How to Clean a Granite Worktops

With the proper care, your marble or granite worktop 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.)

Steps:
1. Blot up spills immediately, before they penetrate the granite surface.
2. Clean granite worktops 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.
3. Use a soft, clean cloth to clean the granite worktop. Rinse after washing with the soap solution and dry with a soft, clean cloth.
4. Remove a stain on worktop, 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.
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.
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).
7. Use a lacquer thinner or acetone to remove ink or marker stains from darker stone. On light-colored granite worktops, use hydrogen peroxide to these stains. This also works for wine stains.
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.
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.
10. Reseal the worktops every year or two years. Check with the installer for recommendations. Use a non-toxic sealer on food preparation areas.
11. Consider using a new disinfectant cleaner made specifically for granite.
12. Call your professional stone supplier, installer, or restoration specialist for problems that appear too difficult to treat.

More resources:
Granite Stone
What color is your granite? Our granite products are carved from the traditional white/gray (salt & pepper) granite stone with black pigments unless noted (i.e. beige granite).
Granite Slab
Ornamental polished slabs of granite have wide applications ranging from use of monumental purposes, fencing, panelling and interior and exterior, skirting, mantels, windows sills, steps, concrete columns, kitchen sinks and bath tubs.
Granite Colors
The granite look is beginning to appear in patented stone-like materials. Avonite, made from a modified polyester plastic, now has 14 so-called granite colors. Acrylic-based Corian, manufactured by Du Pont, has just been introduced in two new stone styles.