Food spots, water stains, marks, and dull patches on stone can be prevented with an application of wax or a commercial sealer.

If you have a stain that is difficult to remove with ordinary surface cleaners, start by polishing it with a non-abrasive cream sold for this purpose.

All stone is porous, and some stains can become embedded in the surface. If polishing cream doesn't get out the stain, there are non-solvent, non-toxic poultice powders sold for specific types of stains (rust, oil, ink, food, wine, etc.).

Mixed with water, poultices reabsorb the stain out of the stone. Their effectiveness often depends on the surface texture and the stone itself—marble, granite, limestone, slate, agglomerates, and terrazzo are the most common.