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"My fireplace has a slate hearth that&amp;#039;s marked with white rings from flowerpots. How do I remove these stains? -- Anne Chrobocinski, Narvon, Pennsylvania During summer months, when a fireplace isn&amp;#039;t being used, flowerpots, candles, or dried-flower arrangements can add a decorative touch to a hearth. But most surfaces, including slate, need to be protected from stains. Always put a dish or container underneath pots to catch water and prevent leaks. The white rings on your hearth were most likely caused by a chemical reaction. A fertilizer you may have used for the flowers leaked onto the slate, perhaps, and interacted with the stone&amp;#039;s sealer. If this is the case, you may be able to remove the stains by reapplying the same sealer and simply wiping the marks away. If the stains are very severe, however, you may not be able to remove them. In the future, clean your slate regularly by wiping with a fresh cloth and water. Do not use soap or abrasives. The Marble Institute of America also recommends giving slate a coat of boiled linseed oil or occasionally waxing it with a hard nonyellowing wax. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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