Granite is a common material used for countertops in your kitchen and bathroom. Unfortunately, these areas are prone to toothpaste and oil stains. Learn how to remove stains from granite using a few simple materials in your pantry.
How to Remove Stains From Granite
Granite countertops are beautiful in your home. However, when it comes to how to clean natural stone like granite, it's important to follow the proper care routine for granite. Thankfully, with the right treatment, you can get just about any stain out of your granite. To get started on the road to glistening granite, you need to have:
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Dawn dish detergent
- Baking soda
- Sponge or cloth
- Acetone
- Steel wool/Brillo pad
- Plastic wrap
- Tape
- Old toothbrush
Assessing a Stain vs. Etching
Before you can treat the stain on your granite, you need to assess what caused the stain and if it is, in fact, a stain. If you spilled coffee, then you know it's a stain, but if you've noticed an odd ring on your granite, it could be damaged, called etching. Therefore, you want to assess if something is absorbed into the granite or damage to the stone or sealant. When making an assessment, there are a few things to look for.
Staining Appearance
Some granite stains are easy to assess. For example, if you spill coffee. However, others aren't so easy. For others, here's a quick list:
- Stains are the same color as the material spilled
- Cleaning lifts stains
Etching Appearance
Etching is damage to the actual material or sealant. Therefore, it presents itself slightly differently.
- Etching has a light whitish look, including rings and water spots.
- It does not come up when cleaning.
How to Remove Oil Stains From Granite
After looking over the stain, you know you have an oil stain on your hands. For this type of stain, reach for the dish soap and baking soda.
- Create a paste of Dawn and baking soda.
- Apply it to the stained area.
- Put a bit of plastic wrap over top and tape it down.
- Allow it to sit for 30 minutes to an hour. You can let this sit on the stain overnight if it's not lifting.
- Wet a sponge and wipe the area off.
- Repeat as needed.
- Some stains take multiple attempts to remove the stain completely.
You can also create a paste of baking soda and acetone for oil stains on granite. Follow the same instructions.
Remove Organic Stains From Granite
If you have an organic stain, like coffee, juice, etc., you need to use a different stain removal method. In this instance, reach for hydrogen peroxide.
- Wipe up the liquid if it remains.
- Create a thick paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.
- Spoon it on to the stain.
- Put the plastic wrap over it.
- Tape it down.
- Let it sit overnight on the stain.
- Rinse with a damp sponge.
- Repeat as needed.
You can also use a commercial poultice cleaner sold specifically for cleaning granite countertops.
How to Remove Water Stains From Granite
Most of the time, you can get rid of water stains on granite with a bit of soap and water. Simply wash the stain down with a soapy cloth. However, if that isn't cutting it, then grab the Dawn and a toothbrush.
- Add a bit of Dawn and water to a toothbrush.
- Scrub at the stain gently.
- Rinse and dry.
- If the stain remains, try the peroxide and water paste instructions.
- You can gently buff them with fine steel wool or a brillo pad for extremely tough hard water stains.
Don'ts of Cleaning Granite Countertops
Granite countertops can be amazing. However, there are a few don'ts you want to pay attention to when it comes to cleaning them.
- Don't use all-purpose or harsh cleaners.
- Steer clear of ammonia, lemon, and white vinegar.
- Avoid storing kitchen liquids on your countertops.
- Don't use abrasive or powder cleaners like Comet.
Beautifully Brilliant Granite Countertops
When it comes to granite countertops, they have a protective coating on them. After a while, this seal can break down. When this happens, you need to reseal the granite. However, most of the time, stains are easy to remove at home with a bit of baking soda and detergent. Now that you have the tools, it's time to get cleaning.
