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Step 1
Blot up spills immediately, before they penetrate the surface.
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Step 2
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.
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Step 3
Use a soft, clean cloth to clean the granite. Rinse after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft, clean cloth.
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Step 4
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.
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Step 5
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.
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Step 6
Try a mixture of 12 percent hydrogen peroxide mixed with a couple drops of ammonia for an organic stain (e.g. coffee, tea, fruit).
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Step 7
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.
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Step 8
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.
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Step 9
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.
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Step 10
Reseal the countertop every year or two years. Check with the installer for recommendations. Use a non-toxic sealer on food preparation areas.
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Step 11
Consider using a new disinfectant cleaner made specifically for granite.
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Step 12
Call your professional stone supplier, installer, or restoration specialist for problems that appear too difficult to treat.
Comments
alandg46 said
on 6/5/2009 Granite is a non-homogeneous rock consisting of primarily of quartz(about 70%) which has a hardness of 7, feldspars are next with a hardness of 6-6.5,the remaining minerals have lesser hardness ranging down to about 2.5(micas). They can be scratched. The micas can, if large enough can be dug out with a fingernail. Know what you are buying. Furthermore many of the materials sold as granite are not. Although igneous in origin, like granite,they are NOT granite.
lnmori said
on 5/4/2009 did anyone have a response to amyg406's question on: on 9/4/2007 How do you remove hard water build up from around the faucet on a granite counter top? I've got that same problem where there's a white ring around the faucet that won't come clean with the various granite polish/cleaners. help
caddiwoman said
on 1/3/2009 Can I use disinfectants like pine sol or some of the others that don't have bleach in them. I want something that will kill germs and not just clean the counters like with soap and water. Someone said to use vinegar and water but I don't think that is a disinfectant, is it? I am starting to get a little darkened area in the grout around the faucet that I want to clean and kill the mold. Thanks for any help you can give.
caddiwoman said
on 1/3/2009 Can I use disinfectants like pine sol or some of the others that don't have bleach in them. I want something to clean them with that will kill germs and not just clean the counters like with soap and water. Someone said to use vinegar and water but I don't think that is a disinfectant, is it? I am starting to get a little darkened area in the grout around the faucet that I want to clean and kill the mold. Thanks for any help you can give.
Dawnella66 said
on 5/21/2008 very informative