Even though granite is a beautiful for kitchens and baths, cleaning granite countertops can be tedious process. You need to make sure that you are using gentle cleaning products that won't damage this natural stone.
1. Recommended granite cleaner
It is best to avoid harsh cleaners when cleaning granite countertops. There are a lot of commercial cleaners that are great option, but you can also make a homemade stain remover for stained granite.
1.1 Commercial cleaners
One of the best brands to use to take care of any granite surfaces is Weiman. This brand has variety of supplies to clean granite countertops as well as to take care and polish such stone.
The Weiman Disinfectant Granite Daily Clean & Shine cleaner is an amazing option. This disinfecting formula kills up to 99.99% of bacteria and germs. You can use this spray for granite floors, granite countertops, and other non-porous surfaces like tubs and sinks.
The Therapy Clean Granite & Stone Cleaner & Polish is also a great cleaner. This product is perfect for daily cleaning of granite that removes grease, oil, and grime. The neutral pH of this cleaner allows safe cleaning for all granite, marble, and onyx surfaces.
1.2 Homemade solutions
If you are not willing to spend money to buy a special granite cleaner, you can always find something mild around your house or make a cleaner yourself.
Using mild dish soap diluted in warm water is one of the best way to clean granite counters. This cleaner will be gentle enough to not damage the stone, but strong enough to leave your granite surfaces sparkly clean. You can also use mild dishwashing liquid to clean granite floor and wall tiles.
In order to make a cleaner to remove stains from your granite countertop you should get baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. If you have oil based stains, mix baking soda with water to make a baking soda paste. For water based stains, mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide into a thick paste. These diy cleaners will surely resolve your stained granite problem.
You can also mix rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle to disinfect granite, homemade style. If you are making this cleaner, just make sure that you dilute rubbing alcohol with water. The solution should be a 50/50 mixture of water and rubbing alcohol.
1.3 Steamer
Another great way to clean granite is by using a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners are safe for all non-porous surfaces and can be used to clean floors, countertops, and walls.
Steamers do not require using any harsh chemicals in order to clean since the steams high pressure and high heat is able to battle against any grime. Spills, grease, sugary stains can all be removed just with steam.
Steam doesn't only clean variety of surfaces and dirt, but simultaneously disinfects the area you are working on. Steam kills up to 99.99% of germs and bacteria, leaving your area sparkly clean and disinfected.
Our Fortador Volt Mini is a portable and very powerful steamer that can be used for any type of cleaning. It comes with variety of attachments that can be used to clean the floors, counters, and the smallest areas of your house.
How to clean granite countertops with a cleaning solution
Before the cleaning process, inspect your granite kitchen countertops by going down to an eye level with the granite countertop. This will allow you to see the problem areas better. Look where you have tough stains or remaining crumbs on the surface.
Supplies needed
- Soft microfiber cloth
- Gentle dish soap
- Commercial stone cleaner
- Spray bottle with disinfectant
Step 1: Wipe of dust and crumbs
Grab a microfiber towel and wipe off any dust and crumbs you might have on the granite countertop. This will prevent dirt from mixing in with the cleaner you will be using in the next step.
Step 2: Spray preferred cleaner
For this step, you can choose any preferred granite cleaner. You can either use mild dish soap with warm water or a commercial cleaner.
Whichever you choose, apply the cleaning solution onto granite countertop. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe the natural stone.
Step 3: Rinse
After cleaning granite with mild dish soap, you might have some soap residue. Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe the granite clean from remaining residue.
Step 4: Dry off
To eliminate water spots and streaking, grab a dry microfiber cloth and go over the cleaned kitchen surfaces.
Step 5: Disinfect
You can either use a commercial disinfectant or a homemade 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water solution for this step.
Spray your preferred disinfectant all over the surface and wipe with a soft cloth.
How to clean granite countertops with steam
Many find that cleaning granite with steam is the easiest way to achieve a beautiful sparkly finish. Cleaning with steam requires minimal amount of supplies and time.
Supplies needed
- Fortador Volt Mini
- Soft cloth
Step 1: Turn on the steamer
Before the cleaning process, make sure that there is sufficient amount of water in the steamer and it is plugged in. Turn on the steamer and wait a couple of minutes for it to warm up.
Step 2: Start cleaning
When your steamer is fully warmed up, start applying steam all over the granite countertop. Simultaneously, with your other hand start wiping the counter.
Step 3: Get rid of stains
After the first pass, you might still see some remaining stains. If so, point the steam gun at the stain and hold steam over that are for five to ten seconds. When sufficient time has passed, gently wipe that area with a soft cloth.
How to clean stains on granite surfaces
Though granite is naturally resistant against stains, things like sticky fruit juice and cooking oils can stain granite if not wiped off immediately.
Luckily, if you have organic stains like that, it is fairly easy to get rid of them with household items.
Supplies needed
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Soft cloth
- Plastic wrap
Step 1: Apply paste
Depending on if you have an oil based stain or a water based stain, prepare your baking soda paste. Make sure to make enough baking soda paste to cover all of your stains.
Apply your paste on any every stain on your granite.
Step 2: Sover with plastic wrap
After you have applied the paste, cover the stains with plastic wrap and tape down the edges of it. Let it sit for a couple of hours or overnight if needed.
Step 3: Scrub
Remove the plastic cover after sufficient amount of time has passed. Use a soft cloth to gently scrub the spot to further remove the stain.
Step 4: Rinse
Use a damp soft cloth to remove any remains of the paste.
After you have finished removing any residue, grab a a dry microfiber to prevent any streaks being left on the counter.
What to NOT use on your granite countertops
To keep up the gorgeous look of a granite surface you need to make sure you are not using any harsh cleaners. Do not use any acidic cleaners or abrasive scrubbers that could damage granite countertops.
Household acids like lemon juice and vinegar should never be used to clean granite. As well ass full strength bleach, disinfecting wipes, or steel wool.
In this guide we will provide different supplies and methods you can use to clean granite countertops as well as how to take care of them.
How to keep your granite clean and shiny
Preventative measures is the best way to preserve such a beautiful stone from getting ruined. Here are some tips to keep your granite countertop clean and stain-free longer:
1. Sealing granite countertop
Sealing your granite countertops with an impregnating sealer gives protection against stains. A protective layer of a sealant doesn't make granite surfaces completely stain-proof, but it does make it more resistant to stains.
Make sure that the sealer you are getting is non-toxic and safe to use on food preparation areas.
2. Preventative measures
Always use coasters under glasses to prevent any etching. In addition, do not put any acidic foods, like lemon juice or other citruses, directly on the granite counter. Restrain yourself from storing any oil based cosmetics and creams on the stone surface.
3. Take care of spills
In order to prevent any staining, make sure to wipe up spills as soon as it happens. Use a paper towel to absorb liquids that have been spilled. If you want to take it a step further, use a damp cloth with a mix of dish soap to completely get rid of any residue of the spillage.
4. Do not use harsh cleaning products
Granite contains a lot of acid sensitive minerals. Do not use any products containing lemon, vinegar, or any other acids. You should also stay away from using an abrasive scrubber on any stains. This will lead to etching marks that you will not be able to remove.
When to call a professional for cleaning granite countertops
Sometimes, cleaning your granite countertop won't help to bring it back to life. This might happen if the sealant layer is wearing off.
Most installed granite countertops come with a layer of sealant. This layer acts as a protection as well as acts as a sealant for the pores in this natural stone. In order to keep your granite counters clean and looking brand new, you need to reseal the stone every two to four years.
If you have noticed that it has become difficult to wipe of spills or if water drops do not bead up anymore, that means it is time to call a professional to reseal your granite surfaces.
Tips for maintaining of granite countertops
- If you want to have a glossy finish on you granite countertops, apply just a few drops of vegetable oil on a dry microfiber and wipe it. Then, use a clean microfiber to buff the finish to reveal a shiny surface.
- Put some dishwashing soap in a spray bottle with water and shake it up. Keep that bottle of dishwashing liquid in handy when cleaning granite counters so you do not have to prepare this concucsion everytime you clean.
- If you tend to not wipe up spills on granite counters right when it happens, think about putting a matt when you are at the counter. This will prevent the drinks or food from directly getting on the granite.
Many favor granite counters in their kitchen, but majority does not even know to take care of such fine stone. It is important to keep up with the maintenance of such beautiful choice of interior design, and this is where this article comes in handy.
Knowing how to clean a granite surface will help protect your investment longterm. Avoiding hard chemicals and using milder and gentler solutions is the key to cleaning granite. This stone is very sensitive, so staying away from harsh scrubbers is also important.
In this article we have provided many ways you can clean any granite surface. If you are further interested into learning more about efficient cleaning, checkout our other articles on the website.