How to Clean a Granite Countertop

Introduction

With the proper care, your granite or marble countertop will stay new-looking for years. Stone is one of the easiest surfaces to maintain. And granite, being 7 on the Mohs hardness scale of 1 to 10, is virtually unscratchable. (A stainless steel knife blade is a 6 on the scale.)

By: eHow Home & Garden Editor

Length: 2:07

Comments: 19

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Instructions

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Difficulty: Easy

Tips & Warnings:

Ask a professional to remove or repair a scratch in granite.
Use coasters under all glasses, particularly those containing alcohol or citrus juices. Many common foods and drinks contain acids that will etch or dull the stone surface.
Do not place hot items directly on the stone surface. Use trivets or mats under hot dishes and placemats under china, ceramics, silver or other objects that could scratch the surface.
Do not use products that contain lemon, vinegar or other acids on marble or limestone. Strong detergents or corrosive liquids can dull the polished marble/granite surface and should not be used.
Don't use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers, scouring powders, or 'soft' cleansers.
Do not mix cleaning products such as ammonia and bleach together - the result is toxic.

Step1

Blot up spills immediately, before they penetrate the surface.

Step2

Clean stone surfaces with a few drops of neutral cleaner, stone soap (available in hardware stores or from a stone dealer), or mild dishwashing liquid and warm water.

Step3

Use a soft, clean cloth to clean the granite. Rinse after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft, clean cloth.

Step4

Remove a stain on granite, basing the method on the type of stain. Mix a cup of flour, 1-2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid with water to make a thick paste. Put it on the stain, cover with plastic wrap, and let it sit overnight.

Step5

Scrape away the mixture with a wooden utensil and rinse. If the stain is oil-based (e.g. grease, oil, milk), use hydrogen peroxide in the paste instead of dishwashing liquid - or try ammonia on it.

Step6

Try a mixture of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide mixed with a couple drops of ammonia for an organic stain (e.g. coffee, tea, fruit).

Step7

Use a lacquer thinner or acetone to remove ink or marker stains from darker stone. On light-colored granite, use hydrogen peroxide to these stains. This also works for wine stains.

Step8

Mix molding plaster and pure bleach into a paste and spread over a wine, ink or other non-oil stain. Leave on for 30 minutes, then remove and rinse.

Step9

Paste a mix of molding plaster and water over an oil-based or fat-based stain. Mold it into a bird's-nest shape and allow to stand for 3 hours. Remove and rinse.

Step10

Reseal the countertop every year or two years. Check with the installer for recommendations. Use a non-toxic sealer on food preparation areas.

Step11

Consider using a new disinfectant cleaner made specifically for granite.

Step12

Call your professional stone supplier, installer, or restoration specialist for problems that appear too difficult to treat.

Comments

MyStoneCare said

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on 10/12/2008 Some commercial granites have a Mohs hardness rating as low as 5.5... Unless you are a geologist or have a piece of your specific stone to test on, NEVER use metal instruments (such as knives) on unprotected granite surfaces.

Dawnella66 said

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on 5/21/2008 very informative

Therea said

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on 4/27/2008 I have water stains on Marble. How can I remove the water stains? I tried a stoneSpecific polish for Mable w/ nylon sponge and the stains are still there. Can anyone help me with this. Thanks

simplemanjoel said

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on 3/10/2008 hello http://www.google.com

Suzyq12 said

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on 1/9/2008 I think I have got a buildup of hairspray and normal cleaning does not seem to make it come clean. There are still spots that do not clean up. Any suggestions??