^if i had to guess it could be from some dripping fairy liquid?

I bet it’s not actually real marble (which is very porous) but actually Quartz which is very practical and will clean up with an abrasive cleaner such as cif

Before you do anything check that it isn’t marble, if it is and you start to clean with an abrasive cleaner you will have a major problem with scratches just ask your friend do they know what it is and take it from there. I don’t think anybody a bottle of cif to clean David!

Insert ‘took’ between anybody and a. Sorry

it’s definitely marble!

Although it’s good advice to check if it’s real marble I did actually have a real marble worktop which suffered no scratches from using Cif. However it is true that well polished surfaces can get a dull area if you intensively clean just one small spot.

The picture makes it look like Quartz and look like is is a silk finish rather than a glossy polish.

Thanks Jonathan. In two minds as keen not to make it worse. they’ve very much impressed upon me that it’s marble and not to use standard kitchen cleaners.

it is VERY porous and it’s basically the same upkeep as a pet…which i have now brutally disfigured

i’ve noticed some stains fade with marble over time but this doesn’t seem to be going anywhere as of 72 hours

Then you need to try something that will draw the stain out…… the concept is simple….. put something over the stain that is wet and as it drys is draws up the stain. This article recommends bicarbonate of soda (AKA baking soda) mixed with water. If it unsuccessful they recommend adding hydrogen peroxide- if you do I would firstly try this with watered down hydrogen peroxide as it can lighten the colour of things (the risk is minimal since this worktop is nearly white already)

https://www.thegritandpolish.com/blog/diy-how-to-remove-stains-from-marble-surfaces-using-a-homemade-poultice

When I have been renovating antique furniture there are lots of ‘old wives tricks’ that you would not believe would work, but they do.
For marble, and this is entirely your own decision to try, use white toothpaste, with a brush or soft cloth then gently rinse, wipe, not too much water and dry the area with a hair dryer. The marble will need to be re sealed when dry, but that’s another story.

thanks guys, i’ll try the poultice and then the toothpaste if no joy eileen! when you say it will need resealing - is this visible?

Hi Paul, If Jonathan’s solution works you will not need to use the toothpaste application, you reply was a little misleading. It reads as if you are going to throw everything at it! As for re sealing I would suggest that the whole of the draining board should be re sealed to avoid it happening again, if you look on line there are companies who supply sealant for marble so maybe you could ask their advice.
Next time ask your friends if you can look after their pet cobra, it would be less trouble, good luck.

thanks Eileen - no i just meant toothpaste if the poulstice doesnt first work. thanks for the input, photos of success (hopefully) to follow.