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How To Clean Granite: Expert Tips
If you have granite countertops, it is crucial to know how to clean them. It may seem like a simple task, but more goes into cleaning granite than meets the eye. This blog post will teach you all about how to properly care for your expensive stone and rid it of stains.
What is Granite?
Granite is a natural stone composed of many different minerals, which can all affect the colour. The most common type of granite contains 65% alkali feldspar and 20% quartz with mica for added sparkle. Depending on what mix you choose, your beautiful granite countertops might turn out pink or white!
Where Does Granite Come From?
As the oldest rock in existence, granite has seen a lot of changes over its long lifetime. The first one that ever formed was during an unknown point in time 300 million years ago. It is called “plutonic” because it forms deep underground and makes up what’s known as continental crusts today.
When you think of granite, do you immediately visualize a table or countertop? But did you know that the most exotic colours come from China, India and Brazil? Granite mining is an expensive process involving both capital and labour intensive work to extract blocks of rock by cutting or blasting them out for them to be transported around the world via rail.
How to Care for Granite Countertops
When you purchase a granite countertop, your kitchen likely comes with a layer of sealant. This prevents spills from getting into the tiny pores in natural stone and keeps water from penetrating them. It’s time to reseal these counters when they start becoming difficult to clean or if droplets of water are no longer beading up on their surface anymore – typically, every two-four years will suffice for most homeowners.
Gaining popularity for its durability and strength, homeowners are increasingly turning to granite countertops. But the stone mustn’t become damaged by too much heat or improper cleaning techniques! Watch out when using detergents on your new counters because many products can damage this surface material. Follow these simple steps to maximize the performance of your surfaces without compromising their integrity:
How to Clean Granite Countertops
Don’t try to clean granite countertops with harsh chemicals, acidic cleaners or abrasive scrubbing tools. Warm water and mild dish soap are best for this job! Vinegar can dull the surface of your beautiful stone top (though it has plenty of other uses in and around your house!). And don’t use any scrubbers that could scratch away at those gorgeous surfaces!
Proactive prevention is better than reactive waiting. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe up spills as soon as possible and avoid unsightly stains on your granite countertops with this simple precaution!
Clean your granite kitchen worktops with only a couple of drops of dish soap and hot water: The best way to keep the countertops clean is by using two simple ingredients, warm water and some dish soap liquid. Combine these in an empty bottle or in the sink. Wipe away the stains carefully and buff with a soft, dry microfiber cloth for a sheeny shine.
Buy granite specific cleaning solutions from the grocery store or online. There are plenty to choose from, and they will undoubtedly help make your granite countertops last longer.
How To Clean Granite Countertop Stains: Last Resort! All Of These Require Resealing!
Oil stains
Oil stains are the most common stain in kitchen areas, and they usually come from spills or food preparation related to cooking oils. To lift an oil stain:
- Combine baking soda with acetone into a paste at pancake batter consistency and place it onto the stained countertop.
- Leave for 24 hours before removing and rinsing off with water.
- Repeat if necessary; some stains may require 2-3 attempts depending on the severity of dirt accumulation.
- Reseal the granite surface once finished cleaning up any messes leftover!
How To Clean Food Stains From granite Countertops
A great way to remove food stains from the surface of natural stone like granite is by soaking a paper towel, cotton ball or white terry cloth towels soaked in any liquid bleach brand and placing it on the stained area. Allow this solution to sit for 24 hours, then rinse with water. Repeat if necessary when dealing with more stubborn stains like mould, mildew, plant runoff dirt and soil caused by household pets such as urine use a soft nylon brush, rinse thoroughly and reseal the granite countertop.
Do Granite Countertops Rust?
It sure does. The granite composition is made up of minerals and elements, including iron, a granite worktop can sometimes rust. Please read below to find out how to treat it.
Rust stains
Rust is not only an eyesore but can also be harmful to the stone. To remove rust stains, pour or spray 3% hydrogen peroxide on and around the stained area using a safe-on-stone scrubbing pad or nylon brush for 24 hours before rinsing it off. Preferably get a professional in over the DIY fix.
I’d not attempt any of the above DIY fixes myself; always call a professional because I’m not a professional restorer for natural stone surfaces, and I could end up making things much, much worse.
Avoid Abrasive Products As Much As You Can
I know I just said above to use bleach, baking soda and Hydrogen peroxide. However, that was as a last resort, and I mean the last resort.
You should never really be using anything abrasive on natural stone.
Never use an acidic or alkaline cleaner on granite countertops.
Don’t use an abrasive sponge on granite.
Avoid using steel wool on your granite surfaces (there is a little known blog recommending this). Just don’t do it, please.
Do not use any cream cleaner or cleaning paste on natural stone worktops.
No ammonia, absolutely no ammonia.
The kind of damage these products cause will leave the surface needing resealed anyway, so you may as well call a professional in the first place.
Protect and Preserve Granite Countertops
Tips to get the most out of your granite countertops.
Never stand on granite worktops. One piece of debris caught on your foot, sock or shoe can deeply scratch a granite surface. Meaning the whole lot would have to be repolished and sealed.
Always use hot pan stands and trivets to protect your surface from extreme heat. Granite is hardwearing but not invincible.
Always, always clean up spills from your granite countertops immediately.
Dry and buff your granite immediately after cleaning; this will bring it up to a polished shine.
Invest in good quality Microfiber Cloths like the ones I talk about in this blog post. I use these at home, and they are also used in my cleaning company. Our clients are always astounded at their nipping shiny surfaces.
Use a chopping board. Not only will a chopping board protect your granite from scratches, but it will also prevent your knives from going blunt and prevents you from accidentally staining the granite while chopping food.
Use coasters. I know it’s an obvious one, and most people use coasters anyway, but I wanted to mention it to make it abundantly clear that you need to do the most to protect your grant work surfaces.
Dry your granite immediately. The most common place for granite corrosion is around the sink. Always dry off and buff the surface after you’ve washed the dishes. This will delay the corrosion process around the sink significantly.
Fun Fact Number 1
Did you know that granite is naturally antibacterial? Yep, that’s right, it is. Google it if you don’t believe me.
Granite is naturally resistant to bacteria, but that doesn’t mean it’s impervious. Regularly sealing the stone helps resist liquids that can harbour germs and keep your granite looking as good as new!
Fun Fact Number 2
The world’s tallest buildings, such as Dubai Tower in the United Arab Emirates, are built from granite – it has been used for centuries to construct some of history’s greatest monuments like the Statue Of Liberty and other famous sites. It can be found on every continent with examples including Stone Mountain near Atlanta, Georgia; Vermont Granite Quarry at Readsboro, which was started by a team led by Dr Edmund Hastings, who came up with an idea when he saw Manhattan Island during his visit there around 1802-3
‘then returned home determined that what New York needed were tall solid stone towers’; Yellowstone National Park features many natural wonders created over millennia using this material.
Fun Fact Number 3
Many people mistake fissures as cracks when they are actually natural separations in the stone that don’t compromise its structural integrity.
3 Best Granite Cleaners For Countertops
And of course the one cleaner that beats them all is Skoosh, if you’re in Australia then I insist you try out the Skoosh products for yourself, they are un-frickin-believably good! As Ive mentoned in other posts I never thought Id convert from my dish soap but I have. I absolutely love my Skoosh!
Of course Skoosh is a green cleaner, and thats what makes it even more amazing, saving money AND saving the planet!
Conclusion
A lot of what I’ve said about granite countertops were the same prevention measures I mentioned in my Quartz cleaning post earlier.
We need to be sensible when spending such large amounts of money on luxury additions to the house.
Preventing stains is easier than removing stains, so it will always be my first priority.
And as always, if in doubt, call in a professional.
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