How to fix a "rub" stain on granite?

[mikejc]

We experienced some damage to our uba tuba granite, and I'm hoping for some suggestions on repair.

A plastic box was placed on top, and was rubbed against the granite with force multiple times. While plastic obviously cannot scratch granite, it has left "rub marks" where the plastic had the most contact with the granite surface. I am asusming it rubbed off part of the finish, but none of my polishes, cleaners, etc have been able to restore the sheen to the spots.

I will try to get a photo added to the post showing the damage...

[Mark D.]

If the plastic left a residue or stain you might try to clean it with acetone and see how that works.

Glad to be of service,
Mark

[mikejc]

If the plastic left a residue or stain you might try to clean it with acetone and see how that works.

Glad to be of service,
Mark

Mark,

I appreciate your reply. 

I tried the acetone (nail polish remover), but it had no effect.  My wife claims that she can feel one of the scratches if she runs her nail across it.  I can't, but I don't have her nails   I'm assuming it's impossible for a peice of plyable injection molded plastic to damage the actual surface itself if it was rubbed against it enough?  Is there a "top coat" that may have been weak enough to been damaged?

I attached a picture... Had to do it without flash, or the extra light makes it impossible to see the marks.

[Stone Dude]

granite does not have a top coat or anything that gives it its polish, the polish is the stone itself. with that said i have seen plenty of times where a sealer was applied incorrectly and has left a layer which will "etch" giving the appearance that the stone itself has etched.

if she can feel it, then its most likely scratched. what could have easily happened is if the box was set on the ground and a little itty bitty piece of rock or dirt was stuck under the plastic it may have scratched it when the box was slid back and forth. thats the thing about setting stuff on top of stone, you have to make sure theres nothing stuck under it. it can be fixed by a restoration professional. this is something i strongly suggest against doing for your first time on a countertop.

[mferraro]

At first when I read your post I got the impression that the plastic may have rubbed "onto" the granite since the granite is the harder surface that sounded logical.  When you said you wife could "feel" the difference but you couldn't, did you mean she could feel a groove in the stone or that she just felt the mark "on the top" of the stone.  If the plastic is rubbed into the surface of the stone there may be a way to remove it.  But this question was not asked.  If it is a surface scratch in the stone itself, say from small pieces of sand or some other abrasive, it sounds like the answer you got was right on target.

Mike