ServiceMarble stain removal
Targeted poultices to draw oil, wine, coffee, rust and dyes out from deep within the stone.
Les Traitements du Sud · Geneva
Marble countertop restoration in Geneva
Marble kitchens, islands, splashbacks and basins: lemon and wine etching erased, oil stains drawn out, oil-repellent sealing, often in a single day.
Marble kitchens
Marble countertops: the restoration that brings a kitchen back to life
A marble countertop is a choice with character. Its veining gives a kitchen a depth that no synthetic material truly imitates, and its natural coolness makes it a favourite with keen bakers. It is also a calcareous stone that reacts to acids: a squeeze of lemon, a drop of vinegar or a glass of red wine left for a few minutes is enough to leave a dull mark, known as an “etch”.
Les Traitements du Sud · Geneva carries out marble countertop restoration in Geneva and the surrounding communes: kitchen worktops, central islands, splashbacks, integrated sinks and basins, bar tops. We erase etching and scratches, lift grease and oil stains, repair chips around cut-outs, then apply an oil-repellent sealer that makes the stone far easier to live with day to day.
In the vast majority of cases, a kitchen worktop is done in a single day, without taking the top out or touching the units. Your kitchen is usable again the next day, with marble that has recovered its original feel and sheen.
Etching and stains
Lemon, wine, oil: what a countertop goes through
On a kitchen worktop, two kinds of marks overlap. First, acid etching: lemon juice, salad dressing, wine, tomato, fizzy drinks, some household cleaners. The acid very slightly dissolves the calcium carbonate and leaves a print duller than the rest of the surface, often shaped like a drop or a ring. These marks are not stains: they will not wash off, and the area has to be re-polished.
Then there are absorbed stains: olive oil, butter, coffee, tea, spices such as turmeric, red wine on a pale marble. The liquid soaks into the pores and darkens the stone. These are treated with a poultice before polishing. Telling one from the other is the first step of a successful restoration, and it is exactly what we do during our visit.
In figures
A compact, precise kitchen restoration
1 dayfor most kitchen worktops
6steps on site
7marble services
17areas covered
- 1
Visit and free quote
We identify the marble, its finish, the etching, the stains and any chips. The free quote in Swiss francs is priced per linear metre or per item.
- 2
Protecting the kitchen
Tiling, appliances, unit fronts and taps are covered with suitable film and tape.
- 3
Degreasing and poultices
We degrease the stone, then apply poultices to oil or coffee stains to draw them out of the pores.
- 4
Spot repairs
Chips around the sink or hob, damaged edges: filled with tinted resin, then levelled flush.
- 5
Grinding and polishing
Etching and scratches are removed with diamond abrasives, then the original finish is restored evenly across the whole worktop.
- 6
Oil-repellent sealing
A water- and oil-repellent impregnator, safe for food contact once dry, soaks into the stone and slows absorption.
Splashbacks
Marble splashbacks: cooking spatter and steam
The splashback catches splashes of sauce, spitting fat and steam from pans. Behind the hob, a greasy film eventually yellows the marble and holds on to dust. Behind the sink, it is more often limescale marks and washing-up liquid runs that dull the stone.
We treat splashbacks with lightweight machines suited to vertical work, taking care around sockets, switches and the junction with the worktop. The joint between worktop and splashback, often blackened, is redone for a clean finish. Once restored and sealed, a splashback cleans up with a simple wipe.
Piece by piece
Every marble element in the kitchen
A marble kitchen often has several elements laid at the same time. We restore them in a single visit so they all share the same finish again.
01
Worktops and islands
Large horizontal surfaces, chopping and preparation areas: these carry the most etching. On a central island, we also treat the edges and waterfall ends so the stone reads continuously.
02
Sinks and basins
A sink carved from marble or an undermounted basin gathers limescale, detergents and knocks from crockery. The bowls are worked by hand, with flexible discs that follow the curve.
03
Tables and ledges
Breakfast table, bar counter, window ledge: these pieces benefit from being restored alongside the worktop so everything matches. Marble dining tables are treated in the same way.
Finish and protection
Polished, satin or honed: choosing the right finish for a kitchen
The finish makes a big difference to how a countertop ages. Polished marble shows off the veining and reflects the light, but every acid etch stands out as a dull spot. Honed or satin marble, by contrast, already has a matt look: small etches blend in and the surface ages more discreetly. Many contemporary kitchens in Geneva, from Eaux-Vives apartments to villas in Vandœuvres, opt for this finish for exactly that reason.
We can restore the original finish or suggest another, depending on how you use the kitchen. The decision is made together during the visit, with a test on a discreet area if needed. The different levels of sheen are explained on our marble polishing in Geneva page.
Whatever the finish, oil-repellent sealing is the step that transforms everyday life. It does not make the stone immune to acids — an etch is still possible — but it greatly delays the penetration of oil, wine or coffee and gives you time to wipe up. It is renewed according to how intensively the kitchen is used; you will find our products and how they work on the marble sealing and protection page.
In one day
Work planned around a kitchen that has to keep running
A kitchen is a room that is hard to do without. We therefore plan the work so that, in most cases, it fits into a single day: arrival in the morning, protection, stain treatment, polishing and sealing in the afternoon. All you need to do is clear the worktop the evening before. We tell you the sealer’s curing time before we leave; after that, you can use your kitchen as normal.
Our machines have dust extraction and work wet on marble, which keeps dust in the home to a minimum. In PPE buildings, we keep to the building’s hours and the régie’s instructions. Kitchens in restaurants, hotels or upscale residences can be treated outside service hours: see our hotels in Geneva page.
- One-day job for most worktops
- No removal of the worktop or units
- Acid etching and scratches erased
- Oil, wine and coffee stains drawn out
- Chips around cut-outs repaired
- Breathable oil- and water-repellent sealing
Good habits
Making a restored marble countertop last
A few habits are enough to keep a worktop immaculate for a long time. Use a chopping board for cutting and a trivet for hot pans. Wipe up lemon, wine, vinegar and tomato sauces quickly. For routine cleaning, a soft sponge and a pH-neutral soap are all you need; multi-purpose sprays, scouring creams and strong degreasers are best avoided. A bottle of oil placed straight on the stone soon leaves a ring: a small tray solves the problem.
If the worktop is to be shown for a sale or a new let, restoring it just before viewings makes a clear difference to the impression the kitchen gives. Interior designers who remodel a kitchen while keeping the original worktop also call on us at the end of the project: see the interior designers in Geneva page. For regular follow-up, our marble maintenance service is also available.
Related services
Going further
Service
ServiceMarble repair
Chipped edges, cracks, broken corners: tinted filling and re-polishing for a discreet repair.
SurfaceMarble bathrooms
Showers, vanity tops and walls: descaling, polishing and water-repellent sealing.
FAQ
Marble countertop restoration: your questions
Can a lemon mark on marble really disappear?
Yes. A lemon, vinegar or wine mark is an etch: the acid has slightly dissolved the surface. It will not wash off, but fine grinding followed by polishing removes it and restores an even surface. Very deep etching needs several passes; we assess this during the visit for your free quote.
How long does restoring a kitchen worktop take?
For most kitchens, one day is enough: degreasing, stain removal, spot repairs, polishing and oil-repellent sealing. A very large island, a kitchen with many cut-outs or deep stains needing several poultices may require an extra visit. We tell you precisely when we quote.
Does the worktop or sink need to be removed?
No. The worktop stays in place, as do the sink, hob and taps. We carefully protect these and the unit fronts, then work the stone by machine and by hand around the cut-outs. All you need to do is clear the worktop and give us access to the kitchen.
Is the oil-repellent sealer safe for food preparation?
We use impregnators designed for kitchen worktops, which pose no risk in contact with food once fully cured. We tell you the curing time at the end of the job. After that, simply clean the worktop as usual before preparing meals, as you would with any work surface.
Which finish is best for a heavily used worktop?
For a kitchen where a lot of cooking happens, a honed or satin finish is often the most comfortable choice: small acid etches are much less noticeable than on a high polish. A mirror polish remains superb in a quieter kitchen or on an entertaining island. We can run a test on a discreet area before you decide.
Can you restore a marble counter in a restaurant or hotel?
Yes. Marble counters, bars and preparation tops in Geneva establishments can be restored outside service hours — early morning, evening or on a closing day. We fit the schedule around your business and provide a free quote in Swiss francs, itemised by element.
Bring your marble countertop back to its original beauty
Send us a few photos of your kitchen and its marks: we will get back to you with a free quote in Swiss francs. All our contact details are on the contact page.
Service areas