving it longer than a few minutes could cause damage. The manufacturer recommends that if you need to use the product over night then ensure that your marble has been sealed with an acid resistant sealer first.

How long can you leave Viakal on for?
The manufacturer recommends that it is best not to use the product over night, but if you do then ensure that your marble has been sealed beforehand. It should be applied to a dry surface and left alone for up to 20 minutes before rinsing it away with a water jet.
What do you use Viakal for?
Viakal is designed to remove limescale from your bathroom or kitchen surfaces. Do not use it on marble and other natural stone tiles in your home, such as granite or slate, as it contains phosphoric acid which will dissolve the mineral deposits that cause stains on surfaces like these, affecting the natural stone.

What is Viakal?
Viakal is a bathroom cleaner that contains phosphoric acid to dissolve mineral deposits on your bathroom or kitchen tiles. It removes limescale without affecting the surface on these kind of tiles. The product works immediately to remove stains caused by limescale. However, as natrual stone is so soft, products like Viakal will completely burn the surface. Make sure you rinse off all residue with a cloth after using this product with a cloth, even if you are only using it on glass.

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Final Thoughts on Viakal Limescale Remover

Viakal limescale remover is a very abrasive cleaning product. It should never be used on any natural stone surface. The acid in the product will eat away at the stone and leave a horrible looking white burn mark.

Unfortunately there is no simple option to remove these stains. You must call a professional stone renovation expert. We will need to use diamond pads to sand back the surface until the burn and etch marks have completely disappeared. Then we can hone, seal and polish the area to bring back the natural colours.

Use there products to clean, seal and maintain your marble:
Lithofin Easy Clean - For easy maintenance and to clean away any grime.
Lithofin Stain Stop - This product will seal the pores in your natural stone and prevent water damage. You can use this once a month with a dry cloth.
Fine Steel Wool - This product is excellent for removing any residue that is on your surfaces, like limescale. Only use the "Fine" steel wool, any other grade will be too abrasive and could scratch your stone.
Don't forget you can call us anytime if you have any questions or concerns about how to remove Viakal Stains from your marble surfaces.

Further Reading: Marble Cleaning and Polishing Tips and Tricks

Discover the latest tips and tricks for marble cleaning and polishing, as well as other stone surfaces, by checking out the posts below. Our expert advice will help you maintain the beauty and durability of your stone surfaces for years to come. Whether you need to remove stains, prevent damage, or protect your surfaces from wear and tear, we have got you covered. Browse our posts now and discover practical solutions for all your marble cleaning and polishing needs, and more.

Marble Renovation

Marble Renovation is a family-owned business situated in Canary Wharf, London, with more than 35 years of expertise in stone restoration.
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